Nigerian Muslims urged to look for new moon of Shawwal Friday May 22

*As Nigerian media urged to give declaration wider publicity

By Bashir Adefaka

The Muslims in Nigeria have been asked to be on the look out for new moon of Shawwal 1441AH at the sunset of Friday May 22, 2020 which is equivalent to Yaomal Jum’ah Ramadan 29, 1441AH.

This is by the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), according to a statement issued by its Deputy Secretary General, Professor Salisu Shehu, and sent to The DEFENDER on Monday.

The statement, referenced NSCIA/HQ/PRS/008/18/5/20 with dual dates of 25th Ramadan, 1441AH and 18th May, 2020 “, opened with some Qur’an quotes particularly Suratul Baqarah verse 189, “They ask you, [O Muhammad], about the new moons. Say, “They are measurements of time for the people and for Hajj,” and Suratul Yunus verse 5, “It is He who made the sun a shining light and the moon a derived light and determined for it phases – that you may know the number of years and account [of time]”, ostensibly so to educate on the place of moon and other signs of Allah in Islam.

Once the moon is sighted and announced by Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the NSCIA, Dr. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the statement says that Muslims will therefore end fasting of Ramadan for this year, even as media organisations across Nigeria are urged to do timely and wider publicity of the declaration.

“The 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, felicitates with the entire Muslim Ummah in Nigeria and all over the world on the 1441 AH Ramadan Fast. The Council prays that the Almighty Allah grant us the opportunity to witness more of it on earth. Amin.

“Following the advice of the National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC), Friday, 22nd May, 2020(G) which is equivalent to 29th Ramadan, 1441 AH is the first day to look for the Crescent of Shawwal, 1441 AH. However, on that day, the moon will set few minutes before the sun which makes the sighting of the crescent practically impossible.

“Nonetheless, the President-General, in compliance with the Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW), enjoins the Nigerian Muslim Ummah to search for the crescent of Shawwal 1441 AH immediately after sunset on Friday, 22nd May, 2020 equivalent to 29th Ramadan, 1441 AH.

“Muslims all over the country are hereby enjoined to be on the lookout for the announcement by His Eminence, the President-General of NSCIA, on the termination of this year’s Ramadan fast.

“In addition to established and traditional Islamic leaders in each locality, members of the National Moon Sighting Committee who can be contacted to report credible positive sighting of the Shawwal crescent are as follows”, and it listed out names, telephone numbers and email addresses of people to be called by any one who sights the new moon.

They are:
1. Sheikh Dahir Bauchi 08036121311 Sayyadibashir26@yahoo.com
2. Sheikh Karibullah Kabara 08035537382 malamkabara@yahoo.com
3 . Mal. Simwal Usman Jibrin 08033140010 simwaljibril@yahoo.com
4 . Sheikh Salihu Yaaqub 07032558231 Salihumy11@hotmail.com.com
5 . Mal. Jafar Abubakar 08020878075 Jaafaraa1434@gmail.com
6 . Alh. Abdullahi Umar 08037020607 waziringwandu@yahoo.com
7 . Prof. J.M. Kaura 08067050641 Jmkaura56@yahoo.com
8. Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar 08036509363 Baumar277@gmail.com
9. Sheikh Habeebullah Adam Al-Ilory 08029032575 habibelilory@ymail.com
10. Ustaz Nurudeen Ibrahim 08027091623 Nurudeen.a.o.ibrahim@gmail.com
11. Muhammad Rabiu Salahudeen 08035740333 muhammadrabiusalahudeen@gmail.com
12. Sheikh Abdur-Razzaq Ishola 08023864448
08051111063 hustaz@yahoo.com
sheikh@al@abrartravels.com
13. Sheikh Abdur Rasheed Mayaleke 08035050804 jentleasad@yahoo.com
14. Dr. Ganiy I. Agbaje 08028327463
08057752980 Ganiy.agbaje@nasrda.gov.ng
gagbaje@yahoo.co.uk
15. Gafar M. Kuforiji 08033545208 kuforijiabdulwasiu@gmail.com
16. Prof. Usman El-Nafaty 08062870892 elnafaty@gmail.com
17. Mal. Ibrahim Zubairu Salihu 08038522693 zubairusalisu@yahoo.com
18. Dr. Usman Hayatu Dukku 0805 7041968 udukku@yahoo.com
19. Imam Manu
Muhammad 08036999841 limaminmisau@gmail.com
20. Qadee Ahamad Bobboy 08035914285 adamawaemiratecouncil@yahoo.com
21. Prof. Z. I. Oboh Oseni 08033574431 oseni@unilorin.edu.ng
wazzioseni@gmail.com
22. Nurudeen Asunogie D. 08033533012 hamdallah1999@yahoo.com
23. Sheikh Bala Lau 08037008805
08052426880 balalaujibwisnigeria@gmail.com
24. Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir 08065687545 ustaznasirabdulmuhyi@yahoo.com
25. Sheikh AbdurRahman Ahmad 08023141752 aahmadimam@yahoo.co.uk
26. Muhammad Yaseen Qamarud-Deen 08055322087 crescentgroup2000@gmail.com
27. Sheikh Lukman Abdallah 08052242252 abuyatamaa@gmail.com
28. Sheikh Sulaiman Gumi 08033139153 ssgummi@gmail.com
29. Sheikh Adam Idoko 08036759892 imamidoko@gmail.com
30. Alh. Yusuf Nwoha 08030966956
08026032997 yusufnwoha@gmail.com
31. Alh. AbdulBariu Kareem 09096369117 Donbru11@yahoo.com
32. Prof. Kamil K. Oloso 08023098661 kkoloso@yahoo.com
33. Malam Usman Mahmud 08034540120 turjajawaizu@gmail.com
34. Malam Yahaya Boyi 08030413634 sultanofsokoto@yahoo.co.uk
35. Ustaz Mukail Abdurraheem 08099370109 mikailabdurraheem@gmail.com
36. Prof. Sambo Wali Junaidu 08037157100 sultanofsokoto@yaho.co.uk

The NSCIA said: “While reminding the Ummah of the necessity of paying Zakatul-Fitri with the intention of lifting the hearts of the indigent members of the community, the Council urges all to ensure its delivery to the appropriate recipients (i.e. the poor) and guard against its diversion by any agent or intermediary.

“All media houses in the country are requested to kindly publicise the awaited announcement by His Eminence, the President-General of NSCIA and Sultan of Sokoto,” Professor Shehu said as Muslim faithful are wished “‘Id Mubarak in advance!”