Muslims Asked to Look Out for Shawwal Crescent, Says Sultan of Sokoto

Key Takeaways

• The Sultan of Sokoto has called on Muslims across Nigeria to observe the sky for the Shawwal crescent, which will determine the end of Ramadan and the date for Eid-el-Fitr.
• The Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar has urged Muslims across Nigeria to look out for the Shawwal crescent as Ramadan draws to a close.The Sultan, who is also the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, directed the Muslim faithful to observe the sky on Wednesday evening for the new moon, which will signal the beginning of the month of Shawwal.According to Islamic tradition, the sighting of the crescent moon marks the end of Ramadan fasting and determines the celebration of Eid‑el‑Fitr.He encouraged Muslims who sight the moon to report their observations to appropriate religious authorities for verification and official announcement.The directive aligns with long-standing Islamic practice, where the start of a new lunar month is confirmed through physical moon sighting rather than solely astronomical calculations.
• Reports indicate that the outcome of the moon sighting on Wednesday will determine whether Eid-el-Fitr will be celebrated the following day or if Ramadan will complete 30 days before the festival is observed.