The General Secretariat of the European Council for Fatwa and Research officially announced that Thursday, 19 February 2026, will mark the first day of the blessed month of Ramadan for the Hijri year 1447 AH, based on precise astronomical calculations and the recognized Islamic legal criteria adopted by the Council.
In its statement, the General Secretariat offered the highest praise and gratitude to Almighty God and sent prayers and peace upon Prophet Muhammad, the Messenger of mercy to all humanity. It took this blessed occasion to extend its congratulations to Muslims across the world, calling for adherence to the rope of God, unity of ranks, and the strengthening of communal bonds.
The Secretariat also supplicated to Almighty God to accept the fasting, night prayers, and righteous deeds of Muslims, and to make these days a source of goodness and blessing for the entire Islamic nation.
Established Religious and Scientific Foundations
The General Secretariat explained that the announcement of the beginning of the months of Ramadan and Shawwal for the year 1447 AH (2026) was based on the resolutions of the first session of the Unified Hijri Calendar Committee, held in Istanbul from 26 to 29 Dhu al-Hijjah 1389 AH, corresponding to 27–30 November 1978, as well as on the resolutions of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, particularly Resolution No. (18) issued in 1986.
The Council also relied on its decisions issued during its 19th ordinary session, held from 8 to 12 Safar 1430 AH, corresponding to 30 January to 4 February 2009, in addition to the outcomes of a scientific symposium held in Paris on 12–13 Rabi‘ al-Awwal 1433 AH (4–5 February 2012). That symposium addressed the issue of the beginning of Hijri months and the Hijri calendar, with the participation of leading scholars in Islamic jurisprudence and astronomy.
The adopted framework further includes the outcomes of the Global Conference on Establishing Lunar Months, which brought together Islamic jurists and astronomical experts, as well as the International Conference on Unifying the Hijri Calendar, held in Istanbul in 2016, with the participation of representatives from more than seventy countries, alongside fatwa institutions, fiqh councils, and scientific and astronomical bodies across the Islamic world.
The Council reaffirmed that one of its core principles is that the original basis for the commencement of a lunar month is the verified legal sighting of the crescent, while allowing reliance on definitive astronomical calculations to confirm or negate the possibility of sighting, without contradicting the relevant Islamic texts, including the Prophet’s ﷺ hadith: “Fast when you see it, and end the fast when you see it.”
Precise Astronomical Details
According to the statement, precise astronomical calculations indicate that the conjunction of the crescent of Ramadan 1447 AH will occur on Tuesday, 17 February 2026, at 12:01 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), corresponding to 3:01 p.m. Mecca time.
The General Secretariat confirmed that it will not be possible to sight the crescent on that evening, either with the naked eye or through telescopes and observational instruments. Accordingly, Thursday, 19 February 2026, will be the first day of the blessed month of Ramadan, God willing.
Determination of Eid al-Fitr
Regarding the crescent of Shawwal, the General Secretariat stated that precise astronomical calculations confirm that the conjunction will occur on Thursday, 19 March 2026, at 1:23 a.m. GMT, corresponding to 4:23 a.m. Mecca time.
Based on this, the sighting of the Shawwal crescent will be possible after sunset on Thursday in parts of North America, northern South America, and Western Europe, whether by the naked eye or with astronomical observation tools.
Accordingly, the Council announced that Friday, 20 March 2026, will be the first day of Eid al-Fitr for the Hijri year 1447 AH, God willing.
In concluding its statement, the General Secretariat of the European Council for Fatwa and Research prayed that Almighty God accept the blessed month of Ramadan from Muslims, return it to them with goodness, prosperity, and peace, and accept from them their righteous deeds.
Read More:
