Qatar Calendar House has announced that Monday, May 18 is expected to mark the start of Dhu Al Hijjah 1447 AH, with Eid Al Adha 2026 forecast to begin on Wednesday, May 27, according to astronomical calculations.
When does Dhu Al Hijjah 1447 start?
Dhu Al Hijjah is the twelfth and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar and one of the holiest periods in Islam. It is the month during which Muslims perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
Executive Director of Qatar Calendar House, Dr Faisal Al Ansari, said specialists had conducted precise astronomical calculations to determine the dates.
The crescent moon marking the start of Dhu Al Hijjah will be born late on Saturday at 11:02pm Doha time (8:02pm GMT).
Why the crescent cannot be sighted on Saturday
Dr Al Ansari explained that sighting the crescent on Saturday evening will be “impossible” in Qatar and across the Arab and Islamic world, because the moon will not yet have been born at the time of sunset.
Under the Islamic lunar calendar, the beginning and end of Hijri months are determined by the moon’s movement around the Earth, while the Gregorian calendar follows the Earth’s orbit around the sun.
Eid Al Adha 2026: What it marks
Eid Al Adha, the “Festival of Sacrifice,” is observed by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim, known as Abraham in Christianity and Judaism, to sacrifice his son in obedience to God.
Official Eid date still to be confirmed
The announcement provides an early astronomical indication of the timing of Eid Al Adha in Qatar. Official confirmation of the start of Dhu Al Hijjah and Eid dates is typically made by religious authorities following the moon-sighting process.
Source: QNA
