Sultan confirms sighting of moon, asks Muslims to begin Ramadan Thursday

Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, has confirmed the sighting of the moon signalling the beginning of Ramadan.

In a live broadcast on Friday, Abubakar announced that the Ramadan fast will begin on Saturday.

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) also announced the development in a statement on Friday.

“Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah, Alhamdu Lillah, the crescent of Ramadan 1443H has been sighted at some locations in Nigeria . Tomorrow 2nd April, 2022 is 1st Ramadan, 1443,” the statement reads.

The development comes hours after Saudi Arabia announced the sighting of the moon.

The Ramadan month is a time for reflection, contemplation, and celebration when Muslims around the world observe fasting for 29 or 30 days.

Fasting during the holy month is one of the five pillars of Islam, and during the period, Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, and any form of sexual relationship from dawn till dusk.

Muslim faithful are also encouraged to perform prayers, seek forgiveness and engage in humanitarian activities.

Fasting in Ramadan is compulsory for all adult Muslims, except if an individual is sick, travelling, observing menstrual cycle, pregnant, or elderly.

The Islamic calendar follows the phases of the moon, known as the lunar cycle, falling nearly 10 days earlier every year in the Gregorian calendar.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari sends greetings and best wishes to Muslims as they commence 30 days of Ramadan fasting, urging that they use the season “to project the best and finest virtues of Islam by personal conduct, and not precept.”

 

In a goodwill message to mark the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, President Buhari says “let us use this opportunity to put the best teachings of Islam into practice, such as kindness and the love of humanity.”

 

According to the President, “this is an occasion for deep reflection and greater fear of Allah and avoidance of all evils that harm humanity.”

 

He said that “the Ramadan is characterised by abstention from food and drinks from dawn to dusk, which brings both the rich and poor to share the experience of hunger together, thereby strengthening the bonds between haves and have-nots.”

 

President Buhari explained that “as we begin these 30 days fasting season, let us not forget that Ramadan is not only about abstention from eating and drinking, but it is a reminder to refrain from all kinds of evil and transgressions that harm humanity.”

 

“I am particularly aware of the activities of traders who artificially increase the prices of their goods, including food at the beginning of every month of Ramadan. This kind of exploitation is against the spirit of the Ramadan and the spirit of Islam,” the President said.

 

President Buhari added that, “while we are observing this important occasion in the spiritual life of Muslims, let us share food and drinks with the less fortunate, because by sharing our blessings with others, Allah will multiply our rewards for good deeds.”

Meanwhile, As we begin another journey in the Holy month of Ramadan during which all Muslims are expected to fast for 30 days, we members of the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are wishing all the Muslims in the state and in other parts of the country Happy Ramadan.

 

 

The holy month of Ramadan is upon us – an auspicious period for practicing Muslims – during which they fast from sunrise to sundown.

 

We are about to be purified of all impurity, and happiness is what lies ahead.

 

We wish you all a very happy Ramadan as we enjoin us all to see this as an opportunity to rededicate our lives to Almighty Allah that has seen us through all kinds of challenges.

 

The Holy Month is part of the five pillars of Islam as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SWT), who made it compulsory for all Muslims to observe 30 days of fasting, apart from old people, women observing monthly period and travellers.

 

We in Lagos PDP believe that this month provides another opportunity for retrospection for all of us in view of the numerous challenges confronting us as a people.

 

As we wish you all a fruitful and rewarding month of Ramadan, we believe that the month should be used for us all to have a rethink and work towards a better nation, where both the leaders and the led would be guided by the teachings of the Holy Prophet.

 

This should not be just another exercise of fulfilling all righteousness, let us see it as an opportunity for us to change our attitude to life for the better and bequeath a just society to the coming generations.

 

Nation building is a job for all of us and the recent events in our country, especially the just concluded general elections, revealed that many of us are far from observing and practising the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SWT).

 

The level of violence, intimidation and harassment that characterised the elections are signs that we need to purify ourselves, rededicate our lives and imbibe righteousness during this period and beyond so that we can have a society that would be beneficial to all of us, where there would be peace, tranquility and progress.

 

May the Almighty Allah accept all our supplications during this Holy month and give us the nation of our dream.