The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), headed by President-General Sultan Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged Muslims nationwide to search for the 2024 (1445 AH) Ramadan moon starting this Sunday.
In a statement released on Friday, Prof. Salisu Shehu, Deputy Secretary-General of NSCIA, conveyed Sultan Abubakar’s felicitations to the Muslim Ummah for the upcoming 1445 AH Ramadan Fast. The council fervently prayed for the well-being of every Muslim to partake in the ibaadah exercise and reap its full benefits.
Quoting a verse from the Qur’an, Prof. Shehu emphasized the significance of Ramadan as a guidance for mankind and a clear criterion between right and wrong.
Following the advice of the National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC), the President-General urged Nigerian Muslims to observe the crescent of Ramadan 1445 AH immediately after sunset on Sunday, March 10, 2024, corresponding to 29th Sha’aban 1445 AH.
Should the crescent be sighted, Sultan Abubakar will declare Monday, March 11, 2024, as the first day of Ramadan 1445 AH; otherwise, Tuesday, March 12, 2024, will automatically mark the commencement of the fast.
Amid economic challenges, the council appealed to affluent Muslims to extend acts of charity to the less privileged within their communities throughout Ramadan. They also cautioned traders against hoarding food and unjustly inflating prices during the fasting period.
Furthermore, the NSCIA encouraged Muslims to seize the opportunity of Ramadan to pray for divine support for Palestinians, seeking liberation from oppression.
In a final call, Prof. Shehu urged Muslims nationwide to be vigilant on the night of Sunday, March 10, 2024, for the sighting of the Ramadan crescent, awaiting the official announcement by Sultan Abubakar on the commencement of the 1445 AH Ramadan fast.
“We wish all Nigerian Muslims and their counterparts worldwide a happy Ramadan in advance,” concluded Prof. Salisu Shehu.
