Saudi Arabia has officially declared that the holy month of Ramadan will commence on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, after the moon-sighting committee confirmed the sighting of the crescent moon on Tuesday.
A statement issued by the official Facebook page of the holy mosques confirmed, "Crescent has been SIGHTED. Subsequently, tomorrow, i.e., Wednesday, 18 February 2026, will be the first day of Ramadan 1447."
The Saudi Supreme Court, in its ruling, noted that after reviewing the testimonies and considering the Supreme Court’s decision on Sha‘ban, the sighting of the Ramadan crescent confirmed that Wednesday, 18 February 2026, would be the first day of Ramadan 1447 AH, adhering to the Umm al-Qura calendar.
It is common practice for various countries to follow their own moon sighting traditions or utilize astronomical calculations to determine the start of lunar months. This approach allows for regional variations in confirming the beginning of Ramadan.
Ramadan, a crucial month in the Islamic lunar calendar, is determined by the visibility of the crescent moon. Saudi Arabia, along with many other Muslim- majority nations, depends on the reports from official moon sighters to establish the start date.
In Nigeria, Muslim faithful are awaiting confirmation from local authorities regarding the sighting of the Ramadan moon.
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) had earlier advised Nigerian Muslims to begin searching for the crescent moon on Tuesday, February 17, which corresponds to the 29th of Sha’aban 1447 AH.
The council indicated that if the crescent is sighted by credible witnesses, the head of the NSCIA and Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar, would then announce Wednesday as the first day of Ramadan 1447 AH.
However, the NSCIA stated that if the moon is not sighted on Tuesday, then Thursday, February 19, 2026, would automatically be considered the first day of Ramadan.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, a period dedicated to fasting, prayer, introspection, and acts of charity by Muslims across the globe.
During Ramadan, Muslims observe a fast from dawn (Fajr) until sunset (Maghrib), abstaining from food, drink, smoking, and marital relations as a means to foster greater piety and devotion.
Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five foundational pillars of Islam, alongside the declaration of faith, regular prayers, giving to charity, and undertaking the pilgrimage to Mecca for those who are able.
How the Ramadan Moon is Sighted
For the new crescent moon to be visible, it must set after the sun, allowing the sky to become sufficiently dark for observation.
Once the moon is sighted, the month of Ramadan officially begins.
In Saudi Arabia, the Supreme Court is responsible for validating reports of moon sightings and making the final determination on the commencement of Ramadan.
Muslims believe that Ramadan commemorates the period when the initial verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad approximately 1,450 years ago.
Common greetings exchanged during this holy month include "Ramadan Mubarak" and "Ramadan Kareem," both conveying wishes for a blessed and generous month.
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