Astronomical calculations have revealed the dates for the month of Rajab 1447 AH and the beginning of Ramadan 2026 in Egypt, with the anticipation of the official Sharia sighting.
Search rates have increased over the past few hours regarding the astronomical date for Rajab 1447 AH, coinciding with the citizens' early interest in the upcoming religious seasons, with the blessed month of Ramadan at the forefront.
According to the astronomical calculations issued by the competent authorities, the timeline for the upcoming Hijri months has been clarified, with the emphasis that the official announcement remains contingent on what the Egyptian Dar al-Ifta announces following the Sharia sighting.
The National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics has announced that the beginning of the month of Rajab 1447 AH astronomically coincides with Sunday, December 21, 2025, following the completion of the calculations related to the birth of the crescent.
The astronomical statement clarified that the crescent of Rajab is born immediately after the conjunction at exactly 3:45 AM Cairo time on Saturday, December 20, 2025, corresponding to the 29th of Jumada Al-Akhirah 1447 AH, which is the day for sighting the crescent Sharia-wise.
The calculations indicated that the new crescent remains in the sky of Mecca for 14 minutes after sunset, and in Cairo for 10 minutes, while the duration it stays in the rest of Egypt's governorates ranges between 8 and 14 minutes. In other Arab and Islamic capitals and cities, the time the crescent stays ranges from one minute to 26 minutes, except in Ankara where the crescent sets at sunset.
As for the white days of the month of Rajab, which are the 13th, 14th, and 15th of the Hijri month, they astronomically coincide with Friday, January 2; Saturday, January 3; and Sunday, January 4, 2026, and fasting these days is among the recommended Sunnah that many Muslims adhere to.
As for the month of Ramadan 2026, preliminary astronomical calculations indicate that the start of this holy month in Egypt is expected to be on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, with the sighting of the crescent of Ramadan on the evening of Tuesday, February 17, 2026, awaiting the official announcement from the Egyptian Dar al-Ifta according to the Sharia sighting.
