The Sultan of Sokoto and president -general of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, has called on Muslims to begin the search for the new moon (Shawwal 1446 AH) from today.
The announcement is contained a statement signed by the secretary-general of NSCIA, Prof. Is-haq O. Oloyede yesterday.
The statement reminded Muslims that in the spirit of the Ramadan, Zakatul Fitr is a compulsory food levy imposed on privileged Muslims to be given to the underprivileged in society.
The council appealed to all Muslims to ensure that they comply and do so in good time.
It felicitates with Nigerian Muslims the entire Muslim world on the auspicious occasion of the 1446 A.H. ‘Idul Fitr.
“We beseech Allah to grant everyone the opportunity to witness many more of it in good health and divine guidance. In the spirit of Ramadan, Muslims are reminded that Zakatul Fitr is a compulsory food levy imposed on privileged Muslims, to be given to the less privileged in the society,” Oloyede wrote.
The statement reads further: “Consequent upon the advice of the National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC), the president-general enjoins the Nigerian Muslim Ummah to search for the crescent of Shawwal 1446 A.H. immediately after sunset on Saturday, 29th Ramadan 1446 A.H. which is equivalent to 29th March 2025.
“It must be noted that, according to scientific calculations, the expected time for the conjunction of Shawwal moon in Nigeria is Saturday, 29th March 2025 at 11:58 a.m.
“That notwithstanding, as Islamic tradition stipulates, Muslims are enjoined to search for the crescent of Shawwal on the 29th of Ramadan. If Muslims sight the crescent in accordance with the moon sighting and verification standards, then His Eminence would declare Sunday, 30th March 2025 as the 1st of Shawwal and the day of ‘Idul Fitr.
“However, if the crescent is not sighted today, then Monday, 31st March 2025, automatically becomes the day of ‘Idul Fitr.
“In addition to the established traditional and Islamic leaders in each locality, the members of the National Moon-Sighting Committee (NMSC) can be contacted to report any credible and positive sighting of the crescent of Shawwal 1446 AH.”
