Monrovia, Liberia – The new crescent moon sighting has prompted the National Muslim Council of Liberia to declare that Muslims around the country will begin observing the holy month of Ramadan on Wednesday, February 18. The council’s body of imams, the Fatwa Council, and the Crescent Sighting Committee met one more time on Tuesday and came to the decision, confirming that the moon was spotted in Saudi Arabia in accordance with Islamic custom.
The confirmation led the council to call on Muslims all throughout the country to start fasting on Wednesday and to start praying Taraweeh at night on Tuesday. The council emphasized the custom of starting the fast when the new crescent is sighted and concluding it in the same manner, citing the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad in its statement.
Muslims around the world observe Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, as a sacred time for communal reflection, prayer, fasting, and fasting. Along with faith confession, prayer, charity, and pilgrimage, it is one of the five pillars of Islam and commemorates the revelation of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad. Through more devotion and good deeds, the month promotes spiritual development, self-discipline, and empathy for the less fortunate.
In addition to focusing on moral behavior, Muslims fast (sawm) from sunrise to sunset and refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and having sex. Pre-dawn suhoor meals, sunset iftar feasts that frequently begin with dates, Taraweeh (additional nocturnal prayers), reciting the Quran, and zakat (charity) are among the customs.
Ramadan starts about February 18 in 2026 and shifts roughly 10–11 days earlier every year. It lasts 29–30 days, depending on sightings of the crescent moon. Eid al-Fitr, a festive celebration of praise and eating, marks its conclusion.
