As the new moon of Shawwal had not yet been seen in Nigeria as at Monday night, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs has asked Nigerian Muslims to continue the Ramadan fast on Tuesday.
Chief Imam of State House leading prayer as President Muhammadu Buhari
breaks Ramadan fast with Internally Displays Person at the State House in Abuja.
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has said that Nigerian Muslims will continue the Ramadan fast on Tuesday because the new moon had not been sighted as at Monday night.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, the NSCIA president-general, announced on Monday night that the new moon of Shawwal had not been seen in Nigeria, and asked Muslims to observe the eid prayers on Wednesday.
The new development was contained in a statement signed by Prof. Sambo Wali, the Chairman, Religious Affairs Committee, Sultanate Council and made available to newsmen in Sokoto.
The statement said that the directive followed the non receipt of any report of the sighting of the new moon of the month of Shawwal from the leaders of religious groups as well as the state and national moon sighting committees.
”Sequel to this development, the sultan has approved the reports of the non sighting of the moon and duly declared that the moon of Ramadan has completed its 30 -day circle.
”Consequently, Wednesday, July 6 is the first day of Shawwal,1437 AH, and Eid-el-Fitr day.”
NSCIA initially expected the moon to be sighted between Sunday and Monday, before the new development.
Therefore, Wednesday, July 6, will be the eid-el-fitr day, as Federal government has already declared Tuesday and Wednesday as public holidays.
Many Muslim countries have already picked Wednesday for eid-el-fitr.