Ramadan begins Saturday as Sultan announces sighting of moon

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar II, has announced the sighting of moon, signifying the commencement of the Muslim Ramadan on Saturday.

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

The tweet was subsequently followed with a telecast announcing the commencement of fasting on Saturday.

He said, “Based on the reports sent to us on the sighting of the moon for month of Ramadan 1443. Therefore today (Friday) mark the end of Sha’aban. Tomorrow, in sha Allahu, we would start fasting in accordance with Shariah.”

He also said that reliable reports showed that the crescent of the moon was sighted in Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara, Katsina, Plateau, Kaduna and Kano states among others.

READ: Kano shariah police arrests 8 persons for eating during Ramadan

“Consequently, we call on all Muslims to start the fasting for this holy month of Ramadan, tomorrow (Saturday),” he added.

Abubakar also urged the Federal Government to tackle the rising insecurity in the country in the interest of well-being of the citizens and development of the nation.

He urged Muslims to use the occasion of this year’s fasting to pray to Allah for the peace and progress of the country.

The Sultan on Thursday had urged Muslims across the country to look for this year’s Ramadan after sunset on Friday April 1, which is equivalent to 29th of Sha’aban 1443 AH.

Muslims follow a lunar calendar consisting of 12 months in a year of 354 or 355 days.

Sighting a crescent heralds the start of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Ramadan fasting is the third pillar of Islam and Muslims are obliged to observe the fasting for 29 or 30 days depending on the sighting of Shawwal.