Sunday, April 3rd, 2022, will be the first day of the holy month of Ramadan,…
In the Name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Announcement Concerning:
The Crescent Moon of the Holy Month of Ramadan, 1447 A.H.
اضغط هنا لملاحظة بيان هلال شهر رمضان المبارك ١٤٤٧ هـ
To the respected believers in North America,
Peace be upon you.
The Moon-Sighting Committee of the Council of Shia Muslim Scholars of North America announces that Thursday, February 19th, 2026, will be the first day of the Holy Month of Ramadan, 1447 A.H., for the entire region of North America.
This determination is based on the fact that there were no verified sightings of the crescent by the naked eye at sunset on Tuesday, February 17th, 2026, in any region of North America, due to the impossibility of sighting. Therefore, for areas that started Shaban on Tuesday, January 20th, Wednesday will be the last day of Shaban. And for the areas that started Shaban on Wednesday, January 21st, Wednesday will be the 29th day of Shaban. However, based on the astronomical data, the crescent sighting on Wednesday night is certain; therefore, those areas will also observe February 19th as the first day of Ramadan.
Ramadan Mubarak! We ask God, the Most High, to accept your fasting, grant success in performing good deeds, and to hasten the Return of Our Master, Imam Mahdi (p).
Moon-Sighting Committee
Sayyid M. Rizvi, Toronto
Shaykh M. Jafar Bangloori, Miami, Florida
Sayyid Hamed Hashemi, Tampa, Florida
Shaykh Amin Rastani, Dallas, Texas
Shaykh Jafar Muhibollah, Austin, Texas
Sayyid Jawad Sajjadi, San Jose, California
Shaykh Ahmad Modarres, Los Angeles, California
Important Islamic Events this Month:
(Click here for a note about varying dates for Islamic events)
- 6 Ramadan (Feb. 24): Allegiance of Imam Ali al-Rida (p), (Year 201 A.H.)
- 10 Ramadan (Feb. 28): Death of Lady Khadijah (p), (Year 3 B.H.)
- 12 Ramadan (March 2): Welcoming of the Muslims in Madinah, (Year 1 A.H.)
- 15 Ramadan (March 5): Birthday of Imam Hasan ibn Ali (p), (Year 2 A.H.)
- 17 Ramadan (March 7): The Battle of Badr, (Year 2 A.H.)
- 19 Ramadan (March 9): Attack on Imam Ali (p) in Masjid al-Kufa, (Year 40 A.H.); 1st Observance of the Nights of Destiny (Layali al-Qadr) – Starts in the evening on Sunday, March 8th
- 20 Ramadan (March 10): The Conquest of Mecca, (Year 8 A.H.)
- 21 Ramadan (March 11): Martyrdom of Imam Ali (p) in Kufa, Iraq, (Year 40 A.H.); 2nd Observance of the Nights of Destiny (Layali al-Qadr) – Starts in the evening on Tuesday, March 10th
- 23 Ramadan (March 13): 3rd (Final) Observance of the Nights of Destiny (Layali al-Qadr) – Starts in the evening on Thursday, March 12th
A Friendly Reminder
Feed the Fasting in Need – Click here to learn how you can gain what the Holy Prophet (pbuh) promised before you miss the opportunity, by feeding the fasting in need.
Fidyah and Kaffarah – Click here for a reminder on some of the most important rulings regarding Qada (make-up) fasts and offering Fidyah and Kaffarah (expiation for missing fasts).
Islamic Laws of Fasting – Click here to get your copy of Islamic Laws of Fasting: According to the Rulings of Grand Ayatullah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani.
Note:
- This announcement from the Crescent Committee is per the request of numerous community members across North America to help in identifying the beginning of the Hijri months.
- To learn about our basis for determining the beginning of lunar months and the theory about the unity of horizons, click here.
- To read Frequently Asked Questions about the Announcements of the Crescent Committee, click here.
The Moon-Sighting Committee was established during the seventh annual conference of The Council of Shia Muslim Scholars of North America, and has been providing monthly sighting announcements to the North American Shia Muslim communities since 2007. The Council adopts/renews its members on an annual basis.
To learn about our basis for determining the beginning of lunar months and the theory about the unity of horizons, click here.