NSCIA urges Muslims to look out for new moon

The Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA)  has  asked Muslims to look out for the  new moon on Wednesday night.


The NSCIA  gave the charge in a statement entitled, “  Termination of Ramadan Fast 1434/2013,’’ and signed by its Secretary General, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede.

The statement  stressed  the importance of  sighting   the crescent moon in the termination of the Ramadan.
It also said: “ Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is reported to have said: “Commence fasting when you sight the (Ramadan) crescent and terminate fasting when you sight the (Shawwal) crescent.

“But if the sky is cloudy, then, count 30 days of Sha’ban or of Ramadan as the case may be.

“Therefore, in accordance with the prophetic tradition, Muslims all over Nigeria are hereby urged to look for the new crescent of Shawwal on Wednesday, August, 7, 2013 CE (which corresponds to 29thh day of Ramadan, 1434 AH.

“ To this effect, members of the national Moon Sighting Committee have been deployed with appropriate gadgets to various parts of the country for easy sighting of the moon.’’

The statement further said that  those who were able to sight the crescent should contact the following:

1. The President-General of  NSCIA and the Sultan of Sokoto Tel:
08036470422
2. The Deputy President-General (North) of the NSCIA and the Shehu of
Borno
3. The Deputy President-General (South) of the NSCIA and Aare
Musulumi of Yoruba Land Tel: 08027780076
4. The Secretary General, Prof. Is-haq O Oloyede on
ioloyede@yahoo.co.uk
5. The Emir of Gwandu and all other Emirs
6. The Lamido of Adamawa
7. The Esu Nupe
8. The Otaru of Auchi
9. The Deputy Secretary-General (South) of NSCIA (Sheikh Adam Idoko)
Tel: 08036759892
10. The President of the League of Imams and Alfas in Yoruba Land: Chief
Imam of Osogbo
11. The Baba Adini of Lagos, Sheikh Hafiz Abou
12. The Chairman, National Moon Sighting Committee, Dr  Hafis Wali  on  08036009090.

The statement added: “Where the authorities are satisfied that the crescent has been duly sighted, the President-General and Sultan of Sokoto would announce the termination of Ramadan Fast and the observance of  Eid-el-Fitr Prayer the following day, that is Thursday August 8th , 2013.

“ In the event of the moon not being sighted on Wednesday Aug, 7,  2013, the Eid-el-Fitr Prayer shall be observed on Friday, Aug. 9, 2013.’’

It reminded Muslims of the necessity of paying Zakatul Fitr with the intention of  uplifting the condition of  indigent members of the community.

The statement  also felicitated  with  Muslims on the completion of the Ramadan  and wished them abundant blessings.

Muslims, it added, must  continue to pray for peaceful co-existence among Nigerians while imbibing  the lessons of  the Ramadan.