Ramadan Has Arrived!

 It's official!  The crescent moon was sighted last night, the 17th, according to breaking news this morning, the 18th, at Ahram Online.  That means fasting will begin tomorrow on the 19th.

Following Maghreb prayers after sunset, Dar Al-Ifta confirmed that Wednesday, 18 February, marks the 30 th and last day in Sha’ban, based on the sighting of the crescent moon.

Note that other countries may vary!

In recent years, several Muslim-majority countries have adopted astronomical calculations to determine the start of Islamic lunar months.

However, Egypt’s Dar Al-Ifta affirmed that, despite astronomical calculations, the official announcement of the first day of Ramadan 2026 depends on the legitimate moon sighting in accordance with established religious criteria.

Egyptian Streets supplies more details:

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar announced that Ramadan will begin on Wednesday 18 February. In recent years, it has been common for countries across the region to announce different start dates.

Other countries across the world, such as Syria, Jordan, Oman, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Philippines and Australia have said that Ramadan will commence on Thursday 19 February, aligning with Egypt.

Perhaps most importantly, Egyptian Streets says:

In Egypt, Ramadan carries a unique cultural atmosphere that blends religious devotion with longstanding traditions.

Streets and balconies are adorned with colourful fanous (Ramadan lanterns), a tradition dating back centuries to the Fatimid era. Families gather each evening for iftar, the meal that breaks the fast, often beginning with dates and water before sharing soups, stews and classic dishes. Mosques across the country host Taraweeh prayers late into the night, drawing large congregations.

People are out in the streets rushing to make last-minute purchases. (Have you stocked up on dates and oranges? Tomorrow will a peaceful quiet will descend on Cairo as people adjust to new work and shopping hours.  But everyone will be having an Iftar (break fast) meal around 6:15 p.m.