The Sultan of Sokoto and President of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Muhammed Sa’ad Abubakar has announced the sighting of the new moon on Thursday night.
The announcement signified the commencement of 29 or 30 days Ramadan fasting starting from Friday.
The Sultan in a press statement said “reliable reports of moon sighting were received from Muslim Leaders, which were duely verified and authenticated by the States and National Moon Sighting Committees.
“Consequent upon this information, tomorrow Friday the 20th Day of July, 2012 becomes the first day of Ramadan 1433 AH after the Hijira. I therefore call on the Muslim Ummah to commence the fasting accordingly.”
According to the leader of the Muslim faithful in Nigeria, the moon was sighted in Bornu, Kebbi, Zamfara States.
Alhaji Abubakar urged Muslims to seize the opportunity of the blessed month to pray for security in Nigeria.
He also congratulated Muslims for witnessing another month of blessings.
“I would like to use this opportunity to implore the Muslim Ummah to devote ourselves fully to Ibadat throughout the Holy Month and pray fervently for the blessings of Allah, as well as the sustenance of peace and stability of our great Nation and the Islamic Countries of the World in general.
“We also continue to urge all Muslims to use this holy month of Ramadan to re-dedicate themselves to the teachings of our religion Islam and continue to live peacefully with one another, irrespective of religious and tribal differences,” the Sultan said.
