Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), has directed Muslims to look for the crescent of Shawwal 1444 AH from Thursday. The Sultan made this appeal in a statement signed by the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs at the Sultanate Council of Sokoto, Prof. Sambo Junaidu, on Wednesday.
The statement reads in part, “Muslims are requested to start looking for the new moon of Shawwal 1444 AH on Thursday and report its sighting to the nearest District or Village Head for onward communication to the Sultan.” The Sultan also offered prayers for Allah’s support in Muslims’ religious duties.
The sighting of the new moon will mark the end of the one-month compulsory fasting observed by Muslims across Nigeria during Ramadan. Shawwal is the 10th month in the Islamic calendar.
