The National Moon Sighting Committee has received negative reports from a number of locations in Nigeria.
They however called on Nigerian Muslims to give exact i.e. name of town or city but not Local Government Area of State for the moon sighting.
Monday will mark the first day of Ramadan in Saudi Arabia, the Supreme Court announced on Sunday evening.
This is as Muslims in Nigeria await the proclamation of the sighting of the Ramadan moon or otherwise by the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III.
The crescent moon was sighted on Sunday evening in Sudair and Al-Hariq. It was also sighted in the UAE and Qatar and therefore Ramadan will start on Monday in those countries as well.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar during which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, abstaining from food and drink.
The holy month is a period of introspection and community, when Muslims read the Qur’an more than usual, perform taraweeh prayers, and increase their good deeds including charitable giving.
The Sultan had urged Muslims across the country to look out this year’s Ramadan after sunset on Sunday, March 10, 2024 which is equivalent to 29th Sha’aban 1445 AH.
This was contained in a press statement issued and made available to newsmen in Sokoto by the Chairman of the Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on moon sighting, Professor Sambo Waliyi Jumaidu.
The statement further advised Muslims Ummah to report to their village of District heads in the event of sighting the new crescent for onward communication to the sultan.
The statement read thus:: “This is to inform the general public that Sunday, 10th March 2024 which is equivalent to 29th Sha’aban 1445 AH shall be the day to look for the new moon of Ramadan 1445 AH.
“Muslims therefore are requested to start looking for the new moon of Ramadan 1445 AH on Sunday and report its sighting to the nearest District Head for onward communication to His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar CFR mni, the Sultan of Sokoto ” the statement stated.
