Saudi Arabian authorities have declared Friday, March 20, 2026, as the day for the celebration of Eid al-Fitr after confirming that the crescent moon marking the beginning of Shawwal was not sighted on Wednesday.
The announcement was made during a live broadcast of the moon sighting exercise monitored across social media platforms by Haramin Sharifain Info.
According to the update, the failure to sight the crescent means the holy month of Ramadan will complete 30 days, thereby placing Eid al-Fitr on Friday.
“BREAKING NEWS: Eid Al Fitr is on Friday, 20 March 2026. The Crescent of month of Shawwal 1447 was NOT SIGHTED anywhere in the Kingdom today, subsequently the month of Ramadan will complete 30 days tomorrow and Eid Al Fitr will be on Friday,” the platform stated.
Despite the development in Saudi Arabia, Muslims in Nigeria are still awaiting an official declaration from the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, who traditionally announces the end of Ramadan based on verified local moon sightings.
Earlier, the Sultan urged Muslims across the country to observe the new moon on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, marking the 29th day of Ramadan 1447AH.
The directive was contained in a statement issued by the Sultanate Council and signed by Sambo Wali Junaidu, the Wazirin Sokoto and Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs.
“The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs urges Muslims throughout the country to look out for the new moon of Shawwal,” the statement said.
It added that anyone who sights the crescent should report to the nearest district or village head for onward communication to the Sultanate Council for verification and official pronouncement.
The council also provided multiple telephone lines for direct reporting of credible sightings to the Sultan’s office.
In Nigeria, the Sultan’s declaration is the ultimate authority for determining the end of Ramadan and the official date for Eid al-Fitr, which can sometimes differ from the dates observed in Saudi Arabia.
The sighting of the Shawwal crescent signals the conclusion of the month-long Ramadan fast and the beginning of Eid al-Fitr, one of the most important religious festivals for Muslims worldwide.