The International Astronomy Center announced that Tuesday, January 20, 2026, will mark the beginning of the month of Shaban 1447 AH in the majority of Islamic countries. This follows the impossibility of sighting the crescent moon on Sunday, January 18, which corresponds to the twenty-ninth of the month of Rajab in many countries across the Islamic world.
Engineer Mohammad Shawkat Odeh, Director of the International Astronomy Center, explained in a statement that sighting the Shaban crescent on the evening of Sunday, January 18, is impossible from all regions of the Islamic world because the moon sets before the sun. This necessitates completing the month of Rajab as thirty days, making Tuesday, January 20, the first day of Shaban in these countries.
He noted that for some Islamic countries, including Pakistan, Iran, Bangladesh, Oman, Jordan, Syria, Libya, Mauritania, and Albania, the twenty-ninth of Rajab will fall on Monday, January 19.
He further explained that sighting the crescent on that day is possible in most countries of the Islamic world using a telescope only, though it will be extremely difficult in Australia, Europe, Asia, and East Africa. In contrast, there is a relatively better possibility for sighting in Central, West, and South Africa, as well as parts of the Americas, where the crescent can be easily seen with the naked eye from Central America only.
Based on these data, the center suggested that most of these countries will begin the month of Shaban on Tuesday, January 20, while the start of the month is expected to be Wednesday, January 21, in some of them.
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