Fasting would begin around the world tomorrow, as the crescent moon, which marks the beginning of the Holy month of Ramadan, has been sighted in Saudi Arabia.
The moon was reportedly spotted on Sunday evening, meaning March 10 is the last day of the month of Sha’ban and the holy month will begin on Monday, March 11.
Australia, Malaysia, Philippines and Brunei have announced March 12 as the beginning of Ramadan.
But Oman has announced that it will observe the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan on March 12, Tuesday, as there was no sighting of the crescent moon on Sunday evening.
Ramadan, determined by the lunar Islamic calendar in which months span either 29 or 30 days, commences and concludes based on the sighting of the crescent moon.
Saudi Arabia authorities had earlier called on Muslims to sight the crescent of the holy month of Ramadan.
The Supreme Court had called on whoever sighted the crescent to report to the nearest court and register their observation.
Ramadan is the ninth month of Islamic calendar that takes place for four weeks and two days during which Muslims all over the world fast between dawn and sunset, pray for peace and guidance, give back to the community in the form of charity or zakaat or engage in humanitarian activities such as feeding the underprivileged and introspect to enlighten their souls.
The fasting date changes yearly because the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle hence, its starting and end date depends upon the sighting of the crescent moon.
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs had announced the tentative dates of March 11 and March 12, 2024, as the commencement dates for the annual Ramadan fast, pending the sighting of the moon after sunset on Sunday, March 10, 2024.
In a statement signed by the Deputy Secretary-General of the NSCIA, Prof Salisu Shehu, the council urged Muslim Ummah to search for the crescent of Ramadan 1445 on the given date, equivalent to 29th Sha’aban 1445 AH.
The NSCIA also urged faithful who had credible sightings of the crescent to inform members of the National Moon Sighting Committee.
“The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar felicitates the entire Muslim Ummah on the auspicious occasion of the forthcoming 1445 AH Ramadan Fast.
“The council prays that Allah spares the lives of every Muslim to participate in the ibadah (worship) exercise and to maximise the benefits therein.
“Consequent upon the advice of the National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC), the President-General enjoins the Nigerian Muslim Ummah to search for the crescent of Ramadan 1445 AH immediately after sunset on Sunday, 10th March 2024 which is equivalent to 29th Sha’aban 1445 AH.
“If the crescent is sighted by Muslims of impeccable character on the said evening, then His Eminence would declare Monday, 11th March 2024 as the first day of Ramadan 1445 AH.
“If, however, the crescent is not sighted that day, then, Tuesday, 12th March 2024, automatically becomes the first of Ramadan, 1445 AH,” the statement partly read.
Noting the economic hardship in the country, Shehu appealed to the “endowed Muslims” to extend acts of charity to the less privileged, while also admonishing traders not to hoard food products or unduly hike the prices of goods through the period of the fast.
“In the face of the current economic hardship, Council appeals to endowed Muslims in the country to extend acts of charity to the less privileged within their neighbourhoods before, during and after the month of Ramadan.
“The Council also admonishes traders to neither hoard food products nor unduly hike the prices of consumer goods during the period of the fast.
“We urge the Muslims to take advantage of the holy month of Ramadan to pray that Allah grant the Palestinians His divine support and liberate them from their oppressors,” he further stated.
