– Ramadan fast for 2025 could either start on Saturday or Sunday depending on moon sighting
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court and Nigeria’s Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs have both called on citizens to look out for and report sighting of the Ramadan crescent on Friday evening, Sha’ban 29th, 1446 AH, corresponding to 28th February 2025.
In separate statements, the two umbrella bodies of Saudi Arabian and Nigerian Muslims said the sighting of the moon will determine the commencement of fasting in Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
Although sighting of the moon in Saudi is not binding on the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria, Muslim News findings reveal that the two countries sighted and began the counting of the Sha’ban (eight month of Islamic calendar) same day.
“The Supreme Court requests that anyone who sees it (the moon) with the naked eye or through binoculars informs the nearest court and register their testimony, or contacts the nearest center to assist them in reaching the nearest court,” the Saudi Arabia authority said in its statement on Wednesday.
Similarly, the apex Islamic body in Nigeria under the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muḥammad Abubakar Sa’ad III, in a statement on Thursday, said, “Consequent upon the advice of the National Moon Sighting Committee search for the crescent of Ramadan 1446 AH immediately after sunset on Friday, 28th February 2025 which is equivalent to Sha’aban 29, 1446 AH, the President-General enjoins the Nigerian Muslim Ummah to search for the Ramadan crescent.
PRESS RELEASE
Consequent upon the advice of @moonsightingng, the @NSCIAng under its President-General enjoins the Nigerian Muslim Ummah to search for the crescent of #Ramadan1446 AH immediately after sunset on Friday, 28th Feb. 2025 which is equivalent to 29th Sha’aban 1446 AH. pic.twitter.com/Us8DamLW5G
— Muslim News Nigeria (@muslimnews_NG) February 27, 2025
The statement, signed by the Secretary-General of the Sultanate Council, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, further stated that if the crescent is sighted by Muslims of impeccable character after sunset on Friday, His Eminence will declare Saturday, 1st March 2025 as the first day of Ramadan 1446 AH.
“If, however, the crescent is not sighted that day, then, Sunday, 2nd March 2025, automatically becomes the first of Ramadan, 1446 AH,” he added.
While felicitating the Muslim Ummah on the auspicious occasion of the forthcoming 1446 AH Ramadan fasting, the Sultanate Council provided designated phone numbers for direct reporting of the moon sighting to ensure swift communication.
Some of the names and phone numbers provided include Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi (08036121311), Sheikh Bala Lau (08037008805), Sheikh AbdurRahman Ahmad (08023141752), Sheikh Karibullah Kabara (08035537382), Sheikh Salihu Yakub (07032558231), Mr. Simwal Usman Jibrin (08033140010), Sheikh Abdur Rasheed Mayaleke (08035050804) and Sheikh Habeebullah Adam Abdullahi Al-lory (08023126335), who has always on several occasions ignored the same directive and begun fasting in the month of Ramadan with his own discretion/counting.
Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad, the leader of the Muslim faithful in Nigeria prayed that “Allah (SWT) helps us in the discharge of this religious duty. Amen.”
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and is considered the holiest month for Muslims.
During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn till sunset, refraining from food, drink, smoking, and other physical needs and pleasures. The fasting terminates at sunset with a meal called Iftar. The pre-dawn meal before the fasting begins is called Suhoor.
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