Maumoon: Tomorrow will be first day of Ramadan

Astronomical calculations indicate Wednesday will be the first day of Ramadan, says former Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

He made the declaration in a post on X on Tuesday, in which he conveyed Ramadan greetings to Muslims across the world.

“According to astronomical calculations, tomorrow (Wednesday) will be the first day of Ramadan 1447 AH. Ramadan Mubarak to all Muslims everywhere in the world!,” he wrote.

According to astronomical calculations, tomorrow (Wednesday) will be the first day of Ramadan 1447 AH. Ramadan Mubarak to all Muslims everywhere in the world!

— Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (@maumoonagayoom) February 17, 2026

Maumoon is well known for his keen interest in astronomy and often shares his predictions on cosmic events such as eclipses.

The holy month of Ramadan begins upon confirmation of the sighting of the crescent moon.

The announcement will be made by the Islamic Ministry on Tuesday night.

However, the Maldives also uses astronomical calculations to determine the beginning of Ramadan if the crescent moon isn’t sighted.

Astronomy expert Abdulla Rasheed (Linet) told Sun that astronomical calculations show that the moon will be visible in horizon for less than a minute after sunset in southernmost islands of the Maldives on Tuesday night.

The moon-sighting protocols dictates if astronomical calculations indicate the moon will be visible on the horizon after sunset on the 29th of Sha'ban in any Islamic country, and that country confirms the sighting and notifies the Maldives, the Maldives will follow that announcement and declare the following day as the first of Ramadan.

According to Rasheed, astronomical calculations suggest the moon will set before the sun in Male' and the northern islands tomorrow, while the moon will remain on the horizon for less than a minute after sunset in all islands of the southernmost Addu City.

"Although the moon will be visible in the horizon after sunset on that day, it shows that the crescent moon will not be visible above the horizon's surface after sunset," he added.

However, Rasheed noted that astronomical calculations confirm the moon will be visible above the horizon after sunset tomorrow in several Islamic countries: Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, Cairo in Egypt, Casablanca in Morocco, and Dakar in Senegal.

Pursuant to Article 5 of the moon-sighting regulations, if any of these countries officially confirm the sighting of the moon and notify the Maldives on Tuesday night, the Maldives will commence the fasting month on Wednesday.