Ramadan Fasting Begins-NSCIA

Muslims in Nigeria have begun fasting Saturday,
following the sighting of the Ramadan moon,
head of the Moon sighting committee of the
Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs,
[NSCIA], Prof. Sambo Wali Junaidu, announced
early Saturday in Sokoto, according to the
Nigerian Televison Authority NTA and the
Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, monitored
in Abuja.
The new announcement updates an earlier
statement by the NSCIA, which had asked
Nigerian Muslims to commence the Ramadan
fast on Sunday, because, according to the
Secretary-General of the body, Ishaq Oloyede, a
professor of Islamic studies, the moon had not
been sighted.
The annual obligatory Ramadan fast is one of
the five pillars of Islam, and the Prophet
Muhammad 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”.
Mr. Oloyede’s Thursday statement had hinted
that: “However, if the crescent is not sighted on
Friday, the Tarawih prayer should be observed
on Saturday the 28th of June for the
commencement of Ramadan on the 29th of June
whether or not it is sighted on that Saturday,” it
said.
Below is the full text of Mr. Oloyede’s Thursday
statement.
Muslims in Nigeria have been advised to look for
the new crescent of Ramadan on Friday, June
27.
This is contained in a statement from the
Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs,
NSCIA, on Wednesday in Abuja, signed by its
Secretary General, Is-haq Oloyede.
Mr. Oloyede also stated that 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.
“However, 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.
2. The Deputy President-General (North) of the
NSCIA and the Shehu of Borno Tel:
08037855555, 08023549558 3.
3. The Secretary – General Tel: 08034540120.
4. The Emir of Gwandu and all other Emirs Tel:
08036154369.
5. The Lamido of Adamawa Tel: 07056344449.
6. The Etsu NupeTel: 08039668707.
7. The Otaru of Auchi
8. The Deputy Secretary-General (North) of
NSCIA (Tijani El- Miskin) Tel: 08023577013.
9. The Deputy Secretary-General (South) of
NSCIA (Adam Idoko) Tel: 08036759892.
10. The President of the League of Imams and
Alfas in Yoruba Land: Chief Imam of Osogbo Tel:
08035740333
11. The Baba Adini of Lagos, Hafiz Abou Tel:
08033085292 and
12. The Chairman, National Moon Sighting
Committee, Hafis Wali Tel: 08036009090,
08023037478.”
The statement also said where the authorities
are satisfied that the crescent has been duly
sighted; The President-General and Sultan of
Sokoto would announce the commencement of
the fast.
“However, if the crescent is not sighted on
Friday, the Tarawih prayer should be observed
on Saturday the 28th of June for the
commencement of Ramadan on the 29th of June
whether or not it is sighted on that Saturday,” it
said.
The statement also urged all media houses in
the country to promptly publicize any
announcement by the Sultan of Sokoto.