Eid-el-Fitr: Sultan Urges Muslims To Search For New Moon Saturday
By Abimbola Abdullah
The President-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), has urged the Nigerian Muslim Ummah to search for the crescent of Shawwal 1446 A.H. immediately after sunset on Saturday, 29th Ramadan 1446 A.H. which is equivalent to 29th March 2025.
Sultan, in his goodwill message to Muslims on the occasion of the forthcoming eid-el -fitr said, “according to scientific calculations, the expected time for the conjunction of Shawwal moon in Nigeria is Saturday, 29th March 2025 at 11:58 a.m. That notwithstanding, as Islamic tradition stipulates, Muslims are enjoined to search for the crescent of Shawwal on the 29th of Ramadan.
“If Muslims sight the crescent in accordance with the moon sighting and verification standards, then His Eminence would declare Sunday, 30th March 2025 as the 1st of Shawwal and the day of ‘Idul Fitr. However, if the crescent is not sighted that day, then Monday, 31st March 2025, automatically becomes the day of ‘Idul Fitr,” he stated.
He therefore enjoined Muslims to contact the traditional and Islamic leaders in each locality who are members of the National Moon-Sighting Committee (NMSC) to report any credible and positive sighting of the crescent of Shawwal 1446 AH.
While reminding the Muslims that Zakatul Fitr is a compulsory food levy imposed on privileged Muslims, to be given to the less privileged in the society, Sultan therefore, appeals to all concerned Muslims to ensure that they comply and do so in good time.
“The stipulated practice is to give out the prescribed measurement to beneficiaries in the last two days of Ramadan, but before the ‘Id prayer,” he explained.
The Sultan encourages all Muslims to pray fervently to the Almighty Allah, especially during the concluding part of Ramadan, for peace, security and development in Nigeria.
The NSCIA enjoined Muslims all over the country to look out for the announcement to be made by His Eminence, the President-General of NSCIA, on the night of Saturday, 29th of March 2025.
