Fatima Hassan, Abuja
As the holy month of Ramadan nears its conclusion, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has called upon the Muslim community to eagerly anticipate the sighting of the crescent moon, signalling the end of Ramadan and the beginning of Shawwal 1445 A.H.
According to a statement signed by the Secretary-General of the NSCIA, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, CON, following advice from the National Moon-Sighting Committee (NMSC), the President-General encourages all Nigerian Muslims to seek out the crescent moon of Shawwal 1445 A.H. immediately after sunset on Monday, 29th Ramadan 1445 A.H., corresponding to the 8th of April, 2024.
“It must be noted that, according to scientific calculations, the expected time for the Shawwal moon conjunction in Nigeria is Monday 8th April 2024 at 07:21 p.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 Tuesday, 9th April, 2024 as the 1st of Shawwal and the day of Eid Al-Fitr.
“However, if the crescent is not sighted that day, then Wednesday, 10th April, 2024, automatically becomes the day of ‘Eid Al-Fitr,” the statement stated.
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Zakat Al-Fitr
The council urged Muslims to be reminded that Zakat Al-Fitr is a compulsory food levy imposed on privileged Muslims, to be given to the less privileged in the society.
“The Council, therefore, appeals to all concerned to ensure that they do not only comply but also 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 Eid prayer,” it said.
The Council also beseeched Allah to grant everyone the opportunity to witness many more Eid in good health and divine guidance. It further encouraged all Muslims to pray fervently to the Almighty Allah, especially during the concluding part of Ramadan, for peace, security and development in Nigeria while looking out for the announcement to be made by His Eminence, the President-General of the NSCIA, on the night of Monday, April 8, 2024.
