Dr. Sakirman Presents Research at AICIS 2026
Published:
Dr. Sakirman presented his research at the Annual International Conference on Islamic Studies (AICIS) 2026, hosted by UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon. The paper, entitled “The Hilal between Shafaq and Dark Skies: An Ecotheological Perspective from Timau Observatory and ITERA,” explores the relationship between crescent visibility, twilight conditions, dark-sky quality, and Islamic ecotheology.
The study highlights that crescent observation cannot be understood solely through geometric parameters such as lunar altitude and elongation. Atmospheric conditions, twilight brightness, sky quality, and light pollution also play a decisive role in determining whether the young crescent can be detected after sunset. This perspective broadens the discussion of rukyat al-hilal from a purely astronomical issue into an interdisciplinary field involving environmental science and Islamic legal thought.
Drawing on observations related to Timau Observatory and ITERA, the research examines how variations in sky brightness and twilight affect the contrast between the crescent and its background. Digital imaging and photometric analysis are used to strengthen the empirical basis of crescent visibility studies and to provide more measurable evidence for contemporary lunar observation.
From an ecotheological perspective, the research argues that the quality of the night sky should also be regarded as part of the environment that requires protection. Excessive artificial lighting can reduce astronomical visibility and disturb observations of faint celestial objects, including the crescent. Protecting dark skies therefore has significance not only for astronomy but also for religious practices that depend on celestial observation.
The presentation at AICIS 2026 also underlined the importance of integrating astronomy, Islamic jurisprudence, technology, and environmental ethics. Rather than positioning science and Islamic law as separate domains, the study demonstrates how astronomical evidence can contribute to more informed legal reasoning while remaining attentive to religious authority and social context.
As the host institution, UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon provided an important academic forum for scholars to exchange ideas on contemporary Islamic studies and interdisciplinary research. Through this presentation, Dr. Sakirman contributed to the growing discussion on how Islamic astronomy can engage with environmental concerns, digital observation technologies, and the future development of Hijri calendar studies.
The central message of the research is that successful crescent observation depends not only on a sky that can be calculated, but also on a sky that must be preserved. In this sense, the study places dark-sky protection, astronomical observation, and Islamic ecological responsibility within a shared framework for the future of rukyat al-hilal.