First Roza in Saudi Arabia on Feb 18 as Ramadan Moon Sighted

2026-02-17 - 15:23

RIYADH – The holy month of Ramadan 1447 has officially started in Saudi Arabia after the crescent moon was sighted tonight. Wednesday, 18 February 2026, will mark the first day of fasting in the Kingdom, bringing joy and spiritual anticipation to millions of Muslims. However, the global observance of Ramadan is seeing a split. Religious authorities in Turkey, Oman, Indonesia, Australia, Brunei, and Singapore have all declared Thursday as the first day of Ramadan. Islamic councils in these countries explained that, following their local moon-sighting assessments, the crescent was recognized later, resulting in the Thursday start. As Muslims worldwide prepare for fasting, prayer, and spiritual reflection, this variation underscores the importance of local traditions in determining the beginning of the sacred month. The differing shows rich diversity of Islamic practices and the shared devotion that unites the global Muslim community. Ramadan 2026 in Pakistan Pakistan’s Ruet-e-Hilal Committee (RHC) will meet in Peshawar on Wednesday to sight the crescent marking the start of Ramadan, state media reported. The committee, responsible for determining the dates of Islamic months and Eid festivals, confirms dates after visually observing the moon and collecting reports from across the country. The meeting will be chaired by Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, with zonal and district RHC offices holding parallel sessions at local headquarters. Pakistan’s national space agency has predicted that the Ramadan crescent is likely to be visible on Feb. 18, making Feb. 19 the probable first day of Ramadan. During the holy month, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. Ramadan concludes with Eid-ul-Fitr, a religious festival celebrated worldwide to mark the end of fasting. Lahore Sehari, Iftari timings as Ramadan 2026 approaches