Sultan clarifies date to start Ramadan

The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, announced has informed that the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan will begin on Friday, April 24, MyNigeria.com reports.

Sultan Muhammad who is also the President-General of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs - NSCIA confirmed that the new moon was sighted on Thursday.

Nigeria alongside Saudi Arabia and most Arab countries will begin Ramadan at the same time on Friday.

Other Arab countries who have also announced that Ramadan will start on Friday include Kuwait, Qatar, Tunisia, Lebanon, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Iraq’s Sunni Muslim minority.

The Gulf sultanate of Oman announced the crescent was not spotted, thus Ramadan will begin on Saturday.

During Ramadan, Muslims have to abstain from eating, drinking and smoking from dawn to sunset.

Though Muslims also mark the month by performing special evening prayers, known as the taraweeh, the lockdown imposed in many countries amid the novel coronavirus pandemic would not make that possible.

Many countries, including the Sultan of Sokoto, had asked the faithful to pray in their homes.

The Punch