The President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has called on Nigerian Muslim Ummah to search for the crescent of Ramadan immediately after Sunday, March 10, 2024.
The date is equivalent to 29th Sha’aban 1445 AH.
The call followed the advice of the National Moon Sighting Committee, NMSC and the announcement was made in a statement by the Deputy Secretary General of the NSCIA, Prof. Salisu Shehu, on Friday.
“If the crescent is sighted by Muslims of impeccable character on the said evening, then His Eminence would declare Monday, 11th March 2024 as the first day of Ramadan 1445 AH. If, however, the crescent is not sighted that day, then, Tuesday, 12th March 2024, automatically becomes the first of Ramadan, 1445 AH,” the statement reads in part.
The NSCIA also gave the names and contact details of those to be reached upon sighting of the moon.
The full statement reads:
FELICITATION AND MOONSIGHTING FOR RAMADAN 1445 A.H.
The month of Ramadan (is that) in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). “So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan i.e. present at his home), he must observe fasting that month”… (Q. Al-Baqarah 2:185)
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 entire Muslim Ummah on the auspicious occasion of the forthcoming 1445 AH Ramadan Fast. The Council prays that Allah spare the lives of every Muslim to participate in the ibaadah exercise and to maximize the benefits therein.
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 Ramadan 1445 AH immediately after sunset on Sunday, 10th March 2024 which is equivalent to 29th Sha’aban 1445 AH.
If the crescent is sighted by Muslims of impeccable character on the said evening, then His Eminence would declare Monday, 11th March 2024 as the first day of Ramadan 1445 AH. If, however, the crescent is not sighted that day, then, Tuesday, 12th March 2024, automatically becomes the first of Ramadan, 1445 AH.
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 credible and positive sighting of the Crescent of Ramadan 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
In the face of the current economic hardship, Council appeals to endowed Muslims in the country to extend acts of charity to the less privileged within their neighbourhoods before, during and after the month of Ramadan. The Council also admonishes traders to neither hoard food products, nor unduly hike the prices of consumer goods during the period of the fast.
We urge the Muslims to take advantage of the holy month of Ramadan to pray that Allah grant the Palestinians His divine support and liberate them from their oppressors.
The Council hereby enjoins the Muslims all over the Country to be on the lookout for the Ramadan crescent on the night of Sunday 10th of March 2024 and await the official announcement by His Eminence, the President-General of NSCIA, on the commencement of the 1445 AH Ramadan fast.
We wish all Nigerian Muslims and their counterparts all over the world happy Ramadan in advance.
Allahuma Baligna Ramadan. Amin
Signed
Prof. Salisu Shehu
Deputy Secretary General