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📢 ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING THE START OF RAMADAN
1447 AH / 2026 AD
There are two primary scholarly approaches in the Islamic world regarding the start of Ramadan. Both are based on astronomical calculations but differ in technical application. This divergence is considered a legitimate difference of legal reasoning (ijtihad).
The European Council for Fatwa and Research (ECFR) and the Presidency of Religious Affairs of Turkey (Diyanet) accept astronomical calculations as religiously valid but require that the calculation also allows for the practical visibility of the moon. If the moon’s age and illumination are too low for physical sighting, they prefer to delay the start of the month by one day, even if technical geometric thresholds are met.
In contrast, the Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA / ISNA) deems the fulfillment of specific geometric criteria (the moon reaching certain degrees and angles above the horizon) as sufficient. They may commence the month based on these calculations without requiring the possibility of physical sighting.
For the current year (1447 AH / 2026 AD), various Islamic centers and institutions have announced that Ramadan begins on the evening of Tuesday, February 17, 2026, following scientific evaluations and sighting reports from different regions.
🕌 Mosque Policy
Based on regional scientific evaluations and the objective of maintaining local communal unity, our mosque has adopted the following schedule:
• First Taraweeh Prayer: Tuesday evening, February 17
• First Day of Fasting: Wednesday, February 18
📢 RAMAZAN BAŞLANGICI HAKKINDA CAMİ DUYURUSU
1447 H / 2026 M
Ramazan ayının başlangıcı konusunda İslam dünyasında, astronomik hesapları esas alan ancak uygulama detaylarında farklılaşan iki ana ilmî yaklaşım bulunmaktadır. Bu farklılık, meşru bir ictihad farkıdır.
European Council of Fatwa and Research (ECFR) ve Türkiye Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı, Ramazan’ın başlangıcında astronomik hesaplamayı şer‘î olarak geçerli kabul etmekle birlikte, bu hesabın ayın fiilî (pratik) olarak görülebilir olmasını da mümkün kılması gerektiği görüşündedir. Ayın yaşı ve aydınlanmasının son derece düşük olduğu durumlarda, teknik eşikler sağlansa bile fiilî rü’yetin mümkün olmadığı kanaatiyle Ramazan’ın başlatılmasını bir gün sonraya bırakmayı tercih ederler.
Buna karşılık, Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA / ISNA), belirlenen geometrik kriterlerin (ayın ufuk üzerinde belirli derece ve açılara ulaşması) sağlanmasını yeterli görmekte; fiilî rü’yeti ayrıca şart koşmadan Ramazan’ı başlatabilmektedir.
Bu yıl (1447 H / 2026 M), dünyanın farklı bölgelerinden gelen rü’yet ve ilmî değerlendirmeler neticesinde birçok İslami merkez ve kurum Ramazan’ın 17 Şubat 2026 Salı akşamı başlamasını ilan etmiştir.
🕌 Camimizin Tercihi
Camimiz, bulunduğumuz bölgedeki ilmî değerlendirmeler ve yerel birlik dikkate alınarak aşağıdaki uygulamayı esas almıştır:
• İlk teravih namazı: Salı akşamı (17 Şubat)
• İlk oruç günü: Çarşamba (18 Şubat)
At the Southeast Islamic Community Center (SEICC), we believe that differences among us exist so that we may become acquainted with and understand each other better:
“O men! Behold, We have created you all out of a male and a female, and have made you into nations and tribes, so that you might come to know one another.” (The Qur’an: 49/13)
As the people of 21st century, we live in a very complex world. Concepts and phenomena like technology, globalization, communication, economy, Internet are heavily influencing our daily lives. In contrast to the past, we accomplish so many things in an easier and faster way, yet despite our amazing achievements, we still have not been able to eradicate tensions, wars and social unease among humanity. It seems that our souls are still in search of serenity.
The Southeast Islamic Community Center (SEICC), as another component of this complex world, seeks to lighten the burdens of our lives by providing understanding among people. In this mission, we primarily hope to provide understanding between Turkish people and American society as well as Muslims and non-Muslims. In order to accomplish this mission, we’ll engage in interfaith dialogue, produce educational resources and opportunities, organize humanitarian activities and utilize the universal tongue of art.
Southeast Islamic Community Center