The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has announced that fasting in Nigeria may continue into Sunday, March 30, 2025, as the moon marking the end of Ramadan has not been sighted in the country.
In a statement released on Saturday by the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), which is led by the Sultan, it was confirmed that the official moon sighting to signal the end of the holy month of Ramadan did not occur in Nigeria. As a result, Muslims in the country will continue fasting on Sunday.
The announcement, which was signed by the NSCIA Secretary-General, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, also called on all Muslims to look for the crescent moon on the 29th day of Ramadan. The sighting of this moon would indicate the beginning of Shawwal, the first month after Ramadan, and the celebration of Idul Fitr, the festival marking the end of fasting.
The moon sighting is a key religious tradition for Muslims, particularly during Ramadan and the start of the Islamic months. Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, ends with the sighting of the new moon, which marks the start of Shawwal and the celebration of Idul Fitr. Muslims across the world eagerly await this moment, as it signifies the completion of one of the Five Pillars of Islam: fasting from dawn until sunset throughout the entire month of Ramadan.
The process of moon sighting, however, varies by region. In Nigeria, religious leaders, scholars, and local Muslim communities often gather to observe the sky in hopes of sighting the crescent moon. Once the moon is sighted, the Sultan, as the head of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), officially declares the end of Ramadan and the beginning of Shawwal. Without this declaration, Muslims are expected to continue fasting.
The moon sighting process is grounded in Islamic tradition, where accurate moon observation ensures that Islamic events and festivals occur on the right dates. The reliance on the lunar calendar is one of the distinguishing features of the Islamic faith, and its religious observances are highly dependent on precise astronomical phenomena.
Ramadan is one of the holiest periods in Islam, when Muslims dedicate themselves to prayer, fasting, charity, and spiritual reflection. During Ramadan, adult Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, abstaining from food, drink, and other physical needs as a way of purifying the soul and developing empathy for those who are less fortunate.
The culmination of Ramadan is the celebration of Idul Fitr, also known as the “Festival of Breaking the Fast.” It is one of the two major Islamic holidays, alongside Idul Adha. Idul Fitr is a joyous occasion, marked by prayers, feasts, and social gatherings. It is also a time when Muslims are encouraged to give charity (known as Zakat al-Fitr) to ensure that everyone can partake in the festivities, especially the less fortunate.
Idul Fitr is typically a day of thanksgiving for the strength to have completed the month of fasting and a time of great communal joy. It is considered a reward from Allah for completing the challenging but spiritually rewarding month of Ramadan.
In Nigeria, the moon sighting plays an especially crucial role due to the country’s diverse Muslim population, which follows various methods for determining the beginning and end of Ramadan. While some Muslim communities rely on astronomical calculations, others strictly observe physical sightings of the moon. This difference in methods sometimes leads to variations in the day Idul Fitr is celebrated across the country.
The Sultan of Sokoto, as the leader of the Nigerian Muslim community, is responsible for making the final announcement on the conclusion of Ramadan, which is based on the confirmed moon sighting. This is done in line with the religious principles and standards established by the NSCIA.
The NSCIA’s announcement on Saturday has therefore left many Muslims across Nigeria awaiting further confirmation. The Sultan’s declaration serves as a unifying voice for the Muslim community, ensuring that they observe their religious duties correctly and consistently, in line with both tradition and Islamic law.
According to the statement by Professor Is-haq Oloyede, if Muslims in Nigeria are able to sight the crescent moon on Sunday, the Sultan will declare Sunday, March 30, 2025, as the first day of Shawwal and the day of Idul Fitr. This means that fasting will officially end, and Muslims can begin their celebrations of Idul Fitr on Sunday.
However, if the moon is not sighted, fasting will continue for another day, and the next opportunity to sight the moon will be on Monday, March 31, 2025. In this case, the official Idul Fitr celebration would likely be held on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
