Ramadan 2026

Why the First Fast of Ramadan 2026 Will Be on Thursday, February 19

The Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle, which is why Islamic months begin with the sighting of the new crescent moon and why the lunar year is approximately 10–11 days shorter than the solar year. Each lunar month is either 29 or 30 days depending on when the new moon becomes visible after conjunction (the astronomical “birth” of the moon).

Islamic teachings clearly establish this principle. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“Do not begin the fast until you see the new moon, and do not break the fast (at the end of Ramadan) until you see it. If the new moon is obscured from you, then work out (when it should be)." (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)

This guidance shows that the start of Ramadan is tied to the actual visibility of the crescent moon, and if weather prevents observation, then reliable calculation and estimation may be used to determine when the moon would be visible under clear conditions.

Use of Scientific Data for Moon Visibility

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community determines the beginning of Ramadan using verified astronomical calculations that establish when the crescent moon can reasonably be visible to the naked eye in one’s region or country. This approach is consistent with both Islamic teachings and modern scientific precision.

For this year, the astronomical data provided by the HM Nautical Almanac Office (UK Hydrographic Office)—a globally respected authority in astronomical calculations—shows the following:

Crescent Moon Visibility – February 17, 2026

The visibility map for February 17 demonstrates that the new crescent moon will not be visible to the naked eye anywhere in the world on that date. The moon will simply be too young and too close to the sun to be seen after sunset.

Crescent Moon Visibility – February 18, 2026

By contrast, the scientific data shows that on the evening of February 18, the crescent moon becomes visible to the naked eye in parts of the world under clear conditions. This fulfills the Islamic requirement that the new month begins only after the possibility of naked-eye visibility.

Conclusion

Since the crescent moon is not visible anywhere on February 17 but becomes visible on February 18, the first day of Ramadan will therefore be observed on Thursday, February 19, 2026.

It is important to note that Muslims around the world may begin Ramadan on different dates due to varying methodologies, local sighting practices, or reliance on announcements from other countries. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community follows the principle that Islamic months should be determined based on the scientifically established possibility of naked-eye visibility of the moon in one’s local region, in harmony with the Qur’an, Hadith, and reliable astronomical data.

For transparency and verification, the full global visibility analysis can be reviewed through the HM Nautical Almanac Office and its official crescent visibility reports, which provide scientifically grounded maps used by scholars and astronomers worldwide.

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