By Deborah Nnamdi
Saudi Arabia on Tuesday officially announced the sighting of the crescent moon, marking the beginning of Ramadan 1447.
With the Hilal confirmed, the holy month of Ramadan will commence on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, while Taraweeh prayers will be observed after the Isha prayer on Tuesday night.
A post by Muslim on X stated, “BREAKING: Saudi Arabia announces the first day of fasting for Ramadan to begin on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Taraweeh will begin tonight on the first evening of the blessed month. It’s recommended to follow the fasting time designated by your local community and country.”
Muslims in Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, along with several other countries, will begin fasting at dawn on Wednesday, ushering in a month devoted to prayer, reflection, and spiritual renewal.
However, in Japan, Ramadan 2026 will begin on Thursday, February 19, after the Hilal Vision Committee confirmed that the crescent moon was not sighted. Muslims in the country will observe their first fast on Thursday.
Similarly, Iran, Oman, Singapore, and Turkey have declared Thursday, February 19, as the first day of Ramadan following the non-sighting of the moon in accordance with their traditional lunar observation processes.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, which consists of 12 months and spans 354 or 355 days. As it follows the lunar cycle, the start date shifts each year.
Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam and is obligatory for healthy adult Muslims, with exemptions granted to young children, the sick, travellers, and women who are pregnant, nursing, or menstruating.
The sighting of the crescent moon remains a long-standing Islamic tradition used to determine the beginning of Ramadan as well as major festivals such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
During the holy month, working hours and school schedules are often adjusted in many Muslim-majority countries to allow more time for worship and family activities. More than 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide are expected to observe the month-long fast from sunrise to sunset each day.
