The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, has called on Muslims in the country to search for the crescent of Shawwal 1444A.H. immediately after sunset on Thursday, 29th Ramadan 1444 A.H. which is equivalent to April 20, 2023.
This is to be able to determine the exact day of this year’s Eid-el Fitr.
Eid-el-Fitr is celebrated upon completion of fasting in the month of Ramadan.
Upon sighting the moon on the date by Muslims in accordance with the moon sighting and verification standards, the President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, will declare Friday, April 21, 2023 as the 1st of Shawwal and the day of Eid-el-Fitr.
In a statement by its director of administration, Zubairu Haruna Usman-Ugwu, NSCIA said however, if the crescent is not sighted on that day, then Saturday, April 22, 2023, automatically becomes the Eid-ul-Fitri.
The statement by the council reads in full.
1444 A.H. ‘IDUL FITR GOODWILL MESSAGE AND FELICITATIONS
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, felicitates the Nigerian Muslim ‘Ummah and indeed the entire Muslim world on the auspicious occasion of the 1444 A.H. ‘Idul Fitr. We beseech Allah to grant everyone the opportunity to witness many more of it.
In the spirit of Ramadan, Muslims are reminded that Zakatul Fitr is a compulsory food-levy imposed on privileged Muslims, to be given to the less privileged in the society. The Council, therefore, appeals to all concerned to ensure that they do not only comply but also comply on time. The stipulated practice is to give out the prescribed measurement to beneficiaries in the last two days of Ramadan and not later than before the ‘Id prayer.
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 Shawwal 1444 A.H. immediately after sunset on Thursday, 29th Ramadan 1444 A.H. which is equivalent to 20th April 2023.
If the crescent is sighted by Muslims in accordance with the moon sighting and verification standards, then His Eminence would declare Friday, 21st April 2023 as the 1st of Shawwal and the day of ‘Idul Fitr. However, if the crescent is not sighted that day, then Saturday, 22nd April 2023, automatically becomes the day of ‘Idul Fitr.
In addition to the established and traditional Islamic leaders in each locality, the following members of the National Moon-Sighting Committee (NMSC) can be contacted to report any credible and positive sighting of the crescent of Shawwal 1444 AH:
S/N NAME PHONE NO. EMAIL ADDRESS
1 Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi 08036121311 [email protected]
2 Sheikh Karibullah Kabara 08035537382 [email protected]
3 Sheikh Habeebullah Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory 08023126335 [email protected]
4 Prof. Z. I. Oboh Oseni 08033574431 [email protected]
5 Mal. Simwal Usman Jibrin 08033140010 [email protected]
6 Sheikh Salihu Yaaqub 07032558231 [email protected]
7 Mal. Jafar Abubakar 08020878075 [email protected]
8 Alh. Abdullahi Umar 08037020607 [email protected]
9 Prof. J. M. Kaura 08067050641 [email protected]
10 Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar 08036509363 [email protected]
11 Muhammad Rabiu Salahudeen 08035740333 [email protected]
12 Sheikh Abdur Rasheed Mayaleke 08035050804 [email protected]
13 Dr. Ganiy I. Agbaje 08028327463
08057752980 [email protected]
14 Gafar M. Kuforiji 08033545208 [email protected]
15 Prof. Usman El-Nafaty 08062870892 [email protected]
16 Mal. Ibrahim Zubairu Salihu 08038522693 [email protected]
17 Imam Manu
Muhammad 08036999841 [email protected]
18 Qadee Ahmad Bobboy 08035914285 [email protected]
19 Nurudeen Asunogie 08033533012 [email protected]
20 Sheikh Bala Lau 08037008805
08052426880 [email protected]
21 Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir 08065687545 [email protected]
22 Sheikh AbdurRahman Ahmad 08023141752 [email protected]
23 Muhammad Yaseen Qamarud-Deen 08055322087 [email protected]
24 Prof. Sambo Wali Junaidu 08037157100 [email protected]
25 Sheikh Lukman Abdallah 08052242252 [email protected]
26 Sheikh Sulaiman Gumi 08033139153 [email protected]
27 Arc. Zubairu Usman-Ugwu 08033467451 [email protected]
28 Alh. AbdulBariu Kareem 09096369117 [email protected]
29 Prof. Kamil K. Oloso 08023098661 [email protected]
30 Malam Usman Mahmud 08034540120 [email protected]
31 Malam Yahaya Boyi 08030413634 [email protected]
32 Ustaz Mukail Abdurraheem 08099370109 [email protected]
33 Ustaz Nurudeen Ibrahim 08027091623 [email protected]
The Council encourages all Muslims to pray fervently to the Almighty Allah, especially during the concluding part of Ramadan, for the peace, security and development of Nigeria.
While wishing us all happy ‘Idul Fitr, the Council enjoins Muslims all over the country to be on the lookout for the announcement to be made by His Eminence, the President-General of NSCIA on the night of Thursday 20th of April, 2023.
