Universitas Muhammadiyah Purworejo (UMPWR) welcomed the holy month of Ramadan 1447 Hijri by holding its first Tarawih prayer, officially inaugurated by the Rector of UMPWR, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Teguh Wibowo, M.Pd., on Tuesday evening, February 17, 2026, at the UMPWR Campus Mosque.
The Tarawih prayer marked the beginning of Ramadan according to Muhammadiyah, which determined that 1 Ramadan 1447 H falls on February 18, 2026, based on its Global Unified Hijri Calendar (Kalender Hijriah Global Tunggal/KHGT) system. Meanwhile, the government set the start of fasting on February 19, 2026. This difference was addressed wisely and with maturity.
In his remarks, the Rector emphasized that differences in determining the beginning of Ramadan are part of the rich tradition of ijtihad in Islam and should not become a matter of dispute.
“Muhammadiyah adopts the Global Unified Hijri Calendar (KHGT) as an effort to realize a globally unified Islamic calendar. These differences are not meant to be debated, but to be approached with mutual respect. What truly matters is how Ramadan becomes a momentum for strengthening our faith, knowledge, and good deeds,” he stated in his opening sermon.
The Rector further explained that KHGT is a globally applicable calendar system based on hisab hakiki (astronomical calculation), allowing the beginning of Hijri months to be observed simultaneously worldwide. According to him, this represents a contribution of modern Islamic thought in responding to contemporary needs.
Throughout Ramadan 1447 H, UMPWR is organizing various spiritual and social activities involving lecturers, administrative staff, students, and the surrounding community, including:
Weekly religious studies every Friday morning for lecturers and staff
Congregational Tarawih prayers at the Campus Mosque
Iftar gatherings at the Campus Mosque
Ramadan Bazaar along K.H. Ahmad Dahlan Street, Purworejo (in front of the campus)
Qiyam al-Lail during the last ten nights on odd-numbered nights, featuring Tarawih prayer at 2:00 a.m. followed by a communal pre-dawn meal (sahur)
The Qiyam al-Lail program has become one of the most anticipated flagship agendas, serving as an effort to attain the virtues of Laylat al-Qadr while strengthening the bonds of the academic community.
Through this series of programs, UMPWR hopes that Ramadan will not merely be an annual ritual, but also a space for spiritual development, the reinforcement of Islamic brotherhood (ukhuwah), and the affirmation of enlightening Islamic values.
With the spirit of KHGT and togetherness, UMPWR reaffirms its commitment as an Islamic university that remains adaptive to the changing times while firmly upholding its principles and Muhammadiyah values.
