Sultan Declares Today Ramadan, Urges Muslims to Commence Fast

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar II, has declared today as the first day of the Ramadan and urged Muslims to commence fast.

Addressing journalists in his palace in Sokoto Friday night, the monarch said the new moon was sighted in many states of the country.

According to him, reliable reports of moon sighting were received from Muslim leaders and organisations across the country which included Gombe, Lagos, Argungu Kebbi State, Warri Delta State, Jigawa, Cross Rivers, Benue, Potiskum in Yobe state and Bauchi State, among others.

He said this sighting was duly verified by the National Moonsighting Committee and the Committee in Sokoto. “In accordance with Islamic law and our pursuit of obligatory fast as third pillar of Islam. We wish to announce that today Friday the 29th day of Shaaban 1438 after Hijra of the Holy prophet Mohammad which is equivalent to May 26, 2017, has marked the end of Shaaban and the beginning of the new month of the Ramadan.

“Consequent upon this, Saturday May 27, 2017 becomes the first day of Ramadan 1438 after Hijra”, he said. The monarch called on Muslims to commence the fasting accordingly and pray fervently for peace to reign in the country.

The Sultan urged the Muslim ummah to pray for President Muhammadu Buhari and for God to heal him.

He also implored the Muslim ummah to live in harmony with people of other faiths irrespective of religious and tribal differences and offer supplications for the leadership to succeed in steering the affairs of this country.