Ramadan: Sultan urges Muslims to look out for new moon on Monday

Sa’ad Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto, has asked Muslims to look out for the new moon — signalling the beginning of Ramadan — on Monday.

The sultan said this in a statement by Sambo Junaidu, Wazirin Sokoto and chairman, advisory committee on religious affairs, on Sunday.

The Ramadan month is a time for reflection, contemplation, and celebration when Muslims around the world observe fasting for 29 or 30 days.

The Islamic calendar follows the phases of the moon, known as the lunar cycle, falling nearly 10 days earlier every year in the Gregorian calendar.

“Muslims are requested to start looking for the new moon of Ramadan on Monday and report its sighting to the nearest district or village head for onward communication to His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar CFR, mni, the Sultan of Sokoto,” the statement reads.

He prayed for the entire Muslim faithful, that Allah will help them in the discharge of the Ramadan duty.