NSCIA directs Muslims to look out for Ramadan moon on Monday
By Taofeek LAWAL, Abuja
The apex Islamic body in Nigeria, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has called on Muslims in the country to be on the lookout for the crescent of the month of Ramadan immediately after sunset on Monday, April 12, which is equivalent to 29th Sha’aban, 1442 AH.
The NSCIA said this in a statement made available to Nigerian NewsDirect on Sunday and signed by its Director of Administration, Architect Zubairu Haruna Usman-Ugwu.
The statement said if the crescent was sighted by Muslims of impeccable character today (Monday), the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, who is the President-General of the NSCIA would declare Tuesday, April 13 as the first day of Ramadan 1442 AH.
Alternatively, the statement added that if the crescent is not sighted today, then, Wednesday, April 14 will automatically become the first of Ramadan, 1442 AH.
“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 1442 AH immediately after sunset on Monday, April 12, 2021, which is equivalent to 29th Sha’aban 1442 AH.’
“If the crescent is sighted by Muslims of impeccable character on the said evening, then His Eminence would declare Tuesday, April 13, 2021 as the first day of Ramadan 1442 AH. If, however, the crescent is not sighted that day, then, Wednesday, April 14, 2021, automatically becomes the first of Ramadan, 1442 AH,” the NSCIA stated.
The statement added that anyone who sighted the crescent should contact members of the National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC), including Sheikh Dahir Bauchi; Prof. Z. I. Oboh Oseni; Dr Kamil Oloso, among others.
While felicitating with Muslims on the occasion of this year’s Ramadan, the NSCIA enjoined all Muslims to use the holy month to pray to Allah to help Nigeria and the world in general “and our leaders in particular to be able to overcome the current Covid-19 pandemic and the various extant and palpable security challenges.”
