RIYADH (Kashmir English): The Saudi Supreme Court on Tuesday announced that the crescent moon of the holy month of Ramzan 1447 AH has been sighted on Tuesday evening, February 17.
As a result, Ramzan will officially begin tonight, and the first Ramzan will be observed on Wednesday, February 18, marking the start of the holy month of fasting and prayer across the Kingdom.
Moreover, authorities in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have also confirmed that Wednesday will mark the start of Ramadan following the sighting of the crescent moon.
Meanwhile, muslims in Türkiye, Oman, Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia will observe the first Ramadan on Thursday, after authorities in these countries confirmed the start of the holy month based on astronomical calculations.
The Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs said the first Tarawih will be held on Wednesday evening and the first day of fasting will be on Thursday.
Others, including Brunei, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan, have also announced that the Ramzan moon has not been sighted today, and the first day of fasting will fall on Thursday.
In India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Iran, religious authorities will search for the Ramzan moon on February 18, corresponding to the 29th day of the Islamic month of Shaban.
Ramadan moonsighting forecast (pehla roza kab hai 2026?)
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) indicates that the new moon is expected to be born at 5:01 PM on February 17. By the evening of February 18, the moon’s age will be approximately 26 hours in Karachi, which significantly exceeds the 19-hour minimum required for visibility.
In major cities like Karachi, the sun is forecast to set at 6:25 PM, with the moon following at 7:24 PM, giving observers nearly an hour-long window to spot the crescent, it said.
While meteorologists predict partly cloudy skies across many regions, visibility remains promising for a Wednesday evening sighting.
Despite these technical forecasts, the final decision remains with the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, chaired by Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, which will meet on the evening of February 18 to verify reports from across the country.
If the moon is sighted as predicted, the first Taraweeh prayers will be held on the night of February 18, followed by the first day of fasting on February 19.
