Ramadan 1447: Islamic World Divided on Start Date Following Saudi Sighting

Saudi Arabia and Gulf States Declare Wednesday Start

Following the sighting of the crescent moon at the Tumair observatory, the Royal Court of Saudi Arabia announced that Wednesday, February 18, 2026, marks the first day of the holy month of Ramadan for the year 1447 AH. According to reports from Akhbar Al-Saudia and Al Jazeera, the Supreme Court confirmed the sighting, prompting immediate announcements across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Qatar News Agency confirmed that the Crescent Sighting Committee at the Ministry of Endowments declared Wednesday the start of the holy month. Similarly, the UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain followed suit, aligning with the Saudi announcement.

Egypt, Jordan, and Others Wait for Thursday

In a notable divergence from the Gulf bloc, several major Arab nations announced that the moon was not sighted, declaring Wednesday to be the completion of the month of Sha'ban. Dar al-Ifta in Egypt announced via AlAraby TV that Thursday, February 19, would be the first day of Ramadan.

Similarly, in Jordan, the Grand Mufti Ahmed Al-Hasnat stated that the crescent was not visible. According to Jordan Telegram, the Council of Ifta declared “Wednesday is the complement of Sha'ban, and Thursday is the beginning of the blessed month of Ramadan.”

Syria also officially announced a Thursday start through the National Committee for Sighting Crescents, a position echoed by Oman and authorities in North African nations including Tunisia, Algeria, and Libya.

Narrative Analysis: Internal Regional and Sectarian Splits

While the dataset contains no Hebrew-language sources to contrast with, a significant “cross-narrative” emerges within the Arabic sphere, defined by sectarian and political lines rather than language.

The Palestinian Consensus

Despite the geographical proximity to Jordan and Egypt (who chose Thursday), religious authorities in Palestine aligned with the Saudi timeline. The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian Territories, Sheikh Muhammad Hussein, announced via Al-Aqsa Channel and Qastal News that “tomorrow, Wednesday, is the first day of the blessed month of Ramadan.” This announcement was widely amplified by channels across the political spectrum, from Gaza Now to Palestine TV, emphasizing a unified Palestinian stance.

The Sectarian Divide in Iraq and Lebanon

Narratives in countries with mixed Sunni-Shiite populations highlighted the recurring issue of dual observances: Iraq: The Sunni Endowment officially declared Wednesday as the start of Ramadan, as reported by Iraq Edu. Conversely, channels aligned with the Shiite “Resistance Axis,” such as Rased Al-Adwo, reported that the office of Grand Ayatollah Sistani declared Thursday as the first day. Lebanon: A similar split occurred. The Sunni Mufti announced Wednesday. However, reports from Lebanon News 24 indicated that the office of Ayatollah Khamenei and the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council set the start for Thursday. Notably, the office of the late Sayyed Fadlallah, known for relying on astronomical calculations, declared Wednesday.

Unification in Yemen

In a departure from political fragmentation, religious timing in Yemen appeared to converge. The Aden-based government (Ministry of Endowments) initially declared Wednesday. Later, the Houthi-controlled Dar al-Ifta in Sana'a also declared Wednesday. Yemen News Network noted this unification: “Dar al-Ifta in Sana'a: Tomorrow Wednesday is the first day... thus the month of fasting is unified across all of Yemen.”

The Scientific/Astronomical Bloc

Non-Arab Muslim nations primarily relied on calculation rather than physical sighting. Reports circulated by Anadolu Agency and Akhbar Al-Saudia confirmed that Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore had predetermined Thursday as the start of Ramadan due to the lack of astronomical possibility for a sighting on Tuesday night.