Sultan urges Muslims to look out for crescent

The National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC) yesterday advised the President-General of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, that the “crescent of Shawwal” (moon symbolising the end of Ramadan) be searched for today, Monday July 4th this year equivalent to 29th Ramadan, 1437 AH.

According to the Secretary General of the NSCIA Professor Is’haq Oloyede, yesterday during a briefing with the press in Ilorin, if the crescent was sighted today by “informed persons”, Abubakar who is also the Sultan of Sokoto, would declare tomorrow (Tuesday 4th July) as the first day of Shawwal, symbolising the end of the Ramadan for this year.

He added that if the crescent was not sighted on the said day, Wednesday, July 6 this year would automatically become the first day of Shawwal, 1437 AH.
Oloyede added, “Muslims all over the country are hereby enjoined to be on the lookout for the directive of His Eminence, the President-General of the NSCIA, on the completion of the year’s Ramadan fast.

“In addition to established and traditional Islamic leaders in each locality, such as the Shehu of Bornu, and the NSCIA Deputy President-General, members of the NMSC can be contacted for more information and clarification.”

For the NSCIA’s scribe, as soon as the NMSC based on the verified information, confirmed the sighting of the crescent, the committee would advise Abubakar to announce the completion of Ramadan and the observance of Id el Fitri prayer.

He urged Muslim faithful in Nigeria to be conscious of the need to fast for six days between the second and the end of Shawwal.Oloyede, while reminding the faithful of the religion of the necessity for their observance of Zakatul-Fitri aimed at lifting the hearts of the less privileged, believed that only effective delivery of such gifts, without diversion of same could attract much needed blessings from God.

Congratulating Nigerian Muslim faithful for the success of the Ramadan, he canvassed peaceful co existence with non-Muslims noting that only that could guarantee peace and continued existence of Nigeria as a nation just as he observed that the virtue would lead to accelerate socio political and economic growth of the nation.