The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA ) has called on Muslims to on Thursday night search for the new moon heralding the end of Ramadan fasting.
The Council said Eid el-Fitr festival will take place on Friday if the crescent of the new moon is sighted on Thursday. If event that it is not sighted on Thursday however, the Eid will be on Saturday.
NSCIA spoke in a statement on Tuesday signed by Arc. Zubairu Haruna Usman-Ugwu, Director of Administration.
While congratulating Muslims on the Ramadan fasting, NSCIA listed names of 33 Muslim leaders nationwide who should be contacted by those who are able to sight the crescent of the new moon.
“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 1444 A.H. immediately after sunset on Thursday, 29th Ramadan 1444 A.H. which is equivalent to 20th April 2023.
“If the crescent is sighted by Muslims in accordance with the moon sighting and verification standards, then His Eminence would declare Friday, 21st April 2023 as the 1st of Shawwal and the day of ‘Idul Fitr. However, if the crescent is not sighted that day, then Saturday, 22nd April 2023, automatically becomes the day of ‘Idul Fitr.
“In addition to the established and traditional 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 1444 AH:,” NSCIA stated.
The full message is reproduced below:
NSCIA/HQ/PRS/045 Date: 27th Ramadan, 1444 A.H.
18th April, 2023
1444 A.H. ‘IDUL FITR GOODWILL MESSAGE AND FELICITATIONS
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, felicitates the Nigerian Muslim ‘Ummah and indeed the entire Muslim world on the auspicious occasion of the 1444 A.H. ‘Idul Fitr. We beseech Allah to grant everyone the opportunity to witness many more of it.
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 comply on time. The stipulated practice is to give out the prescribed measurement to beneficiaries in the last two days of Ramadan and not later than before the ‘Id prayer.
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 1444 A.H. immediately after sunset on Thursday, 29th Ramadan 1444 A.H. which is equivalent to 20th April 2023.
If the crescent is sighted by Muslims in accordance with the moon sighting and verification standards, then His Eminence would declare Friday, 21st April 2023 as the 1st of Shawwal and the day of ‘Idul Fitr. However, if the crescent is not sighted that day, then Saturday, 22nd April 2023, automatically becomes the day of ‘Idul Fitr.
In addition to the established and traditional 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 1444 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 Yaaqub
07032558231
salihumy11@hotmail.com.com
7
Mal. Jafar Abubakar
08020878075
jaafaraa1434@gmail.com
8
Alh. Abdullahi Umar
08037020607
waziringwandu@yahoo.com
9
Prof. J. M. Kaura
08067050641
jmkaura56@yahoo.com
10
Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar
08036509363
baumar277@gmail.com
11
Muhammad Rabiu Salahudeen
08035740333
muhammadrabiusalahudeen@gmail.com
12
Sheikh Abdur Rasheed Mayaleke
08035050804
jentleasad@yahoo.com
13
Dr. Ganiy I. Agbaje
08028327463
08057752980
ganiy.agbaje@nasrda.gov.ng
gagbaje@yahoo.co.uk
14
Gafar M. Kuforiji
08033545208
kuforijiabdulwasiu@gmail.com
15
Prof. Usman El-Nafaty
08062870892
elnafaty@gmail.com
16
Mal. Ibrahim Zubairu Salihu
08038522693
zubairusalisu@yahoo.com
17
Imam Manu
Muhammad
08036999841
limaminmisau@gmail.com
18
Qadee Ahmad Bobboy
08035914285
adamawaemiratecouncil@yahoo.com
19
Nurudeen Asunogie
08033533012
hamdallah1999@yahoo.com
20
Sheikh Bala Lau
08037008805
08052426880
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
08037157100
sultanofsokoto@yaho.co.uk
25
Sheikh Lukman Abdallah
08052242252
abuyatamaa@gmail.com
26
Sheikh Sulaiman Gumi
08033139153
ssgummi@gmail.com
27
Arc. Zubairu Usman-Ugwu
08033467451
zeeusman2012@gmail.com
28
Alh. AbdulBariu Kareem
09096369117
donbru11@yahoo.com
29
Prof. Kamil K. Oloso
08023098661
kkoloso@yahoo.com
30
Malam Usman Mahmud
08034540120
turjajawaizu@gmail.com
31
Malam Yahaya Boyi
08030413634
sultanofsokoto@yahoo.co.uk
32
Ustaz Mukail Abdurraheem
08099370109
mikailabdurraheem@gmail.com
33
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 the peace, security and development of Nigeria.
While wishing us all happy ‘Idul Fitr, the Council enjoins Muslims all over the country to be on the lookout for the announcement to be made by His Eminence, the President-General of NSCIA on the night of Thursday 20th of April, 2023.
‘Id Mubarak in advance!
Signed.
Arc. Zubairu Haruna Usman-Ugwu
Director of Administration