By BASHIR ADEFAKA
The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigeria Supreme Council Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has declared Saturday January 13, 2024 as Rajab 1, 1445 AH.
The DEFENDER had reported earlier on Friday that the Sultan had directed Muslims all over Nigeria to search for new moon of the month of Rajab on Friday January 12, 2024.
This online newspaper reported that in event the new moon of Rajab was sighted at sunset on Friday January 12 equivalent to 29th Jumadal Thani, 1445 AH and the Sultan announced, then, Saturday January 13 would be 1st of Rajab. “If the new moon is not sighted Friday, the month of Jumadal Thani shall be counted to complete 30 while Sunday January 14 will automatically become Rajab 1,” the reported said.
However, in an updated statement by Mallam Yahaya Muhammad Boyi, Sarkin Malaman Sokoto and Secretary to the Moon Sighting Committee of the Sultanate Council, Sokoto, copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER Friday night, it was said that the new moon for the month of Rajab have been sighted and Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar so declared.
By the Sultan’s declaration, Saturday January 13, 2024 is Rajab 1, 1445 AH.
The DEFENDER reports that in Islam, everyone of the 12 lunar months is 29 and that it is when, due to contractions, the new moon is not sighted that the counting goes to 30. The new moon of Rajab this year was sighted exactly at the sunset of Yaomal Jumah, which was exactly 29th day of Jumadal Thani, 1445 AH and equivalent to Friday January 12, 2024.
Rajab is 7th of Islamic calendar months followed by Sha’ban the 8th and Ramadan, the 9th and most deared to Allah and most rewarding of all the 12 Islamic months.
The institutionalisation of moon Sighting by the Sultan of Sokoto since shortly after the advent of his royal administration on November 2, 2006 has put him in the lime light as a leader, whose time since over 17 years ago has witnessed sustained unity of the Nigerian Muslim Ummah.
This he has done, while also going extra mile to strengthen the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) and the National Traditional Rulers Council of Nigeria because of his belief that Muslims and Christians cannot live in isolation of one another.
