Muslims in Nigeria will join their counterparts across the world to celebrate this year’s eid-el-fitri on Sunday following the sighting of the moon.
The sighting of the moon is the beginning of the tenth month of the lunar calendar, thus marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.
Saturday evening, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, announced the sighting of the moon.
According to him, the moon was sighted Saturday evening in Borno State, Adamawa State and other places.
A statement by the Executive Director of Muslim Right Concern, MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, quoting the Sultan reads: “Alhamdulillah His Eminence the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has announced that the moon was sighted this evening in BORNO, Adamawa and other places. Sunday is the ‘Id. ‘Id Mubaarak.”
On Thursday, the Sultan had urged Muslim Ummah in the country to look for the new Moon of Shawwal on Saturday.
The Sultan made the call in a statement signed by the Chairman, Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sultanate Council, Sokoto, Sambo Wali.
“This is to inform the Muslim Ummah that Saturday, June 24, which is equivalent to 29th day of Ramadan,1438 AH, shall be the day to look for the new moon of Shawwal, 1438 AH.
“Muslims are therefore requested to start looking for the new moon of Shawwal, 1438 AH, Saturday.
“They should report its sighting to the nearest District of Village Head, for onward communication to the Sultan,” he said.
Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Saudi Arabia and 18 other countries of the world have declared Sunday, the eid-el-fitri, an occasion marking the end of the Ramadan fast for this year.
According to a report on Aljazeera, television station, Qatar, Malaysia, Indonesia the United Arab Emirates are among the countries that have announced the end of the fasting period.
Other countries with similar declarations are Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Iraq (Sunnis), Jordan, Kuwait, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Lebanon, UK, United States and Yemen.
“Turkey and Muslim communities in North America, Europe and Australia had previously announced they would celebrate Eid-el-Fitr from Sunday June 25 based on astronomical calculations.
“Oman, however, has not sighted the moon, and thus declaredMonday June 26 as the first day of Eid-el-Fitr.
“Bangladesh, Pakistan, India will be sighting the moon on Sunday. These countries started Ramadan on May 28 and so Sunday will be the 29th of Ramadan for them.”
