Ulama and Islamic Astronomy in Contemporary Indonesia: T.M. Ali Muda’s Concept on Matlak Hilal

Abstract

The existence of the concept of matlak in determining the beginning of the Hijri month has become an increasingly discussed topic, particularly in the context of proposals for global Hijri calendar criteria currently gaining attention at the national level. This study aims to explain the existence and legitimacy of matlak in the Hijri calendar according to T.M. Ali Muda. To achieve this objective, this study employs a descriptive-qualitative analysis method, using T.M. Ali Muda’s works on matlak as the primary source. According to T.M. Ali Muda, the concept of the matlak of the crescent moon (hilal) in determining the beginning of the Hijri month is divided into ittihad matlak and ikhtilaf matlak. The authoritative concept in determining the beginning of the Hijri month is ikhtilaf matlak, as this concept aligns with the scientific understanding of the Earth's sphericity, whereas ittihad matlak is based on the outdated concept of a flat Earth. From a scientific perspective, the flat Earth concept has been refuted, rendering juristic opinions supporting ittihad matlak non-authoritative. The researcher argues that T.M. Ali Muda's perspective on the ikhtilaf matlak concept significantly contributes to the development of Islamic astronomy (ilmu falak) in Indonesia by emphasizing the relevance of a scientific approach to determining the beginning of the Hijri month, consistent with advancements in modern astronomy