Sultan Announces Sighting Of Moon, Ramadan Begins Saturday

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, III has declared 2nd of April, the first day of Ramadan

The Ramadan crescent moon was sighted in multiple locations in Nigeria on Friday evening, prompting announcement of the commencement of Ramadan fasting.

Sultan made the announcement via a video and it was also announced on the Twitter handle of the NSCIA.

“Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah, Alhamdu Lillah, the crescent of Ramadan 1443H has been sighted at some locations in Nigeria,” the tweet read.

He noted that according to reports he received, the new moon has been sighted in Sokoto, Borno, Yobe, Zamfara, and Plateau.

Checks by our correspondent show Muslims follow a lunar calendar consisting of 12 months in a year of 354 or 355 days.

Ramadan is the ninth lunar month of the Islamic calendar observed by Muslims worldwide as a month for fasting, prayer, reflection, and assisting the needy.

During the period, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking and sexual activities from dawn to dusk for 29 or 30 days.

The sighting of the new moon, after Ramadan, marks the beginning of another month, Shawwal, and the celebration of the Islamic festival, Eid-L-Fitr.

The Ramadan ritual is observed to attain a spiritual bond with God as contained in Qur’an 2:183: “Oh you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may learn piety and righteousness.”