Ramadan 2026: France divided in two

The start of the sacred month of Ramadan 1447 AH, scheduled for February 2026, is the subject of an unusual disagreement within the Muslim community that supports the unified astronomical calendar. According to Saphirnews, the Muslim Theological Council of France (CTMF) has set the beginning of the fast on Wednesday, February 18, while the Presidency of Religious Affairs of Turkey (Diyanet) announces Thursday, February 19.

This situation is considered exceptional because the two organizations are based on identical scientific data. The lunar conjunction will take place on February 17 at 12:01 GMT, and the visibility of the first crescent will be established on February 18 from 03:42 GMT. Despite this absolute technical consensus on astronomical facts, the conclusions differ on the interpretation of a methodological criterion of visibility.

The point of rupture lies in the consideration of visibility after midnight. The Turkish authorities and the European Council of the Fatwa rule out the possibility of starting the month if the crescent is only visible after midnight GMT. Conversely, the CTMF and the North American Fiqh Council maintain the universality of the rule, stressing that visibility is established in particular in French Polynesia, which validates the date of February 18 for a French institution.

This methodological fragmentation is already extending to the French religious landscape. While the CTMF favors the principle of global visibility without time restrictions, many mosques, particularly in Gironde, have chosen to align with the Turkish date of February 19. However, the experts and theologians consulted by Saphirnews call on the faithful to remain serene, specifying that these two interpretations are based on valid scientific and legal reasoning.