Muslims may conclude their fast on Friday or Saturday.By Sani Tukur
The Sultan of Sokoto and spiritual leader of Nigerian Muslims, Abubakar Sa’ad, has called on Muslims to look for the new moon of Shawwal on Friday, July 17.
The announcement was made in a statement by Abdullateef Adegbite, Secretary General of the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, NSCIA.
The statement also contains phone numbers of those to be contacted if anyone sites the new moon.
Muslims use the sighting of the new moon to commence Ramadan and also to end it.
Should the moon not be sighted on Friday, the Ramadan fast would extend to Saturday.
Already, the Federal Government has declared Monday and Tuesday, next week, as public holidays for the Eid-el Fitri festival marking the end of Ramadan.
The Sultan’s statement reads in full…
TRMINATION OF THE RAMADAN FAST OF 1433AH
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) instructed the Muslims, saying: “Do not fast unless you see the Crescent (of the month of Ramadan) and do not give up fasting till you see the Crescent (of the month of Shawwal). But if the sky is overcast, count thirty (30) days of Sha’aban or of Ramadan as the case may be” (Narrated by Abdullahi Bin Umar).
Therefore in accordance with this Prophetic Tradition, Friday August 17, being the 29th day of Ramadan 1433AH, Members of the National and State Moon-Sighting Committees as well as other Nigerian Muslims should look for the new Crescent of Shawwal month. If the moon is sighted on that day, the under-listed Leaders should be communicated immediately:
His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto Sokoto 08036470422
HRH the Shehu of Borno Borno 08037855555, 08023549558
Dr. Abdullateef Adegbite Abeokuta 08034020350
HRH the Emir of Gwandu Kebbi 08036154369
HRH the Emir of Kano Kano 064-631114 , 633769
HRH the Emir of Bauchi Bauchi 077-542801 , 543036
HRH the Lamido of Adamawa Adamawa 075-634449 , 634822
HRH the Olukare of Ikare Ondo 08058014860
HRM Timi of Ede Osun 08037740390
HRH the Emir of Katsina Katsina
HRH the Emir of Zazzau Kaduna 069-332002
HRH the Etsu Nupe Niger 08039668707
HRH the Emir of Ilorin Kwara 031-2213218
HRH the Oba of Lagos Lagos 01-7767802
HRH the Oba of Agbede Edo 052-250153
HRH the Emir of Wase Plateau 08037042555
Chief Imam of Ibadan Ibadan 08062609601
Chief Imam of Osogbo Osun 08035740333
Chief Imam of Egba Abeokuta 08035028763
HRH the Emir of Kazaure Jigawa 08098121000, 08026806971
HRH the Emir of Suleija Suleija 08037006034
HRH the Emir of Anka Zamfara 063-36458
HRH the Emir of Damaturu Yobe 08088870415
HRH the Emir of Gombe Gombe
HRH the Emir of Lafia Nasarawa 08036140098
HRH the Emir of Nasarawa Nasarawa 08065115151
Sheikh Haroun Ajah Ebonyi 08033397491, 08053152722
Sheikh Adam Abdullahi Idoko Enugu 08036759892
Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi Bauchi 08033058201
Chief Imam of Owo Ondo 08063104919
Chief Imam of Ipokia Ogun 08033827971
Alhaji Dauda W. Onyegocha Owerri 08063828218
Alhaji Mukail Asoquo C/River 08037122258
NSCIA Secretariat Abuja 08036231533 / 0803540120
Dr. Khalid Abubakar (Sec-Gen., JNI) Kaduna 08034531742
