Revive the Sunnah to go outside and look for the new crescent moon in the evening sky that will mark the beginning of Ramadan.
Join us in the MCC parking lot after Maghrib sunset prayers (5:53 p.m.) on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, and join in the excitement when the young crescent moon (hilal) ushers in the Holy Month of Ramadan. The Tri-Valley Stargazers will be in the parking lot (weather permitting) with high-visibility telescopes, allowing us to peer into the night sky starting at 6 p.m. Jupiter, Saturn, and Mercury (possibly Venus) will be visible if the evening sky is clear.
523 Southern Halal BBQ food truck will sell dinners, and Habibi’s Falooda will provide dessert from 5 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.
MCC adheres to the traditional principle that Islamic lunar months begin and end based on confirmed, verified naked-eye sightings of the new crescent moon globally. MCC will confirm the start of Ramadan in its newsletter on the evening of February 17 (subscribe at https://mcceastbay.org/newsletter).
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- – If the new moon is sighted (unlikely) on Tuesday, the first night of Taraweeh will be after Isha (8 p.m.) on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, and the first day of fasting will be Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
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- – If the new moon is not sighted (likely) on Tuesday, the first night of Taraweeh will be after Isha (8 p.m.) on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, and the first day of fasting will be Thursday, February 19, 2026.
The MCC homepage (mcceastbay.org) and MCC’s automated phone menu (925-485-1786) will announce the start of Ramadan by about 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, February 17.
Since sunset will be at 5:53, we will likely be able to see the new moon by about 6:45 p.m.
MCC observes the beginning and end of lunar months following the sighting of the crescent moon. Please watch this video from Dr. Youssef Ismail at Zaytuna College to explain.
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org
The du’a to recite if the crescent is sighted:
اللَّهُمَّ أَهِلَّهُ عَلَيْنَا بِالأَمْنِ وَالإِيمَانِ، والسَّلامَةِ والإِسْلامِ، وَالتَّوْفِيقِ لِمَا تُحِبُّ وَتَرْضَى، رَبُّنَا وَرَبُّكَ اللهُ
Allaahumma ahillahu ‛alaynaa bil-amni wal-eemaani, was-salaamati wal-islaami, wat-tawfeeqi limaa tuḥibbu watarḍaa, rabunaa wa rabbuk-allaahu-
O Allah, let the crescent loom above us in peace and faith, safety and Islam, and in agreement with all that You love and pleases You. Our Lord and your Lord is Allah.
(Source: Sunan Al- Tirmidhi)
Qari Amar Bellaha will also be in the Hayward Hills on this Tuesday evening to look for the new crescent moon. If sighted, he will read the special dua from high atop the hills and head down to lead the Taraweeh prayers on Tuesday at 8 p.m. He will be live-streaming his moonsighting atop the Hayward Hills at https://mcceastbay.org/live
