The Green Islamic Foundation

بسم الله الرحمٰن الرحيم

الحمد لله رب العالمين

الصلاة و سلام على سيدنا محمد و على آله و صحبه

This announcement regarding the first of Shawwal is delayed by more than week. This is only because of the busy nature of the time and the celebrations of the community. Eid al Fitr is a one-day celebration, unlike Eid al Kabir (Eid Al Adha) which due to the days of tashriq is celebrated over three to four days. It is exciting to announce that while the Muslims of the United States did not begin Ramadan on the same day, the Eid and the first day of Shawwal 1447 AH were unanimously celebrated and observed on the 20th of March 2026 C.E.

On Thursday night in Central New Jersey the western horizon was very clear. Around 7:36 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) from the parking lot of our residence, my son and I were able to sight a very thin crescent with its horns at the 5 and 7 o’clock points. It was only at a 1% luminosity and nearly masked due to the rays of the sun. Alhamdulillah we were able to view it with our naked eyes and only 4 minutes away at the Muslim Center of Greater Princeton (MCGP) 30 believers were able to sight the same hilal. There were sightings of this thin hilal throughout the United States, from the east coast to the west coast. A multitude of of masajid across the United States also followed the declaration of the Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA) who before the onset of Ramadan declared that Eid would be on the 20th of March, 2026 C.E. The only difference in these two calendars is the number days within this year’s Ramadan. For the Muslim moon sighters and those follow that approach, Ramadan was only 29 days. For those who followed the FCNA, who’s approach to the establishing the Hijri months is a criteria derived from astronomical calculations, as well as those who followed the sighting of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ramadan was a full 30 days.

An interesting note: According to astronomical calculations and observation of the phases of the moon, the astronomical new moon was birthed on the evening of March 18th (from the vantage point of the United States) and it set before the sun did on that day. March 18th, 2026 CE corresponded with the 29th day of Ramadan who began the month on February 18th, 2026 CE. Therefore, from the standpoint of calculations, the establishment of the beginning of the month on that date, even though it was clear that in reality there was a strong implausibility that the hilal would be seen even with optical aids anywhere in the world, also made it impossible for this year’s Ramadan to conclude with 29 days due to the known and expected birth of the astronomical moon on that same day after it set. With being known at the onset of the month, alhamdulillah, those who followed the sighting of Saudi Arabia, maintained the integrity of the practice of the Sunnah and still went to sight the hilal on March 18th, 2026 C.E. They were unable to sight it and concluded Ramadan with a 30th day that corresponded with the 29th day of other moon sighters around the world. The only Muslims, to my knowledge, that did not celebrate Eid al Fitr on March 20th, 2026 C.E. were a select group of moon sighting Muslims in the United Kingdom. They began Ramadan on the 19th of February, 2026 C.E., but did not sight the hilal on the 19th of March, 2026 C.E. Therefore, they celebrated Eid on March 21st, 2026 C.E. in accordance with their local sighting. They also concluded 30 days of Ramadan. May Allah accept our efforts to establish and maintain the sunnah of our Beloved Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم. May Allah bless everyone in this month of Shawwal, accept their worship of Ramadan and bless us to continue our remembrance of Him, Glorious and Exalted is He.

Lavon Luther Brown

The Executive Director of The Green Islamic Foundation