First Day of Ramadan 1447 and Eid ul-Fitr

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Based on the ICCNC policy for determining the start of Ramadan (summarized below), Ramadan 1447 is on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

The new moon for Shawwal (conjunction) will occur on February, March 19, 2026. Therefore, Eid ul-Fitr and the first day of Shawwal 1447 will be Friday, March 20th, 2026.

ICCNC Policy on Declaring the First Day of Ramadan
Bismillāh-er Rahmān-er Rahim wa bèhī nastaʿeen

Beloved community, may the peace and blessings of the most Merciful be upon you.

The occasion of the sacred month of Ramadan is uniquely cherished and its commencement, highly anticipated within the life and love of the believers. Yet, there has been, and continues to be, much debate and divergent views around the actual start of the month and the truest method to determine its beginning. In recent years, the discussions have expanded as a number of prominent marājeʿ have either taken a view that uniquely shifts from the historic method of sighting the new moon with purely the human eye (or basic tools), or have offered an amalgamation of a scientific calculation and the historical method: meaning that they accept the permissibility of precise scientific calculations that inform us of when the birth of the new moon will occur, and thus remove some of the complications around atmospheric impacts and other human related factors. However, they also state that a number of trustworthy individuals may also confirm the sighting using telescopic tools (if needed) in order to affirm the presence of the new moon. 

With that brief summary in mind and understanding that the views of the marājeʿ around this issue varies and will continue to do so, I would like the community to be informed that the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California (ICCNC) will utilize scientific calculations alongside the safety measure of corroboration, which would thus mark the beginning of the sacred month of Ramadan on Wednesday February 18th. For community members who do not ascribe to this method the start of the month will be the following day, marking 30 days of the blessed month of Shaʿbān. 

The intention here is to clarify the approach of our beloved center and maintain appreciation and acceptance that some may have divergent approaches. Regardless, we pray that we come together during this sacred time as one community. I pray that this is our most transformative and felt Ramadan yet, and that we enter into the month with purified intentions and experience the inner and outer beauties of the month. I look forward to seeing you with us for our planned programs. Please come with your families and invite your friends. 

May our Creator and Sustainer, the God of Mercy and Justice, bless all of you, and all of us. 

Allahumma Ṣall-è ʿalā Muhammad wa āl-e Muhammad 

With duʿās,

Rashid