SAUDI ARABIA ANNOUNCES SIGHTING OF CRESCENT MOON, RAMADAN 1447 BEGINS WEDNESDAY

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday officially confirmed the sighting of the crescent moon, marking the beginning of Ramadan 1447.

With the Hilal sighted, 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.

An announcement shared by @Muslim on X stated that the first day of fasting would begin on Wednesday, advising Muslims to follow the fasting timetable designated by their local communities and countries.

Muslims in Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, among others, are expected to begin fasting at dawn on Wednesday.

However, authorities in Japan announced that Ramadan will begin on Thursday, February 19, after the crescent moon was not sighted. Similarly, Oman, Singapore, and Turkey confirmed Thursday as the first day of Ramadan in line with their lunar observation processes.

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, shifts annually because the Islamic calendar is based on the moon cycle. Fasting from dawn to sunset is one of the five pillars of Islam and is obligatory for healthy adult Muslims, with exemptions for children, the sick, travellers, and women who are pregnant, nursing, or menstruating.

More than 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide are expected to observe the month with prayer, reflection, and devotion.