Muslim faithful in Nigeria, on Thursday, joined their counterparts across the world to celebrate the new Hijrah 1442 A.H., also known as the Islamic New Year.
First of Muharram, as it is also called, marks the beginning of the Islamic lunar calendar year.
The Islamic New Year has been observed since 622 AD when the prophet Mohammed fled from Mecca to Yathrib (now called Medina) to escape religious persecution.
The date is chosen to coincide with the expected first sighting of the lunar crescent after the new Moon in the month of Muharram.
Astronomical calculations are used to predict when this sighting will occur, and for this reason, there are sometimes differences of up to two days as to precisely when the date falls depending on where you are.
In Nigeria, the National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC) under the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), on Wednesday night, said that there was no report of the sighting of the new moon of Muharram 1442 A.H.
This means that Thursday is Dhul-Hijja 1441 A.H, while Friday automatically becomes 1st Muharram, the Muslim New Year of 1442 A.H.
“As at 7:38pm, there was no report of the sighting of the new moon in the country, thus the Sultan did not declare Thursday as the first day of Muharram, New Year 1442 A.H.
“This means that tomorrow (Thursday) is 30th Dhul Hijja 1441 and Friday becomes the first Muharram of the New Year,” a member of the NMSC, Sheik Salihu Muhammad Yakub, said on Wednesday night.
Recall that some state governments such as Kano, Jigawa and Osun had declared Thursday as Public Holiday.
