Sultan of Sokoto declares Monday Eid-el-Fitr

The Sultan of Sokoto and President of the Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Sa’ad Abukakar III, has announced that Eid-el-Fitr, will hold in Nigeria on Monday.

The National Moonsighting Committee Nigeria made this known via its Twitter handle, on Saturday, noting that no positive sighting claims were received from the members of the committee and other Emirates.

The short statement by the moonsighting committee read: “His Eminence the Sultan of Sokoto has declared Monday 2nd May as the first day of Shawwal.

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“No positive sighting claims were received from members of the National moonsighting committee and other Emirates.

“The Sultanate will release an official statement shortly.”

This is coming barely a few hours after Saudi Arabia announced that the Muslim holiday of Eid-el-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, will begin in the country on Monday.

“Monday… is the first day of the blessed Eid al-Fitr for this year,” with Sunday the last day of Ramadan, the official Saudi Press Agency said Saturday, citing a royal court statement.

Fellow Gulf states, including Nigeria, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain failed to sight the moon on Saturday.

The timing of Eid is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon, in accordance with the Muslim lunar calendar.

The holiday is normally celebrated by families gathering together.

The Star