Nigerian Muslims have been asked to look out for new moon on Sunday night for the commencement of this year’s Ramadan.
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs on Saturday, in a statement by the Secretary General of the NSCIA, Is-haq Oloyede, said if the moon is not sighted on Sunday, the Ramadan fast would commence on Monday.
Oloyede’s statement titled: “Felicitation and moon sighting for Ramadan 1437 A.H.,” reads in full:
The month of Ramadan (is that) 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.
In addition to established and traditional Islamic leaders in each locality, members of the National Moon Sighting Committee who can be contacted for information and clarification are:
1 Mallam Hafiz Wali 08036009090hafizswali@yahoo.com
2 Sheikh Tahir Bauchi 08032103733
08033058201 Sayyadibashir26@yahoo.com
Usmanusman9280@gmail.com
3 Sheikh Karibullah Kabara 08035537382
4 Mal. Simwal Usman Jibrin 08033140010simwaljibril@yahoo.com
5 Sheikh Salihu Yaaqub 07032558231Salihumy11@yahoo.com
6 Mal. Jafar Abubakar 08020878075jaafaraabubakar@yahoo.com
7 Alh. Abdullahi Umar 08037020607waziringwandu@yahoo.com
8 Prof. J.M. Kaura 08067050641Jmkaura56@yahoo.com
9 Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar 08036509363 Baumar277@gmail.com
1 Sheikh Habeebullah Adam Al-Ilory 08023126335habibelilory@ymail.com
2 Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere 08033881335pgsouthwest85@gmail.com
3 Muhammad Rabiu Salahudeen 08035740333muhammadrabiusalahudeen@gmail.com
4 Sheikh Abdur-Razzaq Ishola 08023864448
08051111063 hustaz@yahoo.com
sheikh@al@ abrartravels.com
5 Sheikh Abdur Rasheed Mayaleke 08035050804jentleasad@yahoo.com
6 Dr. Ganiy I. Agbaje 08028327463
08057752980 Ganiy.agbaje@nasrda.gov.ng
gagbaje@yahoo.co.uk
7 Gafar M. Kuforiji 08033545208kuforijiabdulwasiu@gmail.com
1 Prof. Usman El-Nafaty 08062870892elnafaty@gmail.com
2 Mal. Ibrahim Zubairu Salisu 08038522693zubairusalisu@yahoo.com
3 Dr. Usman Hayatu Dukku 0805 704 1968udukku@yahoo.com
4 Imam Manu
Muhammad 08036999841
limaminmisau@gmail.com
5 Chief Imam of Yola Central Mosque 08035914285
1 Prof. Z. I. Oboh Oseni 08033574431oseni@unilorin.edu.ng
wazzioseni@gmail.com
2 Nurudeen Asunogie D. 08033533012hamdallah1999@yahoo.com
1 Sheikh Bala Lau 08037008805
08052426880 balalaujibwisnigeria@gmail.com
2 Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir 08065687545
3 Muhammad Nasir AbdulMuhyi 08065687545
08024333381 ustaznasirabdulmuhyi@yahoo.com
4 Sheikh AbdurRahman Ahmad 08023141752aahmadimam@yahoo.co.uk
5 Muhammad Yaseen Qamarud-Deen 07032558231info@bmics.com
6 Sheikh Lukman Abdallah 08037861132
7 Sheikh Sulaiman Gumi 08033139153ssgummi@gmail.com
1 Sheikh Adam Idoko 08036759892imamcentral@yahoo.com
2 Alh. Yusuf Nwoha 08030966956
08026032997 yusufnwoha@gmail.com
3 Mal. Isa Okonkwo 08037861407
isaokonkwo@gmail.com
As soon as the NMSC, based on the verified information, confirms the sighting of the crescent, the committee will advise the President General of the NSCIA, who will announce the commencement of the month of Ramadan.
While we are wishing all Nigerian Muslims happy Ramadan in advance, we urge each and every Muslim to remain faithful to the true teachings of Islam in all its ramifications, by being his/her brothers’ keeper, peace loving, peace keeping, peacemaking and being an advocate of peaceful co-existence for accelerated development of our troubled nation.
We urge all of us to seize the opportunity of Ramadan to pray for our leaders; Political, Religious and Social, so that the nation can be properly guided to greater development.
Ramadan Kareem!
