Millions of Muslims and Christians worldwide are beginning their observances of Ramadan and Lent today, each embarking on a period of spiritual reflection, fasting, and devotion according to their faith traditions.
For Muslims, Ramadan—the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar—marks a sacred time of fasting from dawn to sunset, increased prayer, charity, and self-discipline. On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia officially announced the sighting of the crescent moon, signaling the start of Ramadan 1447. As a result, Ramadan begins on Wednesday, with Taraweeh prayers held after the Isha prayer on Tuesday night. An announcement on X from @Muslim stated, BREAKING: Saudi Arabia announces the first day of fasting for Ramadan to begin on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Taraweeh will begin tonight on the first evening of the blessed month. It’s recommended to follow the fasting time designated by your local community and country.
Muslims in Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and several other countries will begin their fast at dawn on Wednesday, commencing a month dedicated to prayer, reflection, and devotion. However, in Japan, as well as Oman, Singapore, and Turkey, Ramadan 2026 will begin on Thursday, February 19.
In Nigeria, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, confirmed the moon sighting in most parts of the country on Tuesday, declaring Wednesday, February 18, as the first day of Ramadan. According to a statement from the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, the Sultan urged Muslims to commence fasting on Wednesday, in line with Islamic teachings, and called on the community to pray for national leaders and for an end to insecurity.
Meanwhile, Christians around the world are entering the Lenten season, a 40-day journey of prayer, penance, and self-denial leading up to Easter Sunday, beginning with Ash Wednesday. In his 2026 Lenten Message published on the Vatican website, Pope Leo XIV encouraged Christians to embrace a unique form of abstinence: refraining from words that offend or harm others. He wrote, I would like to invite you to a very practical and frequently unappreciated form of abstinence: that of refraining from words that offend and hurt our neighbour.
Pope Leo XIV emphasized that Lent is an opportunity to center one’s life on God and to allow His word to inspire deeper conversion. He highlighted the importance of listening—to God and to others—so that authentic relationships can grow and so that Christians can respond with compassion to those in distress. The Pontiff also urged believers to foster openness, especially toward the poor, and to recognize how fasting helps rediscover the desire for justice and freedom from complacency.
He cautioned that fasting should be practiced with faith and humility, not pride, and underscored the spiritual value of “disarming one’s language”—avoiding harsh words, rash judgments, and slander. Christians, he said, should cultivate kindness and respect in every sphere of life, including families, workplaces, parishes, social media, and political discourse. If this discipline is embraced, Pope Leo XIV expressed hope that words of hatred would give way to words of hope and peace.
Finally, the Pope stressed the communal dimension of Lent, encouraging parishes, families, and religious communities to become places of listening and welcome, especially for those who suffer. He concluded by praying that Christian communities would have the strength to practice fasting that includes their words, thereby making room for the voices of others.
