League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland announces February 18 as start of Ramadan

PROMINENT Islamic leaders and scholars under the umbrella of the League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland have announced Wednesday, 18 February 2026, as the commencement date for this year’s Ramadan fast.

The declaration was made in a communique read to journalists by the Grand Mufti of Yorubaland, Sheikh AbdulRasaq AbdulAzeez Ishola, at the end of the league’s meeting held on Thursday in the Bodija area of Ibadan, Oyo State.

The meeting was attended by key Islamic leaders across the South West, including the President General of the league, Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere Bello; the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh AbdulGaniy Abubakri Agbotomokekere; the Chief Imam of Ogun State, Sheikh Saadulah Bamgbola; the Chief Imam of Osun State, Sheikh Musa Rabiu Animasahun; and the Grand Chief Imam of Ondo State, Sheikh AbdulHakeem Yayi Akorede.

Also present were the chairman of the League of Imams and Alfas in Lagos State, Sheikh Seifudeen Ademoritan Olowooribi; the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Sheikh Muhammad Habibullah Adam Abdullah Elllory; the Secretary General of the League, Sheikh Mustapha Adewale Hossein Doak; Professor Kamil Oloso; Dr AbdulBarri Adetunji; and other prominent Islamic leaders and scholars from the six states of the South West.

In the communique, the league stated that the decision to commence Ramadan on Wednesday, 18 February, is based on established astronomical calculations and authoritative Islamic jurisprudential resolutions.

It explained that the announcement aligns with the resolutions of the first session of the Unified Hijri Calendar Committee held in Istanbul, Turkiye, between November 27 and 30, 1978.

The league noted that this position was subsequently confirmed by the International Figh Council in its Resolution No. 18 during its third conference in 1986, as well as the outcomes of a scientific symposium on the Hijri calendar held in Paris in February 2012.

It cited resolutions of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy and outcomes of international conferences on lunar month determination and the unification of the Hijri calendar, attended by scholars of Sharia, jurists and Muslim astronomers from across the world.

According to the communique, precise astronomical calculations confirm that the conjunction (astronomical new moon) of Ramadan 1447 AH will occur at 1:01 p.m. Nigerian local time on Tuesday, 17 February 2026.

“On the same evening, the moon shall set after the sun throughout Nigeria, remaining above the horizon for about 12 minutes. With these conditions fulfilled, the crescent shall be visible, confirming Wednesday, 18 February 2026, as the first day of Ramadan, In shaʾ Allah,” the league declared.

It also clarified that “Wednesday, 18 March 2026, shall mark the 29th day of Ramadan,” with “no possibility of crescent sighting that evening.”

It added that as “the conjunction for Shawwāl will occur on Thursday, 19 March 2026, Ramadan this year shall be completed as 30 days.”

The league reaffirmed that astronomical calculations, alongside visual sighting and the completion of 30 days, remain valid Islamic methods for determining the beginning of Islamic months.

It emphasised that this methodology, adopted for nearly five decades, has fostered unity and religious harmony among Muslims in Southwestern Nigeria.

The league prayed for acceptance of fasting and worship, and for peace, unity and spiritual elevation for the Muslim Ummah throughout the blessed month. (Nigerian Tribune)