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  🌙 Quick Answer: Based on the Umm al-Qura calendar, Muharram 1448 AH is expected to begin around June 16–17, 2026 in Saudi Arabia — but the final date depends on the official moon sighting announcement on the evening of the 29th of Dhul Hijjah. For over a billion Muslims worldwide, the rhythm of religious life — from Ramadan and Eid to Hajj and Ashura — is set by the moon, not the sun. And when it comes to moon sighting in Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom’s announcements often set the tone for much of the Muslim world, since many countries either follow Saudi Arabia directly or use it as a key reference point. This article explains exactly how moon sighting works in Saudi Arabia, who makes the final call, why dates sometimes differ from country to country, and what it means for the upcoming start of Muharram 1448 AH in 2026. What Is Moon Sighting and Why Does It Matter? The Islamic calendar, also called the Hijri calendar, is a purely lunar calendar. Each month begins with the sighting of a new crescent moon (hilal) shortly after sunset, and lasts either 29 or 30 days depending on when the next crescent becomes visible. Because the lunar cycle is roughly 29.5 days, there’s no fixed number of days per month the way there is in the Gregorian calendar. This is why moon sighting in Saudi Arabia — and in every Muslim-majority country — is taken so seriously: it directly determines the start and end dates of Ramadan, the two Eid holidays, the Hajj season, and other key religious observances like Muharram and Ashura. A Personal Perspective: Why Families Watch the News Every Month If you’ve ever spent Ramadan in a Muslim household, you’ll know the particular kind of anticipation that builds on the 29th night of the month. Families gather around the TV or check their phones, waiting for the announcement of whether tomorrow is Eid or whether the fast continues one more day. This same pattern repeats at the start of Muharram, Ramadan, Shawwal, and Dhul Hijjah — making moon sighting announcements one of the most-watched religious updates of the year. How Saudi Arabia Officially Confirms the Moon Sighting In Saudi Arabia, the responsibility for confirming the new crescent falls to the Crescent Sighting Committee, which operates under the authority of the Kingdom’s Supreme Court. Here’s how the process typically works: Step 1 — Pre-announcement: A few days before the 29th of the current Hijri month, the Supreme Court calls on citizens across the Kingdom to be ready to observe the new moon after sunset. Step 2 — Observation night: On the evening of the 29th, trained observers and astronomical observatories across various regions of Saudi Arabia attempt to spot the crescent moon shortly after sunset. Step 3 — Reporting: Sightings (or the absence of a sighting) are reported to the Supreme Court, which reviews testimonies alongside astronomical data. Step 4 — Official announcement: The Supreme Court issues a ruling via the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), confirming either that the new month begins the next day, or that the current month will run a full 30 days. The Role of the Umm al-Qura Calendar Saudi Arabia also maintains the Umm al-Qura calendar, an astronomically calculated calendar used for administrative and planning purposes — things like government schedules, school calendars, and long-term event planning. However, it’s important to understand that the Umm al-Qura calendar provides estimated dates only. The actual religious determination — particularly for months like Ramadan, Shawwal, and Dhul Hijjah — still depends on the Crescent Sighting Committee’s official confirmation, which can shift the Umm al-Qura estimate by a day in either direction. Moon Sighting and Muharram 1448 AH (2026) As of mid-June 2026, attention has turned to the start of Muharram 1448 AH, which marks the beginning of the new Islamic year. Based on the Umm al-Qura calendar, Muharram 1 is projected to fall around June 16, 2026, though several Islamic calendar trackers note the realistic window is between June 16 and June 18, depending on the country and its moon sighting methodology. Event Estimated Date (2026) Notes 29th Dhul Hijjah 1447 ~15 June 2026 Moon sighting attempted this evening 1 Muharram 1448 AH ~16–17 June 2026 Subject to official confirmation by Supreme Court Ashura (10 Muharram) ~25 June 2026 Falls 9 days after Muharram 1, regardless of sighting outcome Why the Date Could Shift by a Day If the crescent moon is not sighted on the evening of the 29th of Dhul Hijjah, the Supreme Court will declare that Dhul Hijjah completes its full 30 days, pushing the start of Muharram — and consequently Ashura — one day later than the Umm al-Qura estimate. This exact scenario has happened in previous years; for example, in 2024 the crescent for Muharram 1446 was not sighted on the expected evening, so Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court extended Dhul Hijjah to 30 days and announced Muharram 1 for the following day instead. Why Moon Sighting Dates Differ Between Countries One of the most common questions during any Islamic month transition is: “Why does my country celebrate on a different day than Saudi Arabia?” There are several legitimate reasons for this: 1. Geographic Visibility The crescent moon becomes visible at different times depending on longitude and latitude. A crescent that’s visible in Saudi Arabia at sunset might still be too thin or too low on the horizon to be seen from, say, Indonesia or the UK on the same evening. 2. Local vs. Global Sighting Methodology Some countries follow a strict local sighting rule — meaning the moon must be physically visible within that country’s own borders before the new month is declared there. Other countries follow global sighting, accepting a credible sighting from anywhere in the world, including Saudi Arabia, as sufficient for their own declaration. 3. Weather Conditions Cloud cover, dust, or haze can prevent observers from confirming a sighting even if the moon is technically above the horizon