The Ruet-e-Hilal Committee in Hyderabad will meet this evening to confirm the sighting of the crescent moon, which will determine the start of Ramadan. While Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries began observing Ramadan on Wednesday, Hyderabad is expected to follow from Thursday, subject to the committee’s announcement.
Published Date – 18 February 2026, 04:44 PM

Hyderabad: The Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will meet today in the evening for sighting of the crescent moon for the holy month of Ramzan.
The Ramzan in the Middle East including Saudi Arabia began on Wednesday after sighting of the new crescent on Tuesday evening.
In all probability, Ramzan will begin in Hyderabad from Thursday, after the Ruet-e- Hilal committee makes an official announcement on Wednesday evening after sighting of the moon or collecting information about the moon sighting from different sources across the country. If the moon is not sighted, then the ninth month of the Islamic Hijri calendar will commence from Friday.
To welcome the holy month, the management of the mosques across the city have spruced up the places of worship and readied them for the conduct of the ‘Taraweeh’, a special night prayer held during the month of Ramzan, in which chapters of the holy Quran are recited by the Hafiz sahab.
At the historic Mecca Masjid, every day three Surah (chapters) of the holy Quran will be recited after Isha prayers. In some places, special arrangements have been made for the women to attend Taraweeh prayers. Some mosques will conduct the special night prayers around 10.30 pm for the convenience of officer-goers and businessmen.
