- Moon
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has issued a statement asking Muslims to look out for new moon for the commencement of the this year’s Ramadan.
A statement by the Secretary General of NSCIA, Is-haq Oloyede, said faithful should look out for the new moon on Sunday night.
Oloyede, a professor, said if the moon is sighted on Sunday, the Ramadan fast would commence on Monday, stating however that if the moon is not sighted on Sunday, the fast would commence on Monday.
Full statement below:
FELICITATION AND MOONSIGHTING FOR RAMADAN 1437 A.H.
The month of Ramadan (is that) in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan i.e. present at his home), he must observe fasting that month… (Q.Al-Baqarah 2:185).
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of its President General, Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, the Sultan of Sokoto, congratulates the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria and all over the world on the auspicious occasion of Ramadan, 1437 A. H.
The Council prays that Allah make the month a positively new beginning in our individual and national lives in terms of spiritual excellence and national development.
The Council appreciates the educative release from National Space Research Development Agency (NASRDA) on crescent sighting, which was meant to provide just the scientific explanation concerning sighting of the crescent.
We urge the NASRDA to make it a monthly affair for public awareness and education. One of the beauties of Islamic calendar is its being natural, based on a monthly phenomenon as created by the Almighty Creator of both humanity and nature.
It is also instructive that the findings of NASRDA agree with those of the Islamic Scholars on when and where the conjunction of the new crescent would take place. The only difference is that mere conjunction without its physical appearance (after sunset) is not enough for the commencement of the Ramadan except on the 30th of the receding month when its existence is certain.
Since the last Ramadan fast, the National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC) of the NSCIA, under the leadership of Mallam Hafiz Wali and Prof. Usman El-Nafaty, assisted by Bro. Muhammad Yaseen Qamarud-Deen, advises the President General of the NSCIA on the commencement of every lunar month. The President General, as advised, always makes monthly declaration of the commencement of every lunar month.
The NMSC had advised the President General that the crescent of Ramadan should be searched for on Sunday, 5th June, 2016 equivalent to 29th Sha’ban 1437 AH. If the crescent is actually sighted by informed persons on Sunday night and His Eminence is so advised by the experts, he would declare Monday, 6th June, 2016 as the first day of Ramadan. If, however, the crescent is not sighted on the night of Sunday, Tuesday, 7th June, 2016 automatically becomes the first of Ramadan, 1437 AH.
Muslims all over the Country are hereby enjoined to be on the lookout for the directive of His Eminence, the President General of the NSCIA, on the commencement of the 1437 AH Ramadan fast.
In addition to established and traditional Islamic leaders in each locality, members of the National Moon Sighting Committee who can be contacted for information and clarification are:
S/N NAME PHONE NO. E-MAIL
1 Mallam Hafiz Wali [email protected]
2 Sheikh Tahir Bauchi 08032103733
08033058201 [email protected]
[email protected]
3 Sheikh Karibullah Kabara 08035537382
4 Mal. Simwal Usman Jibrin [email protected]
5 Sheikh Salihu Yaaqub [email protected]
6 Mal. Jafar Abubakar [email protected]
7 Alh. Abdullahi Umar [email protected]
8 Prof. J.M. Kaura [email protected]
9 Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar 08036509363 [email protected]
S/N NAME PHONE NO. E-MAIL
1 Sheikh Habeebullah Adam Al-Ilory [email protected]
2 Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere [email protected]
3 Muhammad Rabiu Salahudeen [email protected]
4 Sheikh Abdur-Razzaq Ishola 08023864448
08051111063 [email protected]
sheikh@[email protected]
5 Sheikh Abdur Rasheed Mayaleke [email protected]
6 Dr. Ganiy I. Agbaje 08028327463
08057752980 [email protected]
[email protected]
7 Gafar M. Kuforiji [email protected]
S/N NAME PHONE NO. E-MAIL
1 Prof. Usman El-Nafaty [email protected]
2 Mal. Ibrahim Zubairu Salisu [email protected]
3 Dr. Usman Hayatu Dukku 0805 704 [email protected]
4 Imam Manu
Muhammad 08036999841
[email protected]
5 Chief Imam of Yola Central Mosque 08035914285
S/N NAME PHONE NO. E-MAIL
1 Prof. Z. I. Oboh Oseni [email protected]
[email protected]
2 Nurudeen Asunogie D. [email protected]
S/N NAME PHONE NO. E-MAIL
1 Sheikh Bala Lau 08037008805
08052426880 [email protected]
2 Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir 08065687545
3 Muhammad Nasir AbdulMuhyi 08065687545
08024333381 [email protected]
4 Sheikh AbdurRahman Ahmad [email protected]
5 Muhammad Yaseen Qamarud-Deen [email protected]
6 Sheikh Lukman Abdallah 08037861132
7 Sheikh Sulaiman Gumi [email protected]
S/N NAME PHONE NO. E-MAIL
1 Sheikh Adam Idoko [email protected]
2 Alh. Yusuf Nwoha 08030966956
08026032997 [email protected]
3 Mal. Isa Okonkwo 08037861407
[email protected]
As soon as the NMSC, based on the verified information, confirms the sighting of the crescent, the committee will advise the President General of the NSCIA, who will announce the commencement of the month of Ramadan.
While we are wishing all Nigerian Muslims happy Ramadan in advance, we urge each and every Muslim to remain faithful to the true teachings of Islam in all its ramifications, by being his/her brothers’ keeper, peace loving, peace keeping, peacemaking and being an advocate of peaceful co-existence for accelerated development of our troubled nation.
We urge all of us to seize the opportunity of Ramadan to pray for our leaders; Political, Religious and Social, so that the nation can be properly guided to greater development.
Ramadan Kareem!
Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, OFR, FNAL,
Secretary General,
NSCIA.
