The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, has urged Muslims in the country to look for the new Moon of Shawwal on Thursday.
This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Sokoto by the Chairman of the Sultanate Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs of the Sultanate Council, Prof. Sambo Wali.
The statement said that Thursday, which would be equivalent to the 29th day of Ramadan, 1436 AH, would remain the day to look for the new Moon of Shawwal.
“Muslims are therefore requested to start looking for the new Moon of Shawwal on Thursday and report its sighting to the nearest district or village head for onward communication to the Sultan,” it added.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that if the new Moon of Shawwal is sighted on Thursday, the Eid-el-fitr would be celebrated on Friday.
NAN also reports that if the new moon is not sighted on Thursday, Muslims will fast on Friday while the Sallah would be celebrated on Saturday.
The Sultanate has also released telephone numbers that anyone who sights the moon could call.
The numbers are:
0803715 7100.
07067146900.
08184223686.
08035073872.
08036149757.
08035965322.
08033143886.
NAN.