Gaziantep iftar and sahur times: Diyanet publishes 29-day imsakiye as Ramazan begins Feb. 19, 2026
With Ramazan starting on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, attention in Gaziantep has turned to the official imsakiye timetable. The religious authority released 29- and 30-day schedules for provinces across the country, prompting residents to confirm iftar (evening) and sahur (pre-dawn) hours as they plan daily worship and communal meals. This briefing sets out what to watch for on the first day and offers practical notes for observant households.
What the imsakiye means for Gaziantep on Feb. 19, 2026
The published imsakiye lists daily imsak (start of fast), sahur guidance and akşam (iftar) times for each province, including Gaziantep. For practical planning, all listed prayer and meal times should be followed from the official timetable in the city itself. For readers tracking times across regions, the schedules show clear variation: for example, in Nevşehir the first-day akşam (iftar) is 6: 30 p. m. local time, which corresponds to 10: 30 a. m. ET on Feb. 19, 2026, while in Yalova the first-day akşam is 6: 49 p. m. local time, or 10: 49 a. m. ET. Imsak (sahur cutoff) times on the morning of Feb. 19 also vary by province and should be observed in local time; when converted, some pre-dawn imsak times fall on the evening of Feb. 18 in Eastern Time due to the time-zone difference.
Officials emphasize following the city-specific imsakiye for precise timings. The start of the fast is governed by the local imsak time, and the fast is broken at the akşam (iftar) time listed for the same locality.
Religious guidance and practical tips for sahur and iftar
Religious guidance reiterates that intention (niyet) is essential for a valid fast; it may be made in the heart and verbalizing the intention is considered sunnah. For Ramazan fasts, intention can be formed after the previous day’s iftar and up until sahur; if a worshipper forgets to express intention at sahur, they may still form it by midday. Traditions emphasize both the spiritual value of sahur and the special moment of dua at iftar. A commonly cited iftar prayer expresses: "O God, I fasted for Your sake and broke my fast with what You provided. " The pre-dawn meal is also described as blessed and encouraged in prophetic practice, with believers urged to rise for sahur where possible.
Practical tips for households: prepare sahur times in advance, set alarms that reflect local imsak times, and plan family iftar gatherings with attention to the officially listed akşam time. Those traveling between provinces should consult the local imsakiye for each destination rather than relying on times from another city.
Community rhythms and the first nights of Ramazan
Neighborhood mosques and community organizations traditionally set tarawih (evening special prayers) schedules in the first nights of Ramazan. In several provinces, first tarawih times were announced for Feb. 18; for instance, a central Anatolian city scheduled its opening tarawih at 7: 45 p. m. local time (11: 45 a. m. ET on Feb. 18), and a northwestern city set its first tarawih at 8: 07 p. m. local time (12: 07 p. m. ET on Feb. 18). Observant communities should confirm local mosque schedules and any changes to communal arrangements as the month begins.
As households and communities prepare, the IMSAKIYE timetable remains the primary reference for correct prayer and meal timing. Observers are advised to follow the published local schedule, keep sahur and iftar times handy, and plan worship and family meals around those official hours.
