Islamic Leaders Announce February 18 As First Day Of Ramadan Fast

By Christianah Oladosu,Osogbo

Islamic leaders and scholars under the platform of League of Imams and Alfas in Yoruba land have announced 18 February as the date for the commencement of this year’s Ramadan fast.

The League made the declaration in a communique read to journalists by the Grand Mufti of Yoruba land, Sheikh AbdulRasaq AbdulAzeez Ishola, at the end of its meeting in Ibadan on Thursday.

The meeting was attended by President General of the League, Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere Bello, Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh AbdulGaniy Agbotomokekere, Chief Imam of Ogun State, Sheikh Saadulah Bamgbola, Chief Imam of Osun State, Sheikh Musa Rabiu Animasahun, and Grand Chief Imam of Ondo State, Sheikh AbdulHakeem Yayi Akorede.

Others at the meeting are Chairman, Leagues of Imams and Alfas in Lagos State, Sheikh Seifudeen Ademoritan Olowooribi, Chairman, Board of Trustees of the League, Sheikh Muhammad Habibullah Adam Abdullah El-Ilory, Secretary General of the League, Sheikh Mustapha Adewale Hossein Doak, Professor Kamil Oloso and Dr Abdul-Barri Adetunji and other prominent Islamic leaders and scholars from the six states in South-West Nigeria.

The League in the communique noted that the first day of Ramadan fast will be Wednesday 18 February based on its findings and based on the resolutions of the first session of the Unified Hijri Calendar Committee held in Istanbul from November 27-30, 1978.

The League while justifying its resolutions maintained that the announcement is also based on the outcomes of the International Conference on the Confirmation of Lunar Months and resolutions of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy and the outcomes of International Conference on the Unification of the Hijrah Calendar held in Istanbul from May 28-30, 2016.

The League noted that based on the above facts, it is confirmed that the Ramadan fast will begin on Wednesday, 18 February, 2026.

“The first day of Ramadan 1447 AH, Insha Allah, will be Wednesday, February 18, 2026. The League also takes this opportunity to announce the beginning of month of Ramadan in the year 1447 AH (2026 CE), in accordance with the resolutions of the first session of the Unified Hijri Calendar Committee held in Istanbul from 26-29 Dhul-Hijjah 1389 AH (November 27-30, 1978 CE).

“This is also based on the confirmation by the International Fiqh Council in its Resolution No. (18) during its third conference in 1986, as well as the outcomes of the scientific symposium held in Paris on 12-13 Rabi’ al-Awwal 1433 AH (February 4-5, 2012 CE), which was titled “The Beginning of Hijrah Months and the Hijrah Calendar”

“Additionally, this announcement is based on the outcomes of the International Conference on the Confirmation of Lunar Months, attended by scholars of Sharia and astronomical calculations, as well as the resolutions of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy affiliated with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) from 19-21 Rabi’ al-Awwal 1433 AH (February 11-13, 2012 CE), which was attended by a large number of jurists and Muslims astronomers.

“Furthermore, it is based on the outcomes of the International Conference on the Unification of the Hijrah Calendar held in Istanbul from 21-23 Sha’ban 1437 AH (May 28-30, 2016 CE), which was attended by representatives from over ninety countries, including ministries of endowments, fatwa councils, scholars, jurists, and astronomers, as well as representatives from most Islamic jurisprudential councils worldwide.

“Based on the above facts, the League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland hereby announces the following: Precise astronomical calculations for the crescent moon of Ramadan 1447AH confirm that the conjunction (Astronomical New Moon) will occur at (12:01 PM) Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, corresponding to 29 Sha’ban 1447AH, which is 1:01 (1:01 PM) local time in Nigeria.

“Furthermore, the League wishes to clarify that Wednesday, 18th March 2026, shall mark the 29th day of Ramadan. There shall be no possibility of crescent sighting on the evening of 18th March 2026, as astronomical conjunction will not yet have occurred, meaning there will be no moon at all in existence for sighting on that evening.

“The conjunction for the month of Shawwāl shall occur on Thursday, 19th March 2026 at 2:23 PM (Nigeria Local Time). Consequently, Ramadan this year shall be completed as 30 days, and fasting shall not end at 29 days,” parts of the communique read.