18.02.2026 11:10
As Saudi Arabia announced the sighting of the crescent moon, Ramadan begins today in many countries; however, some countries, including Turkey, will start fasting tomorrow due to the crescent not being sighted. The difference arises from the methods used to determine the moon's visibility.
The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia announced that the Ramadan crescent has been sighted. In a written statement, it was reported that tomorrow is the first day of Ramadan. Following Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Yemen, Palestine, Iraq, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Kuwait, Bahrain, and Lebanon also announced that Ramadan begins today.
The Qatar Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Crescent Observation Committee, the UAE Presidential Court, and the Yemen Ministry of Awqaf and Guidance also declared that the crescent has been sighted. The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine, Sheikh Mohammed Hussein, and the Mufti of Lebanon, Sheikh Abdullatif Deryan, also announced that the month of Ramadan will begin tomorrow.
In Bahrain, the Crescent Observation Authority stated that there were no witnesses to the sighting of the crescent in the country, but the sighting in Saudi Arabia was legally accepted, and it was decided that tomorrow would be considered the first day of Ramadan.
RAMADAN WILL BEGIN TOMORROW IN SOME COUNTRIES
The Grand Mufti of Jordan, Ahmed al-Hasanat, stated that the crescent was not sighted and that tomorrow would be considered the 30th day of Sha'ban, with Ramadan beginning on Thursday, February 19. The Mufti of Egypt, Nazir Ayad, also announced that the crescent was not sighted and that Thursday would be the first day of Ramadan. Turkey, Iran, Oman, and Syria also announced that Ramadan would begin on Thursday.
WHY ARE THERE DIFFERENCES?
The beginning of Ramadan is determined according to the lunar calendar in Islamic law. There are two different approaches to the sighting of the new moon. Some countries base their determination on the naked-eye sighting of the crescent, while others rely on astronomical calculations. Due to this methodological difference, the start date of Ramadan can vary from country to country.
COUNTRIES WHERE RAMADAN STARTED TODAY;
- Saudi Arabia
- Qatar
- Bahrain
- Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
- Kuwait
- Morocco
- Yemen
- Tunisia
- Algeria
- Palestine
- UAE
- Lebanon
COUNTRIES WHERE RAMADAN WILL START TOMORROW;
- Turkey
- Egypt
- Syria
- Jordan
- Sultanate of Oman
- Indonesia
- Singapore
- Iraq
- Australia
- Malaysia
- Brunei
- Thailand