Ramadan starts Friday, fasting commences  – Sultan

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs(NSCIA), Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar has announced the commencement  of Ramadan on Friday, April 24.

Making the announcement on Thursday, the President – General who is also the Sultan of Sokoto,said  sighting the new moon signifies the end of Sha’aban 1441 AH, and the commencement of fasting.

Stating that the new moon was sighted and the reports were received  on Thursday in different parts of the country from Muslim leaders and organisations, meaning that Ramadan will start on Friday in Nigeria.

The Sultan said, ”In accordance with Islamic law, the Muslim faithfuls are to commence fasting on Friday accordingly.”

The Muslim fasting month of Ramadan also starts on Friday in Saudi Arabia and most Arab countries
who have also announced theirs, they include- Tunisia, Kuwait, Qatar, Egypt, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, and Iraq’s Sunni Muslim minority.

In the Gulf sultanate of Oman where it was  announced that the crescent was not spotted as at Thursday, for them, Ramadan will begin on Saturday.

At this period of Ramadan,Muslims are to abstain from eating, drinking and smoking from dawn to sunset through out the period amidst lockdown.

Muslims all over mark the month by performing special evening prayers, known as the taraweeh, ongoing lockdown in many countries over the global COVID -19 pandemic would not allow that hold.

The Sultan urged all to use this period to pray for  Nigeria and for peace and end to the menace of this disease.