According to astronomical data, Ramadan in 2026 will begin on Thursday, February 19. This decision was made at a meeting of the Council of Ulema held on February 10, based on the conclusions of the Astrophysics Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan (NANST).
The Council also reported that in 2026, the amount of fitr-sadaqa was reduced compared to the previous year, while the amount of zakat increased.
The fitr-sadaqa for this year is set at 7 somoni per person, which is 1 somoni less than in 2025, when it was 8 somoni.
As for the nisab for zakat, if a person has 64,000 somoni or more, they should pay 1,600 somoni in zakat. Last year, the savings amount was 36,900 somoni, and the zakat amount was 880 somoni, thus in 2026, zakat has nearly doubled.
The fidya savm, established for those who cannot fast for valid reasons, will be 420 somoni (14 somoni per day) for 30 days in 2026. In 2025, this amount was 480 somoni (16 somoni per day).
Changes in the amounts of sadaqa fitr, fidya, and zakat are due to fluctuations in the prices of gold and wheat. The nisab for zakat is determined based on gold prices, and this year, due to the increase in gold prices, it has risen. At the same time, fitr-sadaqa is determined based on the cost of wheat, and since it has decreased this year, the amount of fitr has been lowered.
In Tajikistan, as in most Muslim countries, the start date of Ramadan is determined based on the lunar cycle, and it is the Council of Ulema together with the Astrophysics Institute of NANST that establishes the date for the beginning of this month. Every year, Ramadan starts 10 days earlier than the previous year. In 2025, it began on March 1.
Ramadan is a sacred month in the Islamic lunar calendar when Muslims fast and devote more time to prayers. The celebration concludes with the holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which is one of the two main Muslim holidays.
