The Sultan of Sokoto and President of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has declared that Ramadan will start today, Friday April 24th, 2020.
Sultan Abubakar made the declaration on Thursday, confirming that the new moon had been sighted.
During Ramadan, Muslims are expected to abstain from eating, drinking and smoking from dawn to sunset.
Early Tuesday, Alhaji Salisu Shehu, Deputy Secretary-General of the council, had stated, “Consequent upon the advice of the National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC), the President-General (Sultan) enjoins the Nigerian Muslim Ummah to search for the crescent of Ramadan 1441 AH immediately after sunset on Thursday, April 23, 2020, which is equivalent to 29th Sha’aban 1441 AH,” “If the crescent is sighted by Muslims of impeccable character on the said evening, then His Eminence would declare Friday, April 24, 2020 as the first day of Ramadan 1441 AH. “If, however, the crescent is not sighted that day, then, Saturday, April 25, 2020 automatically becomes the first of Ramadan, 1441 AH.”
Sultan Abubakar also directed Muslims to shun congregational gatherings and maintain physical distancing throughout Ramadan as part of measures to limit the spread of COVID-19.
