Ramadan Crescent Not Sighted; Fasting to Begin on February 19 in Multiple Countries
**Istanbul/Jakarta/Kuala Lumpur/Singapore/Sydney:** The crescent moon marking the beginning of Ramadan was not sighted in several countries, prompting authorities to announce that the first fast will be observed on Thursday, February 19.
In Istanbul, Turkish officials confirmed that the Ramadan moon was not visible, and fasting will commence on February 19. Similarly, authorities in Oman announced that the first day of Ramadan is expected to fall on Thursday.
According to official media in Indonesia, the crescent was not sighted, and the holy month will begin on February 19. Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei have also set the same date after moon-sighting efforts proved unsuccessful.
In Australia, the Australian Fatwa Council confirmed that Ramadan will begin on February 19. The European Council for Fatwa and Research (ECFR) similarly announced that Thursday will mark the first day of Ramadan, noting that while the astronomical birth of the moon occurred earlier in the week, it was impossible to sight it with the naked eye or optical instruments.
Across Africa and much of Asia, the start of Ramadan 2026 is also expected to align with February 19, based on astronomical calculations and moon-sighting reports.
In France, the French Council of the Muslim Faith confirmed that fasting will begin on Thursday, February 19, citing astronomical data that showed the new moon conjunction occurred on February 17 at 1:01 PM Paris time.
