Ramadan 1447 Moon Sighting

NEWS: The Crescent for the month of Ramadan 1447 to be searched on the evening of Tuesday, 29 Sha’ban 1447 corresponding to 17 February 2026

The Sultanate of Oman announces that it is impossible to see the crescent moon of Ramadan on Tuesday, and therefore Wednesday will be the completion of Sha’ban, and Thursday, February 19, will be the first day of the holy month.

Australian National Imams Council
@ImamsCouncil
Commencement of The Holy Month of Ramadan I 1447H – 2026

Following extensive consultations with the Imams from the Australian Fatwa Council, the Grand Mufti of Australia, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamad wishes to make the following statement regarding the Holy Month of Ramadan 1447H - 2026 for all the Australian states and territories:

Firstly, in Sydney, the sun will set on Tuesday, 17 February 2026, at 7:45 pm (AEST), while the new moon for the month of Ramadan will be born at 11:01 pm on the same night. In Perth, the sun will set on Tuesday, 17 February 2026, at 7:04 pm (AWST), while the new moon for the month of Ramadan will be born at 8:01 pm. This means that the new moon will be born after sunset in Australia, and the month of Ramadan cannot commence on that night. Therefore:

The Holy Month of Ramadan for this year 1447H- 2026 will commence on Thursday, 19 February 2026

The first night of the Holy Month of Ramadan and Taraweeh Prayer will be on Wednesday, 18th February 2026, after Sunset (After Isha)

Secondly, the method by which the Grand Mufti of Australia and the Australian Fatwa Council determine the commencement of the month of Ramadan is based on the timing of the birth of the new moon of the month of Ramadan in relation to sunset. If the new moon is born after sunset, the month cannot commence on that evening.

The Australian National Imams Council and the Australian Fatwa Council acknowledge, understand and respect the Imams and scholars who may hold different opinions, and request all Muslims to respect the different opinions on this matter and work towards the unity of the Muslim community in preserving the common values and interests that they all have and share.

Finally, The Grand Mufti of Australia, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamad and the Australian National Imams Council call upon all Muslims to preserve their fasting whilst supplicating to Allah to protect our countries, spread peace, blessings and security around the world, and alleviate the suffering and hardships of all people and Muslims are facing, in particular our brothers and sisters in Gaza – Palestine.

May Allah bless this Holy Month for you, your family, the Australian Muslim community and the entire Muslim world and may your worship and fasting be accepted this year. AMEEN

Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamad
The Grand Mufti of Australia
Chairman of the Australian Fatwa Council

Globe Observer
@_GlobeObserver
🌙 Ramadan 2026:
Turkey officially declared Thursday, February 19, as the first day of Holy Ramadan.

New Crescent Society
@NewCrescentSoc

WHEN IS RAMADAN 1447? (2026)
OUR PREDICTIONS 🌙

LOCAL UK SIGHTING:
First fast: Thu 19 Feb

MOSQUES WHO FOLLOW OTHER COUNTRIES:
Follow Saudi: First fast Wed 18 Feb
Follow Morocco: First fast Thu 19 Feb

HOW WE MADE THESE PREDICTIONS

We base these predictions on our experience, and predicted lunar visibility data (see maps). In the end, Allah knows best.

Let’s look at the data.

WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY:
This is the UK moonsighting night (29 Sha’ban).

The moon is visible across the UK and much of the world (weather permitting). As such, we hope to see the hilal and fast on Thu 19 Feb, inshaAllah.

Mosques who follow Morocco are also likely to begin fasting on Thu 19 Feb insha’Allah.

TUESDAY 17 FEBRUARY:
This is the night Saudi will look for the moon, one day earlier.

On this date, the crescent is scientifically impossible to sight across the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Africa — even with optical aid including the most high powered telescopes.

In fact, we do not expect the moon to be reliably seen anywhere on earth on Tuesday.

However, the pre-printed Umm al-Qura calendar has Ramadan starting on Wednesday.

We are accustomed to Saudi announcements aligning with this calendar, even when visibility is not possible — so we predict Saudi will produce another impossible sighting and start from Tue night fasting one day early with Saudi-following mosques in the UK following suit.

There is a slim chance Saudi does the scientifically correct thing by declaring “not seen” and therefore will begin fasting with us on Thu 19 Feb insha’Allah.

GO OUT AND SIGHT THE MOON THIS WEDNESDAY!

We’ll be going live on FB and YouTube alongside the Royal Observatory Greenwich, with reports from sighters across the UK calling into the show. Watch on Wed 18 Feb from 5:30pm.

You can look too: go out after Maghrib, face the western horizon, and try to sight the Ramadan crescent with family and friends.

We’ll send public moonsighting locations tomorrow, insha’Allah.

Whenever you begin — Ramadan Mubarak! 🌙

@ICOUK
To start Dhul Qa'dah 1442 on the day of Solar Eclipse (on 10 June 2021) and Looking for the moon a day *before* it was born (i.e. 10 July 2021) and the applying "30-day complete rule" sounds incorrect, does it not?