The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, has called for uniformity in observing the Ramadan fast in Nigeria.
The sultan made the call yesterday in Abuja at the ongoing National Conference on Moon Sighting in Nigeria.
Abubakar, who is also the President General? of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), stressed the need for Muslims to follow the constituted Islamic authorities as regards the sighting of the moon. He said the NSCIA would continue to work with the moon sighting committee and all relevant Islamic organisations to ensure the objective was realised.
The sighting of the new crescent moon is a mandatory pre-requisite before the commencement of the annual Ramadan fasting by Muslims all over the world.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary, Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria, Prof. Dawud Noibi, in his presentation on moon sighting and Muslim unity in Nigeria, had decried the controversy moon sighting had caused in the past. He called on the leadership of the Nigerian Muslim Ummah to ensure there was mass education of Muslims on the need to adhere strictly to the rules regarding moon sighting for the beginning of Ramadan.
Noibi stressed the need for the moon sighting committees for each of the zones in the country to be re-inaugurated and be made functional.
Dr Khalid Aliyu, Secretary General of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) stressed the need for unity, peace and capacity building for Muslims. He said the JNI was working hard to ensure the guidelines for the conduct of Islamic preaching and sermons were adhered to by scholars especially during the Ramadan period.
NAN reports that the conference is being attended by Islamic scholars, Imams, the academia, JNI and NSCIA officials from across the country.