Utilization of Artificial Intelligence for a Global Hijri Calendar: Harmonizing Hisab and Rukyat in the Digital Era

Abstract

The advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents new opportunities in the effort to harmonize the global Hijri calendar, which has long faced discrepancies between hisab (astronomical calculations) and rukyat (visual observation). In practice, differences in determining the beginning of the Hijri months among Muslim countries often result in unsynchronized observance of religious events such as Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr. Theoretically, modern astronomy provides highly accurate computational models for lunar and solar positions; however, in real-world implementation, there remains a significant gap between theoretical precision and religious authority-based decision-making. This discrepancy reflects the persistent divide between theory and practice within the modern Hijri calendar system, This study addresses three main research questions: (1) How can artificial intelligence be utilized to systematically integrate hisab data with rukyat observations? (2) How can AI help minimize discrepancies in determining the beginning of Hijri months across different countries? and (3) How can the application of AI remain aligned with Islamic jurisprudential principles and recognized falak (astronomical) authorities. This study employs a qualitative-descriptive approach through literature analysis and interpretive synthesis of sources in Islamic astronomy and artificial intelligence. Data were drawn from scholarly works, institutional reports, and juristic guidelines related to hisab and rukyat. The research analyzes conceptual intersections between religious and computational paradigms. Thematic coding was used to identify integration models for AI-assisted Hijri calendar harmonization. The findings indicate that AI holds significant potential in developing an integrated predictive model that combines high-precision astronomical computations with real-time global crescent sighting databases. Through machine learning algorithms, the system can automatically validate crescent visibility and generate scientifically grounded recommendations for religious authorities. This integration could serve as a practical solution toward establishing a globally unified, accurate, and widely accepted Hijri calendar. In conclusion, the utilization of AI not only enhances the technical efficiency of lunar month determination but also serves as an epistemological bridge between classical Islamic astronomy and digital transformation in the modern era.