الكاتب
Officially... 8 countries announce Wednesday as the start of Ramadan... Egypt's Fatwa Council decides on the start date. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE have officially announced that Wednesday will be the first day of the holy month of Ramadan, after the crescent moon was sighted on Tuesday evening.
Brunei and Singapore had already definitively announced that Thursday, February 19, 2026, would mark the beginning of Ramadan for the year 1447 AH, due to the inability to sight the crescent moon on Tuesday evening. Brunei was the first country to announce the results of its Ramadan crescent moon sighting. The International Astronomical Society announced that Brunei was the first country to announce the results of its Ramadan crescent moon sighting, confirming that Thursday, February 19, would be the start of the holy month and the beginning of fasting, after the crescent moon was not sighted. Similarly, the Mufti of Singapore announced that Thursday, February 19, would be the first day of Ramadan, explaining that astronomical calculations and actual observations did not confirm the sighting of the crescent moon, making Wednesday the 30th of Sha'ban, according to the religious and scientific principles followed in the country.
In Egypt, the Dar al-Ifta (Egyptian Fatwa Authority), in coordination with the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics and the Survey Authority, began the process of observing the crescent moon after sunset today. Scientific and religious teams were deployed to several accredited observatories, including the Siwa and Helwan observatories, in preparation for announcing the start of the fast.
The official start of Ramadan is to begin fasting.
Countries Announcing the Start Date of Ramadan 2026
Four countries have announced the start date of Ramadan 2026 and clarified their position on the first day of the holy month, amidst varying astronomical calculations and methods for confirming the sighting of the crescent moon. Qatar, however, stated that the first day of Ramadan 2026 will be Wednesday, February 18, according to a statement issued by the Qatar Calendar House.
The relevant authorities explained that the final religious ruling regarding the start of the holy month remains within the purview of the Crescent Sighting Committee at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, as reported by Arab media outlets.
In contrast, both Oman and Turkey announced that Thursday, February 19, 2026, will be the first day of Ramadan. This date was determined based on astronomical calculations indicating the impossibility of sighting the Ramadan crescent on the evening of Tuesday, February 17.
Turkey Relies on Astronomical Calculations to Determine Islamic Months
Turkey relies on previous astronomical estimates to determine the beginning of Islamic months, while also taking into account the possibility of sighting the crescent moon. The Turkish Directorate of Religious Affairs added that the crescent moon will be visible on Tuesday February 17th is not possible from any part of the Arab and Islamic world, nor even from the Americas, which led them to adopt Thursday as the first day of Ramadan.
Does the date of Ramadan vary between countries?
The start of Ramadan usually differs among some Islamic countries due to variations in methods of confirming the sighting of the new moon. Some countries rely on direct, religiously sanctioned observation, while others depend on precise astronomical calculations. .
