By BASHIR ADEFAKA
The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigeria Supreme Council Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has directed Muslims all over Nigeria to search for new moon of the month of Rajab 1445 AH on Friday January 12, 2024.
The Sultan’s directive was handed out in a short message by Sarkin Mallaman Sokoto, Mallam Yahaya Muhammad Boyi, on behalf of the Sultanate Council Moon Sighting Committee, copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER on Thursday.
The statement said, “His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto wishes to inform you that Friday 12/1/2024, which is equivalent to 29th days of Jumada Assaniya 1445 AH, shall be the first day to look for the new moon of Rajab 1445 AH.
“If the moon is sighted please inform His Eminence through the following numbers: 08037157100, 08035965322, 08035945903. 08066303077 and 07067146900,” the statement said.
This online newspaper reports that in event the new moon of Rajab is sighted at sunset today Friday January 12 equivalent to 29th Jumadal Thani, 1445 AH and the Sultan announces, then, Saturday January 13 will be 1st 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 DEFENDER also reports that in Islam, everyone of the 12 lunar months is 29 and that it is when, due to contractions, the new new moon is not sighted that the counting goes to 30.
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.
