SRINAGAR: The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia has announced that the sighting of the crescent moon for Ramadan 2026 is scheduled for Tuesday. The court urged Muslims across the country to attempt to sight the moon and report their observations to the nearest court, whether seen with the naked eye or using binoculars.
Astronomical calculations indicate that the first day of Ramadan 2026 will likely fall on Thursday, February 19, in most countries, including Saudi Arabia. Experts predict that the crescent moon will not be visible on Tuesday night.
Morocco is also expected to sight the Ramadan crescent on Tuesday, but local astronomers similarly anticipate that it will not be visible, making Thursday the probable first day of Ramadan.
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is observed worldwide by Muslims through fasting from dawn to sunset. The duration of daily fasting varies by location based on sunset timings.
In Morocco, iftar—the meal to break the fast—often includes dates, milk or water, and traditional dishes such as harira, msmen, and briouat. Most Muslims attend mosques for sunset prayers before returning home for the meal.
After iftar, Muslims perform isha prayers followed by Taraweeh, special nightly prayers during Ramadan, which are conducted in sets of multiple rakats and include Quran recitations. Many Muslims also aim to complete reading the Quran over the course of the month.
