Sultan of Sokoto declares Sunday July 7 as Islamic New Year, Muharram 1, 1446 AH
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
The Leader of Muslim Ummah in Nigeria, Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has declared Sunday 7th of July, 2024, as the first day of Muharram, the first month in the new Islamic year calender of 1446 After Hijrah.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Chairman, Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sultanate Council, Sokoto, Professor Sambo Wali Junaidu, dated July 5, 2024 equivalent to Dhul-Hijjah 29, 1445 AH and copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER Saturday night.
The statement explained that, “The Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs in conjunction with the National Moon Sighting Committee did not receive any report from various Moon Sighting Committees across the Country confirming the sighting of the New Moon of Muharram 1446 AH, on Friday 5th July, 2024 which was the 29th day of Zulhijja 1445 AH. Therefore, Saturday 6th July, 2024 will be 30th Zulhijja 1446 AH.
“His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar CFR, mni, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), has accepted the report and accordingly declared Sundsy 7th July, 2024 as the first day of Muharram 1446 AH.
“His Eminence, the Sultan felicitates with the Nigerian Muslim Ummah and wishes them Allah’s guidance and blessings.
“The Sultan while urging tge Muslim Ummah to continue to pray for peace, progress and development of the Country, he wishes all Muslims a happy New Year.”
This globalised multilingual online newspaper reports that by this singular function, the Sultan has launched into another year of rigorous service of ensuring the over 150 million Muslims he leads in world’s most populous black nation are properly guided in the divine duties to their Lord, Allah.
Worship in Islamic religion requires guidance provided by a leader and Sultan of Sokoto, as the President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), represents the symbol of that leadership in the country, under which the Ummah is united.
From Sunday July 7, 2024, therefore, a new year beginning from Muharram 1, 1446 AH has begun meaning that Ramadan, the most talked about of the 12 lunar months of the Islamic Calendar year, is nine months away.
