The President of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has announced that Ramadan will start on Friday, April 24.
Abubakar, announced this on Thursday, after confirming that the new moon was sighted.
For sighting moon on Thursday, it means that Ramadan will start on Friday in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan also starts on Friday in Saudi Arabia and most Arab countries.
Other Arab countries who have also announced that Ramadan will start on Friday include Kuwait, Qatar, Tunisia, Lebanon, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Iraq’s Sunni Muslim minority.
The Gulf sultanate of Oman announced the crescent was not spotted, thus Ramadan will begin on Saturday.
During Ramadan, Muslims have to abstain from eating, drinking and smoking from dawn to sunset.
Though Muslims also mark the month by performing special evening prayers, known as the taraweeh, the lockdown imposed in many countries amid the novel coronavirus pandemic would not make that possible.
Many countries, including the Sultan of Sokoto, had asked the faithful to pray in their homes
However, On Wednesday, the Sheikh Abdul-Ganiy Abubakry, the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, announced the beginning Ramadan fasting on April 23.
In a statement he signed and made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Ibadan, Abubakry, said the Tarawiy prayer, which proceeds the fasting, holds on Wednesday, while the first Ramadan fasting holds on Thursday.
The Imam said: “This is to inform the entire Muslim Umah that Tarawiy (Asamu) commences today, Wednesday, April 22 equivalent to Shaban 29th 1441. “And tomorrow Thursday, April 23 will be the first day of Ramadan 1441. May Allah (SWT) enable us witness more of it in our lives. Observe your Tarawi at home.”
