THE Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN) has called on the federal and state governments to declare Muharram 1, the first day of the Islamic Hijrah Calendar 1442 A.H, as a public holiday.
In the Hijrah 1442 A.H message, the National President of MMPN, Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Balogun, said such a declaration would be in line with the rule of law, fairness and justice to Muslims in Nigeria.
Balogun urged the Federal Government to give recognition to Muslim New Year in the interest of fairness as benefitted by the Christian brethren on every January 1.
This gesture, he stressed, would give Muslims a sense of belonging in the polity.
Muharram 1, is the Islamic calendar equivalent of January 1, which is observed as a public holiday in Nigeria. Muslims worldwide will usher in the new Islamic year Hijrah 1442 A.H. on Friday Aug. 21, 2020.
“Muharram 1, is our own January 1, we want both the Federal and state governments alike to declare it as such in the interest of religious harmony in the country”, Balogun said.
He implored government at various levels to recognise the Hijrah calendar and use it side by side with the Gregorian calendar.
Balogun congratulated Muslims and non-Muslims alike for witnessing another new Islamic year and urged them to reflect on their deeds and activities during the past year.
He asked Muslims to use the opportunity of the New Year to migrate from their evil ways in the past to renew their commitments in the New Year and pray to Allah to end the scourge of COVID-19 pandemic which had ravaged the world.
