French Muslims faced an unprecedented split on Tuesday as two of France's most prominent Islamic institutions announced conflicting dates for the start of Ramadan 2026. The Grande Mosquee de Paris, after holding the traditional Nuit du Doute (Night of Doubt) ceremony on Tuesday evening, declared that the holy month of fasting begins on Wednesday, February 18. However, the Conseil Francais du Culte Musulman (CFCM), France's official Muslim council, maintained that Ramadan starts on Thursday, February 19, creating rare confusion among the country's estimated five to six million Muslims.
The disagreement stems from differing interpretations of astronomical data used to determine the visibility of the new lunar crescent, which marks the beginning of each month in the Islamic calendar. Both organizations rely on scientific calculations rather than naked-eye observation alone, yet they reached opposite conclusions. The new moon conjunction occurred on Tuesday, February 17, at 1:01 PM Paris time, but the critical question was whether the crescent would be visible that evening or only the following night.
The CFCM, applying stricter visibility criteria, determined that conditions for observing the new crescent would not be met until Wednesday evening at the earliest, placing the first day of fasting on Thursday, February 19. The council emphasized its independence, stating that decisions made by Muslim-majority countries should not dictate religious practice for Muslims living in France. In contrast, the Conseil Theologique Musulman de France (CTMF) calculated that observation of the new crescent would be possible from February 18 at 4:42 AM Paris time, supporting the earlier start date.
The Grande Mosquee de Paris, widely regarded as the final authority on such matters for French Muslims, convened its religious commission on Tuesday at 6 PM to examine the evidence. The institution's approach combines consultations with the Paris and Brussels observatories alongside traditional moon observation. After deliberation, the mosque's commission sided with the earlier date, and the national Muslim federations of France issued a joint communique confirming that the blessed month of Ramadan 1447 of the Hijri calendar begins on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. The mosque also urged public authorities to ensure security at places of worship during the high-attendance period.
The division represents an unusual rupture between French Islamic institutions that typically follow the same computational approach. While disagreements over the start of Ramadan are not uncommon across different countries and traditions worldwide, having two major French bodies publicly diverge on the date has generated widespread discussion within the community. Some Muslim leaders have called for greater coordination between institutions to avoid such confusion in future years.
France is home to the largest Muslim population in Western Europe, and the start of Ramadan carries significant cultural and social importance beyond religious observance. Workplaces, schools, and public services across the country typically make accommodations during the month of fasting. With the two competing announcements, individual mosques and community organizations across France are now left to decide which date to follow, with many expected to align with the Grande Mosquee de Paris declaration and begin fasting on Wednesday morning.
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