Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic Calendar, is known as the month of fasting. Fasting is a religious obligation for Muslims and is also included in the “five pillars” of Islam. Fasting in the month of Ramadan is obligatory for all adult Muslim men and women. It is narrated in the 185th verse of Surah Al-Baqarah that the Quran was revealed during the month of Ramadan. It is further mentioned that fasting during this month is obligatory.
Translation
Ramadan is the month in which the Qur’an was revealed as guidance to man and clear proof of the guidance, and criterion (of falsehood and truth). So when you see the new moon you should fast the whole month; but a person who is ill or travelling (and fails to do so) should fast on other days, as God wishes ease and not hardship for you, so that you complete the (fixed) number (of fasts), and give glory to God for the guidance, and be grateful.
Similarly, the importance of the month of fasting in Ramadan is also mentioned in many Hadiths, such as Hadith 1901 of Sahih Al-Bukhari. This Hadith also narrates the significance of the “Night of Power” (Laylat al-Qadr), which is believed to be one of the last ten nights of Ramadan.
Translation
Whoever established prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven; and whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.
The religious significance of Ramadan in Islam is beyond any doubt. It is observed with great religious passion across the Muslim World, not only in Islamic Countries but also among the Muslim Communities of Muslim minority Countries.
Start of Ramadan – Important Facts
Muslims keenly await the onset of Ramadan each year; hence, the most popular question these days is “when is Ramadan 2026?”. While the exact date of the start of Ramadan corresponding to the Gregorian Calendar cannot be ascertained with precision, the possible and expected dates can be calculated. On the other hand, the start of Ramadan may differ between different Countries and Regions, with a variation of 1 to 2 days, based on local conditions.
The commencement and end of each of the Islamic months, including Ramadan, cannot be precisely pre-determined, as it is affected by varying factors, as follows:
- The Gregorian Date ends at 11:59:00 PM and the new date starts at 12:00:00 AM (midnight). On the contrary, the Hijri or Islamic Date ends at sunset, and the new date starts immediately after that.
- The Islamic Calendar is based on the movement and appearance (sighting) of the moon. The current Islamic month ends and a new one starts when the new moon appears. Hence, the beginning and end of an Islamic month entirely depend on the sighting of the new moon.
- The number of days in an Islamic month, including the month of Ramadan, cannot be pre-determined. Each month may have either 29 or 30 days, depending on the appearance of the new moon. For instance, if the moon is sighted on the evening of the 29th day of Sha’ban (the 8th Islamic month), Ramadan will start on the next day, which means the month of Sha’ban would have 29 days. On the other hand, if the moon is not sighted, the number of days in the month of Sha’ban would be 30.
- The birth of a new moon in Islam is a sensitive matter. Although the birth of a new moon can now be predicted with the help of astronomical calculations, it still remains a point of debate among Muslim Scholars. The majority of the Scholars are of the firm view that the commencement of a new Islamic month entirely depends on physical sighting of the new moon, as mentioned in Hadith 1909 of Sahih Al-Bukhari, about the commencement and end of Ramadan. (Start fasting on seeing the crescent (of Ramadan), and give up fasting on seeing the crescent (of Shawwal), and if the sky is overcast (and you cannot see it), complete thirty days of Sha’ban.). This Hadith is very clear about the rulings, stating that if the new moon cannot be sighted due to overcast conditions, we should complete the 30th day of the current month and start the new month after that. It implies that physical sighting of the new moon is of prime importance.
Practical Implications of the Sighting of the Moon
The above-mentioned facts about the Islamic Calendar are very important, as they directly affect the start and end of Ramadan and other Islamic months in many ways. The exact date and time of the new moon vary from region to region and country to country. It may even differ in different locations within the same country. That’s why the commencement of Ramadan may differ across Countries, which results in a difference of 1 to 2 days.
Resultantly, the 1st of Ramadan may not fall on the same day across the World. It may fall a day or two later in South Asia, Central Asia, and Far East Countries, as compared to Saudi Arabia. Although some of the Muslim Communities in European Countries, especially the UK, follow the Islamic Calendar, as practiced in Saudi Arabia, many others, including the United States, adopt other ways to determine the onset of Ramadan. On the other hand, the majority of the Muslim Countries, including some of the Middle East Countries as well as Pakistan, Iran, Bangladesh, and the African Countries, follow their own systematic process to determine the start and end of Ramadan. Most of these Countries have formulated special bodies (Committees) that are responsible for announcing the commencement of a new Islamic month, mainly based on physical sighting of the moon, supported by technical astronomical data.
Ramadan 2026
On the basis of the facts as mentioned earlier, it is difficult to predict the exact day and date of commencement of Ramadan 2026, in different Countries, across the Muslim World. However, based on the available technical data and past trends, the following dates can be predicted:
- Saudi Arabia – The Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia officially follows the “Umm al-Qura” lunar calendar, which is primarily based on the Astronomical Methods. According to this calendar, Ramadan 2026 is expected to start on Wednesday, 18th February 2026. Some of the Arab Countries also follow the same dates for Islamic events. Parts of Europe, especially the UK, also celebrate Islamic events on the dates announced by Saudi Arabia. Similarly, Afghanistan has traditionally followed the same dates.
- Other Islamic Countries – The Majority of other Islamic Countries, including Pakistan, have their own moon sighting arrangements. Accordingly, Ramadan 2026 is likely to fall either on Thursday, 19th, or Friday, 20th of February 2026.
Important
The above dates are just indicative and suggestive based on reasonable predictions and assessments. The exact day and date of Ramadan 2026’s commencement may vary. You may follow the official announcements by your respective authorities.
