The National Moon-Sighting Committee (NMSC) has been established by the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) in preparation for Eid al-Fitr 1444 AH. The Nigerian Muslim leading organisation also urged Muslims across the nation to keep an eye out for the statement that the Sultan will make on the evening of Thursday, April 20.
There are two dedicated times of Eid in Islam that Muslims celebrate as per the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) guidance: Eid al-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha. These are times in which Allah (SWT) rejoices in His followers being happy and encourages joy amongst all. “Eid al-Fitr” from Arabic sums up the holiday as it means “festival of breaking the fast.” Eid al-Fitr is celebrated during the first three days of Shawwal, which is the tenth month in the Muslim (lunar) calendar.
A statement signed by Arc. Zubairu Haruna Usman-Ugwu, Director of Administration of 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.
The statement released to the press yesterday said, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar felicitates the Nigerian Muslim ‘Ummah and indeed the entire Muslim world on the auspicious occasion of the 1444 A.H. Eid al-Fitr.
“We beseech Allah to grant everyone the opportunity to witness many more of it.”
It reads further, “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.”
According to the article titled, “1444 A.H. ‘IDUL FITR GOODWILL MESSAGE AND FELICITATIONS”, the Sultan of Sokoto 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.
He said, “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 Eid al-Fitr. However, if the crescent is not sighted that day, then Saturday, 22nd April 2023, automatically becomes the day of Eid al-Fitr.”
The NSCIA Set-up National Moon-Sighting Committee (NMSC)
In the meantime, according to the statement, 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:
1. Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi
2. Sheikh Karibullah Kabara
Kogi AD
3. Sheikh Habeebullah Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory 08023126335
4. Prof. Z. I. Oboh Oseni
08033574431 oseni@unilorin.edu.ng
5. Mal. Simwal Usman Jibrin
08033140010 simwaljibril@yahoo.com
6.Sheikh Salihu Yaaqub
07032558231 salihumy11@hotmail.com.com
7.Mal. Jafar Abubakar
8. Alh. Abdullahi Umar
08037020607 waziringwandu@yahoo.com
9.Prof. J. M. Kaura
08067050641jmkaura56@yahoo.com
10. Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar
08036509363 baumar277@gmail.com
11. Muhammad Rabiu Salahudeen
08035740333 muhammadrabiusalahudeen@gmail.com
12.Sheikh Abdur Rasheed Mayaleke
08035050804 jentleasad@yahoo.com
13. Dr. Ganiy I. Agbaje
14. Gafar M. Kuforiji 08033545208
15.Prof. Usman El-Nafaty
08062870892 elnafaty@gmail.com
16. Mal. Ibrahim Zubairu Salihu
08038522693 zubairusalisu@yahoo.com
17. Imam Manu Muhammad 08036999841
18. Qadee Ahmad Bobboy 08035914285
adamawaemiratecouncil@yahoo.com
19. Nurudeen Asunogie 08033533012 hamdallah1999@yahoo.com
20. Sheikh Bala Lau
balalaujibwisnigeria@gmail.com
21. Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir
08065687545 ustaznasirabdulmuhyi@yahoo.com
22. Sheikh AbdurRahman Ahmad
08023141752 aahmadimam@yahoo.co.uk
23. Muhammad Yaseen Qamarud-Deen
08055322087 crescentgroup2000@gmail.com
24. Prof. Sambo Wali Junaidu
08037157100 sultanofsokoto@yaho.co.uk
25. Sheikh Lukman Abdallah
08052242252 abuyatamaa@gmail.com
26. Sheikh Sulaiman Gumi
27. Arc. Zubairu Usman-Ugwu
08033467451 zeeusman2012@gmail.com
28. Alh. AbdulBariu Kareem
09096369117 donbru11@yahoo.com
29. Prof. Kamil K. Oloso
30. Malam Usman Mahmud
08034540120 turjajawaizu@gmail.com
31. Malam Yahaya Boyi
32. Ustaz Mukail Abdurraheem
08099370109 mikailabdurraheem@gmail.com
33. Ustaz Nurudeen Ibrahim
08027091623 nurudeen.a.o.ibrahim@gmail.com
“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 Eid al-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,” it added.
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