*Photo: Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar*
The Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar has asked Muslims in the country to look out for the crescent of the new moon after sunset on Monday to signify the end of Ramadan.
The directive was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by Secretary General of the NSCIA, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede.
According to the statement, “consequent upon the advice of the National Moon-Sighting Committee (NMSC), the President-General enjoins the Nigerian Muslim Ummah to search for the crescent of Shawwal 1445 A.H. immediately after sunset on Monday, 29th Ramadan 1445 A.H. which is equivalent to 8th April 2024.”
Professor Oloyede added that
“It must be noted that, according to scientific calculations, the expected time for the Shawwal moon conjunction in Nigeria is Monday 8th April 2024 at 07:21 p.m. That notwithstanding, as Islamic tradition stipulates, Muslims are enjoined to search for the crescent of Shawwal on the 29th of Ramadan.
“If Muslims sight the crescent in accordance with the moon sighting and verification standards, then His Eminence would declare Tuesday, 9th April 2024 as the 1st of Shawwal and the day of ‘Idul Fitr. However, if the crescent is not sighted that day, then Wednesday, 10th April 2024, automatically becomes the day of ‘Idul Fitr.”
Read the full statement below:
1445 A.H. ‘IDUL FITR GOODWILL MESSAGE AND FELICITATIONS
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, felicitates the Nigerian Muslim ‘Ummah and the entire Muslim world on the auspicious occasion of the 1445 A.H. ‘Idul Fitr. We beseech Allah to grant everyone the opportunity to witness many more of it in good health and divine guidance.
In the spirit of Ramadan, Muslims are reminded that Zakatul Fitr is a compulsory food levy imposed on privileged Muslims, to be given to the less privileged in the society. The Council, therefore, appeals to all concerned to ensure that they do not only comply but also do so in good time. The stipulated practice is to give out the prescribed measurement to beneficiaries in the last two days of Ramadan but before the ‘Id prayer.
Moreover, consequent upon the advice of the National Moon-Sighting Committee (NMSC), the President-General enjoins the Nigerian Muslim Ummah to search for the crescent of Shawwal 1445 A.H. immediately after sunset on Monday, 29th Ramadan 1445 A.H. which is equivalent to 8th April 2024.
It must be noted that, according to scientific calculations, the expected time for the Shawwal moon conjunction in Nigeria is Monday 8th April 2024 at 07:21 p.m. That notwithstanding, as Islamic tradition stipulates, Muslims are enjoined to search for the crescent of Shawwal on the 29th of Ramadan.
If Muslims sight the crescent in accordance with the moon sighting and verification standards, then His Eminence would declare Tuesday, 9th April 2024 as the 1st of Shawwal and the day of ‘Idul Fitr. However, if the crescent is not sighted that day, then Wednesday, 10th April 2024, automatically becomes the day of ‘Idul Fitr.
In addition to the established traditional and Islamic leaders in each locality, the following members of the National Moon-Sighting Committee (NMSC) can be contacted to report any credible and positive sighting of the crescent of Shawwal 1445 AH:
S/N
NAME
PHONE NO.
EMAIL ADDRESS
1
Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi
08036121311
Sayyadibashir26@yahoo.com
2
Sheikh Karibullah Kabara
08035537382
malamkabara@yahoo.com
3
Sheikh Habeebullah Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory
08023126335
habibelilory@ymail.com
4
Prof. Z. I. Oboh Oseni
08033574431
oseni@unilorin.edu.ng
wazzioseni@gmail.com
5
Mal. Simwal Usman Jibrin
08033140010
simwaljibril@yahoo.com
6
Sheikh Salihu Yakub
07032558231
Salihumy11@hotmail.com.com
7
Mal. Jafar Abubakar
08020878075
Jaafaraa1434@gmail.com
8
Alh. Abdullahi Umar
(Wazirin Gwandu)
08037020607
waziringwandu@yahoo.com
9
Prof. J. M. Kaura
08067050641
Jmkaura56@yahoo.com
10
Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar
08036509363
Baumar277@gmail.com
11
Ustaz Muhammad Rabiu Salahudeen
08035740333
muhammadrabiusalahudeen@gmail.com
12
Sheikh Abdur Rasheed Mayaleke
08035050804
jentleasad@yahoo.com
13
Dr. Ganiy I. Agbaje
08028327463
gagbaje@yahoo.co.uk
14
Gafar M. Kuforiji
08033545208
kuforijiabdulwasiu@gmail.com
15
Prof. Usman El-Nafaty
08062870892
elnafaty@gmail.com
16
Mal. Salihu B. Zubairu
08038522693
zubairusalisu@yahoo.com
17
Imam Manu Muhammad
08036999841
limaminmisau@gmail.com
18
Qadee Ahmad Bobboy
08035914285
adamawaemiratecouncil@yahoo.com
19
Ustaz Nurudeen Asunogie
08033533012
hamdallah1999@yahoo.com
20
Sheikh Bala Lau
08037008805
balalaujibwisnigeria@gmail.com
21
Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir
08065687545
ustaznasirabdulmuhyi@yahoo.com
22
Sheikh AbdurRahman Ahmad
08023141752
aahmadimam@yahoo.co.uk
23
Muhammad Yaseen Qamarud-Deen
08055322087
crescentgroup2000@gmail.com
24
Prof. Sambo Wali Junaidu (Wazirin Sokoto)
08037157100
sultanofsokoto@yaho.co.uk
25
Sheikh Lukman Imam Abdullahi
08052242252
abuyatamaa@gmail.com
26
Sheikh Sulaiman Gumi
08033139153
ssgummi@gmail.com
27
Alh. AbdulBariu Kareem
09096369117
Donbru11@yahoo.com
28
Prof. Kamil K. Oloso
08023098661
kkoloso@yahoo.com
29
Malam Usman Mahmud
08034540120
turjajawaizu@gmail.com
30
Malam Yahaya Boyi
(Sarkin Malamai Sokoto)
08030413634
sultanofsokoto@yahoo.co.uk
31
Ustaz Mukail Abdurraheem
08099370109
mikailabdurraheem@gmail.com
32
Ustaz Nurudeen Ibrahim
08027091623
Nurudeen.a.o.ibrahim@gmail.com
The Council encourages all Muslims to pray fervently to the Almighty Allah, especially during the concluding part of Ramadan, for peace, security and development in Nigeria.
While wishing us all happy ‘Idul Fitr, the Council enjoins Muslims all over the country to look out for the announcement to be made by His Eminence, the President-General of NSCIA, on the night of Monday, 8th of April 2024.
‘Id Mubarak in advance!
Signed.
Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, CON, FNAL
Secretary-General