The recent pronouncement of the crescent of the month of Rajab, the seventh month of Islamic calendar, by the National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC) triggered serious controversies, especially from among the Muslim youths.

The NMSC headed by Dr. Hafiz Wali is an organ of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) under the leadership of His eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto. By virtue of his position as the Amir-ul-Mu’mineen (Head of Nigeria’s Muslim community) the power to commence and terminate Ramadan fasting lies with the Sultan and by extension, the moon sighting committee.

This perhaps could have informed the reactions of some Muslim youths who stormed the NSCIA facebook page over what they regarded as “misinformation and miscalculation of the month of Rajab”.

They contended that contrary to the announcement by the moon sighting committee, Rajab did not start on Thursday, March 28 but Wednesday, March 27.

In addition to running contrary to many another global counting, keen observers claimed to have sighted the moon with their naked eyes! It is very important to note that concern raised by the youths is quite very germane as the disparity, if extended to the month of Sha’aban (the 8th month)  may have negative effects on the commencement of Ramadan fasting.

This was the fear of the embittered Muslim faithful who are beginning to express doubt about the professional competence of the committee and the accuracy of their counting.

Before now, the commencement and termination of Ramadan fast in Nigeria has always generated a lot of contentions and controversies. In 2008, some Muslims ignored the announcement of the Sultan to start their fasting on different days.

This led to the commencement of the fast in about three different days. The issue further generated heated debate when the Sultan declared that Muslims should observe Eid-el-Adha prayer on the Day of Arafah.

With the help of Allah and collective efforts of the Muslim community, the Muslims re-united for the 2009, 2010,  2011, 2012, 2013 Ramadan until 2014 when the leadership of NSCIA again erred by dishing out two directives – first, that Muslims should begin fast on Sunday, June 29, while the second, which came late, around 1 am ordered Muslims to begin fasting on Saturday, June 28.

Read more at: http://therenaissanceng.com/ramadan-between-moonsighting-controversies-and-youth-zealousness

Jazakallahu khyran.

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