Look Out For New Moon Of Shawwal, NSCIA Urges Muslims

Alhaji-Abubakar-Saad

The Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) on Tuesday night asked Muslims to look out for new moon on Wednesday night marking the end of Ramadan fast.

In a statement entitled: Termination of Ramadan Fast 1434/2013 and signed by the NSCIA Secretary General, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede reminded the Muslims on the importance of sighting of the crescent moon in termination of the fast.

“Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is reported to have said: “Commence fasting when you sight the (Ramadan) crescent and terminate fasting when you sight the (Shawwal) crescent.

“But if the sky is cloudy, then, count 30 days of Sha’ban or of Ramadan as the case may be”.

“Therefore, in accordance with the Prophetic tradition, Muslims all over Nigeria are hereby urged to look for the new crescent of Shawwal on Wednesday, August, 7, 2013 CE (which corresponds to 29th day of Ramadan, 1434 AH.’’

“To this effect, members of the national Moon Sighting Committee have been deployed with appropriate gadgets to various parts of the country for easy sighting of the moon’’, he said.

Oloyede said other individuals who are able to sight the crescent are requested to contact, through appropriate authorities, any of the following:

1. The President-General of NSCIA and the Sultan of Sokoto Tel: 08036470422

2. The Deputy President-General (North) of the NSCIA and the Shehu of Borno

3. The Deputy President-General (South) of the NSCIA and Aare Musulumi of Yoruba Land Tel: 08027780076

4. The Secretary General, Prof. Is-haq O Oloyede on ioloyede@yahoo.co.uk

5. The Emir of Gwandu and all other Emirs

6. The Lamido of Adamawa

7. The Esu Nupe

8. The Otaru of Auchi

9. The Deputy Secretary-General (South) of NSCIA (Sheikh Adam Idoko) Tel: 08036759892

10. The President of the League of Imams and Alfas in Yoruba Land: Chief Imam of Osogbo

11. The Baba Adini of Lagos, Sheikh Hafiz Abou and

12. The Chairman, National Moon Sighting Committee, Dr. Hafis Wali On  08036009090.

“Where the authorities are satisfied that the crescent has been duly sighted, The President-General and Sultan of Sokoto would announce the termination

of Ramadan Fast and the observance of Eid-el-Fitr Prayer the following day, that is Thursday August 8t h , 2013.

“In the event of the moon not being sighted on Wednesday Aug, 7,  2013, the Eid-el-Fitr Prayer shall be observed on Friday, Aug. 9, 2013.’’

The Council reminded the Muslims of the necessity of paying Zakatul Fitr with the intention of lifting the hearts of the indigent members of the community.

It also felicitates with Nigerian Muslim Ummah on the completion of the Ramadan Fast and wished them abundant blessings from Allah.

It urges Muslims to continue to pray for the peaceful co-existence of all Nigerians and keep the valued lessons and gains of the sacred month as spiritual guide against current provocative utterances from certain quarters that may lead to iniquities.

August 07, 2013