By Gbadamosi Oladimeji
Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs has announced that Ramadan will start on Friday, April 24.
Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, who doubles as NSCIA President-General, announced this on Thursday in a broadcast.
He confirmed that the new moon was sighted on Thursday in different parts of the country, meaning that Ramadan will start on Friday in Nigeria.
“After due verification and authentication by the national moon sighting committee and states committees’ confirmation, as well as routine scrutiny, I hereby announce the sighting of the new moon of Ramadan signifies the end of Sha’aban 1441 AH, ” he said.
”In accordance with Islamic law, the Muslim faithful are to commence fasting on Friday accordingly.”
Meanwhile, the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan also starts on Friday in Saudi Arabia and most Arab countries.
The moon crescent for the holy month was sighted earlier in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
According to a tweet by the Astronomy Center, the moon was photographed on Thursday at 12:02pm from Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah.
“Based on the sighting of the new month’s moon, it has been decided that Friday is the start of the month of Ramadan,” the royal court said in a statement cited by the SPA news agency.
King Salman said he is saddened that Muslims cannot pray at mosques because of the coronavirus restrictions.
“I am pained that the holy month arrives amid circumstances that make us unable to perform group prayers and Taraweeh — special Ramadan night prayers at mosques due to precautionary measures to protect the peoples’ lives and health in combating the coronavirus pandemic,” the king said in a statement cited by SPA.
