The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has announced that the search for the crescent moon to mark the end of Ramadan will continue on Sunday, as the moon was not sighted in Nigeria on Saturday.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the NSCIA’s Secretary-General, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, Muslims in Nigeria are being asked to look for the Shawwal crescent on the 29th day of Ramadan, which corresponds to Saturday, March 29th, 2025.
The Sultan, as President-General of the NSCIA, stated that if the moon is sighted according to established standards, Sunday, March 30th, 2025, will be declared as the first day of Shawwal and the Eid al-Fitr holiday.
The statement also reminded Muslims of the importance of Zakatul Fitr, a compulsory food levy for privileged Muslims to be given to the less fortunate before the Eid prayer, ideally in the last two days of Ramadan.
The NSCIA advised the Nigerian Muslim community to search for the crescent immediately after sunset on Saturday. However, as the moon was not sighted, the search will continue on Sunday.
The Sultan also indicated that if the moon remains unseen on Sunday, then Monday, March 31st, 2025, will be observed as Eid al-Fitr in Nigeria.
The council urged all Muslims to use the conclusion of Ramadan as an opportunity to offer fervent prayers for peace, security, and development in Nigeria.
This announcement comes as Saudi Arabia confirmed on Saturday that the crescent moon had been sighted there, declaring Sunday, March 30th, 2025, as the start of Eid al-Fitr. The differing announcements highlight the variations in moon sighting practices across the Muslim world.
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