Shawwal Moon Remains Unseen in Nigeria
There were conflicting information over the sighting of the moon on Saturday as Nigeria’s Sultan of Sokoto called on Muslim in the country to continue their fast as the moon is yet to be sighted in Nigeria.
The crescent moon marking the end of Ramadan was sighted on Saturday, March 29, in Riyhad Saudi Arabia officially bringing the holy month to a close and signaling the beginning of Eid al-Fitr.
However, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has announced that fasting may continue on Sunday, March 30, as the Shawwal crescent moon has not yet been sighted in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Saturday and signed by the NSCIA Secretary-General, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, the council emphasized that the official declaration of Eid al-Fitr depends on moon sighting in line with Islamic verification standards.
Moon Sighting and Eid Declaration
Muslims across Nigeria were urged to observe the search for the Shawwal crescent on the 29th day of Ramadan. If the moon is sighted and verified, His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, will declare Sunday, March 30, 2025, as the first day of Shawwal and the celebration of Eid al-Fitr.
The council’s statement follows Saudi Arabia’s confirmation that Eid al-Fitr will be observed on Sunday, having sighted the crescent moon. However, Islamic tradition allows each country to declare the end of Ramadan based on its own verified moon sightings.
