Global Astronomers Criticise Saudi Arabia's Determination of 1 Ramadan — Did They Really Follow the Hisab Method?
As in previous years, Muslims across the world faced disagreement over the determination of the start of the holy month of Ramadan 1447 H. Saudi Arabia, together with a number of Gulf states, officially began fasting on Wednesday 18 February 2026, whilst the majority of other Muslim countries, including Indonesia and Egypt, commenced Ramadan on Thursday 19 February 2026.
Saudi authorities announced on Tuesday evening (17 February 2026) that relevant teams had successfully observed the crescent moon (hilal). The announcement was promptly followed by the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Yemen, Afghanistan and Palestine. Sunni religious authorities in Iraq and Lebanon also set the start of Ramadan on the same day.
A host of countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Turkey, Egypt and Oman, announced that Ramadan would begin on Thursday (19 February 2026). Local authorities determined that the hilal was not visible in their territories. The same applied to Muslim communities in Singapore, Japan, France and Australia.
Saudi Arabia's determination this year drew sharp criticism from the scientific community, as reported by Middle East Eye. For many years, Saudi Arabia has frequently reported successful crescent-moon sightings on dates when astronomers insist the hilal would have been scientifically impossible to observe.
In the UAE, the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology (SAASST) had previously stated that it was scientifically impossible to sight the hilal on Tuesday evening (17 February), even with the most advanced technology available.
Saudi authorities announced on Tuesday evening (17 February 2026) that relevant teams had successfully observed the crescent moon (hilal). The announcement was promptly followed by the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Yemen, Afghanistan and Palestine. Sunni religious authorities in Iraq and Lebanon also set the start of Ramadan on the same day.
A host of countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Turkey, Egypt and Oman, announced that Ramadan would begin on Thursday (19 February 2026). Local authorities determined that the hilal was not visible in their territories. The same applied to Muslim communities in Singapore, Japan, France and Australia.
Saudi Arabia's determination this year drew sharp criticism from the scientific community, as reported by Middle East Eye. For many years, Saudi Arabia has frequently reported successful crescent-moon sightings on dates when astronomers insist the hilal would have been scientifically impossible to observe.
In the UAE, the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology (SAASST) had previously stated that it was scientifically impossible to sight the hilal on Tuesday evening (17 February), even with the most advanced technology available.