17/02/2026
🌙 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗻
To begin Ramadan, Muslims look for the hilal (the very thin new crescent moon). Here’s how moon-sighting is traditionally done:
1️⃣ 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴
The moon is searched for on the 29th day of Sha’ban (the month before Ramadan). Go out just after sunset, not before.
2️⃣ 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Face the western horizon (where the sun just set). The crescent appears low in the sky, slightly above where the sun disappeared.
3️⃣ 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗮 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Find a place with:
🔘Clear horizon (no tall buildings/mountains)
🔘Minimal light pollution
🔘Open desert, beach, or rooftop works well (in Qatar, desert edges outside Doha are ideal).
4️⃣ 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲
Wait about 10–30 minutes after sunset. The crescent is very thin and faint, so it may take patience.
5️⃣ 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗳 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱
Naked eye is preferred traditionally. But binoculars or a small telescope can help locate it first.
6️⃣ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴
🔘If the crescent is seen → Ramadan starts the next day.
🔘If not seen → Sha’ban completes 30 days, and Ramadan starts the following day.
