Sultan felicitates with Muslims on Ramadan 1437 A.H.

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs
(NSCIA), under the leadership of its President
General, Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR,
mni, the Sultan of Sokoto, has congratulated the
Muslim Ummah in Nigeria and all over the world
on the month of Ramadan, 1437 A. H expected
to start tomorrow asking the Muslims to look out
for the moon tonight.

In a statement signed by the Secretary General,
Prof Ishaq Oloyede, the council said: "by the
month of Ramadan in which was revealed the
Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs
for the guidance and the criterion (between right
and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the
crescent on the first night of) the month (of
Ramadan i.e. present at his home), he must
observe fasting that month… (Q.Al-Baqarah
2:185)

"The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic
Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of its
President General, Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad
Abubakar, CFR, mni, the Sultan of Sokoto,
congratulates the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria and
all over the world on the auspicious occasion of
Ramadan, 1437 A. H. The Council prays that Allah
make the month a positively new beginning in
our individual and national lives in terms of
spiritual excellence and national development.

"The Council appreciates the educative release
from National Space Research Development
Agency (NASRDA) on crescent sighting, which was
meant to provide just the scientific explanation
concerning sighting of the crescent. We urge the
NASRDA to make it a monthly affair for public
awareness and education. One of the beauties of
Islamic calendar is its being natural, based on a
monthly phenomenon as created by the
Almighty Creator of both humanity and nature.

"It is also instructive that the findings of NASRDA
agree with those of the Islamic Scholars on when
and where the conjunction of the new crescent
would take place. The only difference is that
mere conjunction without its physical
appearance (after sunset) is not enough for the
commencement of the Ramadan except on the
30th of the receding month when its existence is
certain.
"Since the last Ramadan fast, the National Moon
Sighting Committee (NMSC) of the NSCIA, under
the leadership of Mallam Hafiz Wali and Prof.

Usman El-Nafaty, assisted by Bro. Muhammad
Yaseen Qamarud-Deen, advises the President
General of the NSCIA on the commencement of
every lunar month. The President General, as
advised, always makes monthly declaration of
the commencement of every lunar month.

"The NMSC had advised the President General
that the crescent of Ramadan should be searched
for on Sunday, 5th June, 2016 equivalent to 29th
Sha’ban 1437 AH. If the crescent is actually
sighted by informed persons on Sunday night
and His Eminence is so advised by the experts,
he would declare Monday, 6th June, 2016 as the
first day of Ramadan. If, however, the crescent is
not sighted on the night of Sunday, Tuesday, 7th
June, 2016 automatically becomes the first of
Ramadan, 1437 AH.

"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 commencement of the 1437 AH
Ramadan fast."