Look out for new moon, NSCIA tells Nigerian Muslims

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs has announced the tentative dates of March 11 and March 12, 2024, as the commencement dates for the annual Ramadan fast, pending the sighting of the moon after sunset on Sunday, March 10, 2024.

In a statement signed by the Deputy Secretary-General of the NSCIA, Prof Salisu Shehu, the council urged Muslim Ummah to search for the crescent of Ramadan 1445 on the given date, equivalent to 29th Sha’aban 1445 AH.

The NSCIA also urged faithful who had credible sightings of the crescent to inform members of the National Moon Sighting Committee.

“The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar felicitates the entire Muslim Ummah on the auspicious occasion of the forthcoming 1445 AH Ramadan Fast.

“The council prays that Allah spares the lives of every Muslim to participate in the ibadah (worship) exercise and to maximise the benefits therein.

“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 Ramadan 1445 AH immediately after sunset on Sunday, 10th March 2024 which is equivalent to 29th Sha’aban 1445 AH.

“If the crescent is sighted by Muslims of impeccable character on the said evening, then His Eminence would declare Monday, 11th March 2024 as the first day of Ramadan 1445 AH.

“If, however, the crescent is not sighted that day, then, Tuesday, 12th March 2024, automatically becomes the first of Ramadan, 1445 AH,” the statement partly read.

Noting the economic hardship in the country, Shehu appealed to the “endowed Muslims” to extend acts of charity to the less privileged, while also admonishing traders not to hoard food products or unduly hike the prices of goods through the period of the fast.

“In the face of the current economic hardship, Council appeals to endowed Muslims in the country to extend acts of charity to the less privileged within their neighbourhoods before, during and after the month of Ramadan.

“The Council also admonishes traders to neither hoard food products nor unduly hike the prices of consumer goods during the period of the fast.

“We urge the Muslims to take advantage of the holy month of Ramadan to pray that Allah grant the Palestinians His divine support and liberate them from their oppressors,” he further stated.