The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), has asked Muslims across the country to watch out for the Ramadan Crescent from tomorrow evening, Friday, February 28, 2025.
Coincidentally, tomorrow would indicate the 29th Day in the month of Sa’aban, the eighth month in the Lunar Calendar that precedes Ramadan in the ongoing Lunar Calendar, otherwise known as Hijrah 1446.
NSCIA is being led by His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad.
In a statement by the Secretary-General of the organisation, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, NSCIA, said though the task of moon-sighting activities has been thrusted upon the National Moon-sighting Committee, a carefully selected committee with credible Nigerians of impeccable track records of personal integrity, any Nigerians with an accurate account of the moonlight can also come forward to report the sighting of the moon.
According to the statement, ” consequent upon the advice of the National Moon Sighting Committee, the President-General enjoins the Nigerian Muslim Ummah to
Search for the crescent of Ramadan 1446 AH immediately after sunset on Friday, 28th February 2025, which is equivalent to 29th Sha’aban 1446 AH.
“If the crescent is sighted by Muslims of impeccable character on the said evening, then His Eminence will declare Saturday, 1st March 2025, as the first day of Ramadan 1446 AH. If, however, the crescent is not sighted that day, then Sunday, 2nd March 2025, automatically becomes the first of Ramadan, 1446 AH,” the statement said.
NSCIA, the highest decision-making body for Muslims in the country, also felicitated Muslims on the occasion of this year’s Ramadan and urged them to make the best of it.
“Ramadan is the month in which the Qur’an was revealed and proclaims the greatness of Allah for guiding you and the decisive authority.
“So, whoever among you witnesses days after Ramadan. Allah intends ease for you, not on a journey, then let the person fast an equal number of the month, let the person fast in it. But whoever is ill or hardship, so that you may complete the prescribed period
as a guide for humanity with clear proofs of guidance and
perhaps you will be grateful. Quran 2:185 (Al-Baqoraah),” the statement quotes a section of the holy Quran.
