Chairman of Central Board of Muhammadiyah: The Global Unified Hijri Calendar Belongs Not to a Single Organization, But to the Global Islamic Civilization
PWMJATENG.COM, Yogyakarta – The Chairman of the Central Board of Muhammadiyah (PP Muhammadiyah), Haedar Nashir, officially launched the Global Unified Hijri Calendar (GUHC) during an event held at ‘Aisyiyah University Yogyakarta on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. In his keynote address, Haedar emphasized that the launch of the GUHC was a historic moment, not only for Muhammadiyah but also for Muslims around the world.
“This GUHC is not merely a technical matter of datekeeping, but a reaffirmation of Islam’s role as a cosmopolitan and universal religion,” Haedar stated. He explained that the GUHC emerges amid the tides of globalization, which compel Muslims to live within an interconnected world without administrative boundaries.
Haedar expressed his deep appreciation to all parties who contributed to the success of the launch. He highlighted the significant roles of the Muhammadiyah Council of Tarjih, ‘Aisyiyah University (UNISA), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, as well as national and international figures, as clear evidence of the importance of this agenda.
According to him, Islam has from the outset been a religion that transcends geographical boundaries. He cited historical examples of how Islam expanded to Asia, Europe, and North Africa even before the invention of modern transportation.
“The intercontinental relations among Muslims stand as undeniable proof that Islam is global in nature. Therefore, it is only fitting that we now introduce a unified Hijri calendar system to affirm our unity,” he asserted.
Baca juga, Kalender Hijriah Global Tunggal
Haedar further explained that the GUHC is expected to unify significant Islamic dates such as 1 Ramadan, 1 Shawwal, and 10 Dhu al-Hijjah, which have often varied between countries and even between organizations within the same country. “Differences related to space and time should be reconciled through rational scientific discourse, not merely by tradition,” he remarked.
Haedar also addressed the importance of ukhuwah Islamiyah (Islamic brotherhood) in realizing the GUHC. He criticized the tendency among Muslims to easily call for unity while struggling to resolve major differences, particularly in matters such as Palestine and calendar determination.
“Palestine is not merely a political issue, but a symbol of the struggle of the oppressed. Similarly, the GUHC is a symbol of unity in the religious sphere, which has long been vulnerable to division,” he explained.
In that forum, Haedar strongly emphasized that the GUHC is not an exclusive product of Muhammadiyah. “You may remove the name Muhammadiyah from this calendar, but let us unite for the sake of one date and one day for the entire Muslim world,” he declared.
He also called on Muslims worldwide to be open to methodological renewal, including in the determination of the calendar. In this context, he referred to the concept of falsifiability in science — the openness to revising theories when proven incorrect.
“Methods are merely instruments, tools to achieve a goal. We should not be averse to updating the istikmaliyah methods that have been used thus far,” he added.
Haedar concluded his speech by expressing his hope that the GUHC would become part of the Muslim ummah’s greater jihad to provide global solutions. “This calendar does not belong to a single organization, but to the global Islamic civilization,” he affirmed.
Ass Editor : Ahmad; Editor : M Taufiq Ulinuha
