Officially: The European Council for Fatwa and Research determines the start of Ramadan for this year 1447 AH

The General Secretariat of the European Council for Fatwa and Research issued its official statement regarding the determination of the beginnings of the months of Ramadan and Shawwal for the Hijri year 1447 AH, confirming that the beginning of the month of Ramadan for this year will be on Thursday, corresponding to (19) February 2026 AD :

The following is the text of the statement:

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and peace and blessings be upon the one whom Allah sent as a mercy to the worlds, and upon his family and companions and those who follow his path until the Day of Judgment.

The General Secretariat of the European Council for Fatwa and Research takes advantage of these blessed days to call upon all Muslims to hold fast to the rope of God Almighty, to unite ranks and bring together, remembering the words of God Almighty: “And hold fast, all of you, to the rope of God, and do not be divided. And remember the favor of God upon you when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers…” (Quran 3:103).

We also ask God Almighty to accept from everyone their fasting, prayers and good deeds, and to make these blessed days a source of goodness and blessing for His servants on earth. He is the Guardian of that and is capable of it.

The General Secretariat takes this opportunity to announce, regarding the crescent moon of Ramadan and Shawwal for the Hijri year 1447 AH (2026 CE), in accordance with the resolutions of the first session of the Unified Hijri Calendar Committee held in Istanbul between (26-29) Dhu al-Hijjah 1389 AH, corresponding to (27-30) November 1978 CE, and based on what was confirmed by the International Islamic Fiqh Academy in its Resolution No. (18) at its third conference in 1986 CE, and in accordance with the conditions adopted by the European Council for Fatwa and Research in its resolution taken at its nineteenth regular session between 8-12 Rajab 1430 AH, corresponding to June 30 - July 4, 2009 CE, as well as what was issued by the scientific symposium held in Paris between 12-13 Rabi' al-Awwal 1433 AH, corresponding to February 4 and 5, 2012 CE, the subject of which was:

The conference, titled “The Beginning of the Islamic Months and the Islamic Calendar,” was attended by a group of scholars of jurisprudence and astronomy. Several jurisprudential and astronomical research papers and studies were presented, as well as the outcomes of the International Conference on the Verification of Lunar Months between Sharia Scholars and Astronomical Calculations. This conference was based on the affirmation of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, held from 19-21 Rabi' al-Awwal 1433 AH (11-13 February 2012 CE), in which a large number of jurists and astronomers participated. It also drew upon the outcomes of the International Conference on Unifying the Islamic Calendar, held in Istanbul from 21-23 Sha'ban 1437 AH (28-30 May 2016 CE), which was attended by representatives from over seventy countries, including ministries of religious endowments, fatwa councils, scholars, jurists, and astronomers, in addition to representatives from most of the world's jurisprudential councils and assemblies. These conferences adopted a set of fundamental principles and criteria, the most important of which is that the beginning of a month is established by means of... It is definitive, and scientific astronomical calculations tell us in advance and with certainty about the possibility of the correct sighting, and cannot contradict its occurrence. The difference in lunar visibility is irrelevant, due to the general statement: “Fast when you see it (the new moon) and break your fast when you see it,” agreed upon by scholars, and the Prophet’s saying, peace and blessings be upon him: “Your fasting is the day you fast, your breaking of the fast is the day you break your fast, and your sacrifice is the day you sacrifice.” Narrated by Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, and At-Tirmidhi, who authenticated it.

Accordingly, the General Secretariat announces the following:

• The precise astronomical calculations for the crescent of Ramadan for the year 1447 AH confirm that the conjunction will be at 12:01 (twelve o’clock and one minute) according to the unified universal time {Greenwich GMT} on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, corresponding to 29 Sha’ban 1447 AH, which corresponds to 3:01 PM according to the local time of Mecca.
• Therefore, the crescent moon cannot be seen after sunset on the 29th of Sha’ban 1447 AH with the naked eye or using a telescope and observation devices.
• Therefore, the first day of the blessed month of Ramadan 1447 AH, God willing, will be on Thursday, corresponding to (19) February 2026 AD.

May God accept from us and from you fasting, prayer, and good deeds.

Regarding the crescent moon of Shawwal for the year 1447 AH, corresponding to 2026 AD

• The precise astronomical calculations for the crescent of the month of Shawwal for the year 1447 confirm that the conjunction will be at 01:23 AM according to Universal Time (GMT) on Thursday (19) March 2026 AD corresponding to 29 Ramadan 1447 AH, which corresponds to 04:23 AM according to the local time of Mecca.
• Therefore, the crescent moon of Shawwal 1446 AH can be seen after sunset on Thursday, March 19, 2026 AD, corresponding to Ramadan 29, 1447 AH, in North America, the northern part of South America, and Western Europe with the naked eye or using a telescope and observation devices.
• The first day of Shawwal (Eid al-Fitr) for the year 1447 AH will be, God willing, on Friday, March 20, 2026 AD.

We ask God Almighty that Muslims welcome the blessed month of Ramadan in good health, safety, and peace. May God accept our good deeds and yours.

General Secretariat of the European Council for Fatwa and Research

Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds