On Monday, Saudi Arabia announced that the crescent moon of Shawwal had not been sighted, indicating that fasting would continue on Tuesday. The Eid-El-Fitr celebration was declared to commence on Wednesday, April 10, marking the beginning of the new Islamic month.
This announcement was made on Haramin’s official Facebook page, a platform widely recognized by the global Muslim community. The statement emphasized the importance of utilizing the remaining moments of Ramadan for activities that please Allah, while also extending wishes for acceptance of fasting, prayers, and good deeds, as well as prayers for continued good health and the opportunity to witness future Ramadans.
Meanwhile, Nigerian Muslims were advised to await the announcement of the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Sa’ad Abubakar, later in the day. The Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs of the Sultanate Council in Sokoto, through its Chairman, Sambo Wali, urged individuals to report the sighting of the new moon promptly to the relevant authorities.
The statement urged Muslims to begin looking for the new moon of Shawwal 1445AH on Monday and report its sighting to the nearest district or village head for onward communication to the Sultan of Sokoto. This process underscores the traditional method of confirming the start of Eid-El-Fitr based on the sighting of the crescent moon.