Shawwal moon sightings across several Muslim-majority countries have confirmed that Eid-ul-Fitr will be observed on Saturday, March 21, 2026, as the crescent moon was not sighted on Thursday evening.
Across Southeast Asia and South Asia, official announcements indicated that the moon was not visible. Malaysia confirmed that the Shawwal moon had not been sighted, setting Eid for March 21. Bangladesh’s Ruet-e-Hilal Committee also reported no moon sighting and announced the same date for Eid celebrations. Indonesia similarly confirmed the absence of the crescent moon. In India, the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee in Delhi declared that the moon was not visible, and Muslims across the country will celebrate Eid on March 21. Reports from cities such as Lucknow and Hyderabad also confirmed that the crescent was not seen.
According to Afghan media, the Supreme Court of Afghanistan had announced Eid-ul-Fitr yesterday, Eid observed on Thursday.
In Pakistan, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, chaired by Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, convened a meeting in Islamabad to review moon sighting reports received from across the country. After evaluating testimonies and consulting with relevant authorities, including the Meteorological Department and SUPARCO, the committee announced that no credible or Shariah-compliant evidence of moon sighting had been received from any part of the country. Consequently, Friday will mark the 30th fast of Ramadan, and Eid-ul-Fitr will be observed on Saturday, March 21.
Despite the central announcement, a local committee in Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, claimed that the Shawwal moon had been sighted and declared Eid a day earlier. Officials stated that the Peshawar zonal committee received six testimonies, five via telephone and one in person, which were forwarded to the central committee but were ultimately deemed insufficient under Shariah standards. Authorities emphasized that no other zonal committee in the country reported valid moon sighting evidence.
Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a telephone conversation during which they exchanged Eid greetings and offered prayers for peace, unity, and prosperity for the Muslim Ummah. The two leaders also discussed regional tensions, with the Pakistani Prime Minister reiterating condemnation of recent missile attacks on Türkiye. Both sides agreed to maintain close coordination to promote mutual interests and regional cooperation.
