The divergence around the start of Ramadan 2026

In a few days the month of Ramadan will begin. But this year, a discrepancy emerged regarding the start of the fast. This subject has become very present in discussions and on social networks, and unfortunately certain comments have crossed the limits of Muslim ethics.

Has not Allah ordered:“And speak good words to the people” (C2-V83)?

And did not the Prophet (ﷺ) say:“Insulting a Muslim is perverse. » (Bukhari and Muslim)?

This is why I wanted to explain this divergence calmly and simply, far from complex arguments, in order to reassure hearts and avoid discord.

1) The legitimacy of astronomical calculation

The Prophet (ﷺ) said:“Fast from his vision and break from his vision. » (Bukhari and Muslim)

For over fourteen centuries, Muslims have used eye vision. But we must understand one essential thing: vision is not worship in itselfit is simply a AVERAGE to know that the month is beginning.

At the time of the Prophet (ﷺ), astronomical calculation was neither precise nor accessible. The Prophet (ﷺ) said to his companions:“We are a community that does not practice writing or arithmetic. » (Bukhari and Muslim)

To impose the calculation on this period would have been an immense difficulty, if not impossible. But Islam imposes neither the impossible nor excessive difficulty.

If vision is a means, then the means can evolve. This is exactly what Muslims did for prayer times: today, everyone uses astronomical calculation. No one goes out to watch the dawn or the sunset.

A question then arises: Why did we accept the sun’s calculation for prayers and refuse the moon’s calculation for months?

Allah, however, lists His blessings in the chapter Ar-Rahman :“The sun and the moon move according to a precise calculation. » (C55-V5)

Who then authorized us to calculate the astronomical value of the sun for prayer times and forbid us to calculate the moon for the start of the month of Ramadan, even though both are divine blessings?

In addition, today, astronomical calculation is very precise, does not depend on clouds, avoids errors (fasting Eid or breaking a day of Ramadan by mistake) and allows Muslims to organize their lives. Thus, calculation becomes the modern means which makes it possible to achieve the objective of the vision: the certainty of the entry of the month.

2) Why a divergence this year?

In 2016, an international congress in Istanbul brought together 170 theologians and astronomers from all over the world. They then adopted the unified Hijri world calendarbased on the calculation: if the crescent is established somewhere in the world, the month begins the next day for everyone.

The goal was to propose a universal calendar to unify Muslims around the world in their fasting and celebrations.

This system has been applied for ten years without problems in Türkiye, Europe and North America. But this year, a congress condition was activated: do not retain very late observations after midnight (UTC) in the Pacific.

This situation is exceptional and very rare. This condition aimed to stay close to announcements from the Muslim world and to avoid difficulties for Muslims living in the Far East (New Zealand).

So :

• Turkey and the European Fatwa Council declared Thursday February 19 as the start of the month of Ramadan.

• The Muslim Theological Council of France and the Fiqh Council of North America declared Wednesday February 18.

It is essential to note that everyone agrees on astronomical data. The divergence is only methodological.

The Muslim Theological Council of France (CTMF) chose Wednesday for three reasons:

1. The principle of the universality of fasting

2. Visibility conditions met in French Polynesia

3. At the time of visibility (Wednesday February 18 at 03:42 GMT), Europe, Africa and America are at night, allowing the formulation of the intention before Fajr (dawn)

Thus, according to the universality of fasting, Muslims on these three continents are affected by the start of Ramadan on Wednesday.

Therefore, each opinion — Wednesday or Thursday — is based on legitimate religious reasoning.

3) How to manage this divergence?

Muslim scholars have always known divergence in mutual benevolence and considered difference as mercy and wealth.

Four legal schools — Hanafis, Mâlikites, Shafi’ites and Hanbalites — have existed since the first centuries, with thousands of points of divergence, and respect each other despite their differences.

Even for prayer times, based on astronomical calculations, there are today several references (18°, 15° and 12°). In the same city, two mosques can differ by thirty minutes for Fajr or Ichâ’. Why accept this diversity for prayer and refuse it for Ramadan?

Those who declare Wednesday to begin the fast, like the Muslim Theological Council of France, follow the majority opinion of jurists (Hanafis, Malikites and Hanbalites) who advocate the universality of the fast.

Those who declare Thursday follow the legal opinion of the Shâfi’ite school, which defends the difference of horizons.

This divergence has existed for over a thousand years and is not new.

Conclusion

In the end, some good news: the Islamic authorities of Europe, Turkey and America have decided to meet after Ramadan in order to harmonize the future.

May Allah accept our fast, calm our hearts and unite us in good.

Dr. Mohamed Najah
Founder of the Najah Institute of Islamic Sciences (online)
Member of the Muslim Theological Council of France