Felicitation And Moonsighting For Ramadan 1437 A.H.

The month of Ramadan (is that) in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan i.e. present at his home), he must observe fasting that month… (Q.Al-Baqarah 2:185)

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of its President General, Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, the Sultan of Sokoto, congratulates the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria and all over the world on the auspicious occasion of Ramadan, 1437 A. H. The Council prays that Allah make the month a positively new beginning in our individual and national lives in terms of spiritual excellence and national development.

The Council appreciates the educative release from National Space Research Development Agency (NASRDA) on crescent sighting, which was meant to provide just the scientific explanation concerning sighting of the crescent. We urge the NASRDA to make it a monthly affair for public awareness and education. One of the beauties of Islamic calendar is its being natural, based on a monthly phenomenon as created by the Almighty Creator of both humanity and nature.

It is also instructive that the findings of NASRDA agree with those of the Islamic Scholars on when and where the conjunction of the new crescent would take place. The only difference is that mere conjunction without its physical appearance (after sunset) is not enough for the commencement of the Ramadan except on the 30^th of the receding month when its existence is certain.

Since the last Ramadan fast, the National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC) of the NSCIA, under the leadership of Mallam Hafiz Wali and Prof. Usman El-Nafaty, assisted by Bro. Muhammad Yaseen Qamarud-Deen, advises the President General of the NSCIA on the commencement of every lunar month. The President General, as advised, always makes monthly declaration of the commencement of every lunar month.

The NMSC had advised the President General that the crescent of Ramadan should be searched for on Sunday, 5^thJune, 2016 equivalent to 29^th Sha’ban 1437 AH. If the crescent is actually sighted by informed persons on Sunday night and His Eminence is so advised by the experts, he would declare Monday, 6^th June, 2016 as the first day of Ramadan. If, however, the crescent is not sighted on the night of Sunday, Tuesday, 7^th June, 2016 automatically becomes the first of Ramadan, 1437 AH.

Muslims all over the Country are hereby enjoined to be on the lookout for the directive of His Eminence, the President General of the NSCIA, on the commencement of the 1437 AH Ramadan fast.

In addition to established and traditional Islamic leaders in each locality, members of the National Moon Sighting Committee who can be contacted for information and clarification are:

S/N
NAME
PHONE NO.
E-MAIL
1
Mallam Hafiz Wali
08036009090
[email protected]
2
Sheikh Tahir Bauchi
08032103733
08033058201
[email protected]
[email protected]
3
Sheikh Karibullah Kabara
08035537382
4
Mal. Simwal Usman Jibrin
08033140010
[email protected]
5
Sheikh Salihu Yaaqub
07032558231
[email protected]
6
Mal. Jafar Abubakar
08020878075
[email protected]
7
Alh. Abdullahi Umar
08037020607
[email protected]
8
Prof. J.M. Kaura
08067050641
[email protected]
9
Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar
08036509363
[email protected]
S/N
NAME
PHONE NO.
E-MAIL
1
Sheikh Habeebullah Adam Al-Ilory
08023126335
[email protected]
2
Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere
08033881335
[email protected]
3
Muhammad Rabiu Salahudeen
08035740333
[email protected]
4
Sheikh Abdur-Razzaq Ishola
08023864448
08051111063
[email protected]
sheikh@[email protected]
5
Sheikh Abdur Rasheed Mayaleke
08035050804
[email protected]
6
Dr. Ganiy I. Agbaje
08028327463
08057752980
[email protected]
[email protected]
7
Gafar M. Kuforiji
08033545208
[email protected]
S/N
NAME
PHONE NO.
E-MAIL
1
Prof. Usman El-Nafaty
08062870892
[email protected]
2
Mal. Ibrahim Zubairu Salisu
08038522693
[email protected]
3
Dr. Usman Hayatu Dukku
0805 704 1968
[email protected]
4
Imam Manu
Muhammad
08036999841
[email protected]
5
Chief Imam of Yola Central Mosque
08035914285
S/N
NAME
PHONE NO.
E-MAIL
1
Prof. Z. I. Oboh Oseni
08033574431
[email protected]
[email protected]
2
Nurudeen Asunogie D.
08033533012
[email protected]
S/N
NAME
PHONE NO.
E-MAIL
1
Sheikh Bala Lau
08037008805
08052426880
[email protected]
2
Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir
08065687545
3
Muhammad Nasir AbdulMuhyi
08065687545
08024333381
[email protected]
4
Sheikh AbdurRahman Ahmad
08023141752
[email protected]
5
Muhammad Yaseen Qamarud-Deen
07032558231
[email protected]
6
Sheikh Lukman Abdallah
08037861132
7
Sheikh Sulaiman Gumi
08033139153
[email protected]
S/N
NAME
PHONE NO.
E-MAIL
1
Sheikh Adam Idoko
08036759892
[email protected]
2
Alh. Yusuf Nwoha
08030966956
08026032997
[email protected]
3
Mal. Isa Okonkwo
08037861407
[email protected]
As soon as the NMSC, based on the verified information, confirms the sighting of the crescent, the committee will advise the President General of the NSCIA, who will announce the commencement of the month of Ramadan.

While we are wishing all Nigerian Muslims happy Ramadan in advance, we urge each and every Muslim to remain faithful to the true teachings of Islam in all its ramifications, by being his/her brothers’ keeper, peace loving, peace keeping, peacemaking and being an advocate of peaceful co-existence for accelerated development of our troubled nation.

We urge all of us to seize the opportunity of Ramadan to pray for our leaders; Political, Religious and Social, so that the nation can be properly guided to greater development.

Ramadan Kareem!
signed
Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, OFR, FNAL,
Secretary General,
NSCIA