Belief CalendarSubscribe

No central authority

Islam

around 1.9 billion adherents worldwide.

Estimate from Pew Research Center — The Future of World Religions.

What the sources state

The Amman Message states that it sought to declare what Islam is and what it is not, and which actions represent it and which do not.

“It sought to declare what Islam is and what it is not, and what actions represent it and what actions do not.”
Source: The Amman Message

The Amman Message records that King Abdullah II put three questions to 24 senior religious scholars from around the world, representing all the branches and schools of Islam.

“King Abdullah II then sent the following three questions to 24 of the most senior religious scholars from all around the world representing all the branches and schools of Islam”
Source: The Amman Message

Dar al-Ifta al-Missriyyah states that Dr Nazir Mohammed Ayyad has served as Grand Mufti of the Arab Republic of Egypt since 12 August 2024.

“Currently serving as the Grand Mufti of the Arab Republic of Egypt since August 12, 2024.”
Source: Dar al-Ifta al-Missriyyah

Every quotation above was checked against its source on 3 September 2026.

Authority

Islam has no central authority.

There is no clerical hierarchy speaking for all Muslims and no single authority that fixes dates worldwide. Observance is announced nationally or regionally, which is why calendar output is region-scoped.

Branches

Sunni Islam

4 school of law (madhhab)

Shia Islam

3 school of law (madhhab)

Ibadi Islam

Sufism is a dimension of practice found within Sunni and Shia Islam, not a separate branch. It is documented on its own page and linked from both, never listed as a peer of Sunni and Shia.

Observances in 2026

ObservanceDatesHow certain
First day of Ramadan
Begins the evening of 17 February 2026
18 February – 19 March 2026May vary
Laylat al-Qadr
Begins the evening of 15 March 2026
16 March 2026May vary
Eid al-Fitr
Begins the evening of 19 March 2026
20–22 March 2026May vary
Day of Arafah
Begins the evening of 25 May 2026
26 May 2026May vary
Eid al-Adha
Begins the evening of 26 May 2026
27–30 May 2026May vary
Islamic New Year
Begins the evening of 15 June 2026
16 June 2026May vary
Ashura
Begins the evening of 24 June 2026
25 June 2026May vary
Mawlid al-Nabi
Begins the evening of 24 August 2026
25 August 2026May vary
Mawlid al-Nabi (Shia observance)
Begins the evening of 29 August 2026
30 August 2026May vary

Sources

No expert review. Accuracy here rests on continuous machine verification of every quotation against its source. Spotted an error? Corrections are answered within five working days.