The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Sa’ad Abubakar, has called on the Muslim Ummah to look for the crescent of Dhul-Hijjah 1445 AH from Thursday, June 6.
In a statement released on Wednesday by Prof. Sambo Janaidu, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs of the Sultanate Council, Sokoto, the Sultan emphasized the importance of sighting the new moon for the commencement of the sacred month.
“This is to inform the Muslim Ummah that Thursday, June 6, which is equivalent to the 29th day of Dhul-Qidah 1445 AH, shall be the day to look for the new moon of Dhul-Hijjah 1445 AH. Muslims are, therefore, requested to start looking for the new moon of Dhul-Hijjah on Thursday and report its sighting to the nearest District or Village Head for onward communication to the Sultan,” the statement read.
The Sultan extended his prayers for Allah’s continued support to Muslims in fulfilling their religious obligations.
Dhul-Hijjah, the 12th and final month in the Islamic calendar, holds significant importance for Muslims worldwide. It is one of the four sacred months in Islam, during which the annual pilgrimage (Hajj) takes place, and the Eid-El-Kabir festival is celebrated.
During this month, Muslim pilgrims from around the globe gather in Mecca to perform Hajj, which begins on the eighth day of Dhul-Hijjah. The Eid-El-Kabir festival, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, is celebrated from the 10th to the 13th of Dhul-Hijjah.