TOWARDS MOON-SIGHTING, NOT MOON-FIGHTING IN NIGERIA
They ask you about the crescents. Say: they are but signs to mark fixed periods of time in the affairs of men and for pilgrimage (Q. al-Baqarah, 2:189)Abdullah bin Umar narrates that Allah’s Messenger once mentioned Ramadan and said: Do not begin the fast until you sight the moon, and do not break the fast (at the end of Ramadan) until you see it. If the new moon is concealed from you, then work out when it should be (TMH Al-Muwatta, 18. 1. 1)While thanking Allah (SWT), the Praiseworthy, Who has made us to witness and experience the holy month of fasting, Ramadan, for the year 1435 A.H. / 2014 C.E., the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) felicitates with Muslims all over the world andin Nigeria in particular, on the successful attainment of the last part of the blessed month.The Council also sincerely apologises to the Muslim ummah in Nigeria for the unusual confusion and miscommunication that trailed the commencement of the holy month. Despite all the efforts made towards avoiding such a confusion, complete success was not attained. The appropriate lessons have however been learnt.It is in this respect that the NSCIA wishes to remind all Muslims who know, and notify those who do not, that there is an established structure for moon-sighting in Nigeria. Due to its significance and technicalities, the Council has a National Moonsighting Committee under the leadership of an expert. The Committee is equipped with necessary equipment and technological gadgets that are relevant to the discharge of its assignment.The membership of the Committee is drawn from various segments of the Nigerian Muslim Ummah, including:1Dr. Hafiz Wali (CHAIRMAN)08036009090. Kaduna2Shaykh Tahir Bauchi08032103733, 08033058201. Bauchi3Shaykh Kariballah Kabara08035537382 Kano4Muhammad Nasir AbdulMuhyi08065687545, 08024333381. Jos5Shaykh Habeebullahi Adam Abdullahi Al Ilory08023126335. Lagos/ Ilorin6Alh. Abdul Hamid Oyebode (Surveyor Gen.).08037063923. Offa/Ilorin7Prof. Z I Oboh Oseni (Chief Imamof Auchi )08033574431. Auchi8Shaykh AbdurRahman Ahmad.08023141752 Lagos/Ilorin9Prof. J. M. Kaura08067050641 Sokoto10Shaykh Mustapha Ajisafe ( Imam of Osogbo)08035740333. Yorubaland/Oshogbo11Shaykh Abdur-Razzaq Ishola08023864448, 08051111063. Lagos12Shaykh Abdur-Rasheed Mayaleeke08035050804. IJEBU ODE13Mal. Simwal Usman Jibrin08033140010. Kaduna14Alh Yusuf Nwoha08030966956 Oweri15Mallam Nurudeen Ibraheem16Prof. Usman El-Nafaty. (DEPUTYCHAIRMAN)08062870892. Bauchi17Dr K. K. Oloso08023098661 Ibadan18Mal. Ibrahim Zubairu Salisu19Alh. Shakir EttuLagos20Prof. Muritala Salawu08037229766. Abuja/Ibadan21Dr. Ganiy I. Agbaje, FNIS08028327463, 08057752980. ABUJA22Muhammad Yaseen Qamaruddeen08055322087, 08099516362 Lagos23Mal. Abdullahi Shuaib (Secretary)08023037478. Lagos24Usman Mahmud (Desk Officer / Expert)08034540120. ABUJA/KanoHowever, membership of the Committee is not exclusive to the above-listed personalities. The NSCIA expects people with requisite technical and demonstrable knowledge of moon-sighting to indicate their interests to the Secretary General, NSCIA. It is also helpful for such persons to list their areas of expertise. We intend to have at least a competent and commited member in each of the Senatorial Zone of the Country.The National Moonsighting Committee will advise the President-General of the NSCIA (The Sultan) on the commencement and conclusion of Ramadan or sighting of Ramadan and Shawwal crescents. The DEPUTY(The Shehu of Bornu) AND STATE VICE PRESIDENT GENERAL (in the North,usually the Senior-most EMIR) and the Secretary-General are available to connect any Muslim informant with appropriate member of the NationalMoon Sighting Committee for verification and appropriate advice to The President-General.When an informed Muslim sights a new moon, therefore, (s)he should call any member of the Committee close to him/her who will ask him/her a series pertinent questions These may include i). time the moon was sighted, ii). Position of the crescent relative to where the Sun sets iii) Altitude of the crescent above the horizon, iv) Orientation of the crescent, v) Conditioon of the sky at the time of the sighting (e,g, clear, cloudy, rainy). Our brothers and sisters in Islam are urged to direct their observations, notices and enquirieson the crescent to members of the National Moonsighting Committee who are officially equipped to verifyclaims.It is on the backdrop of the foregoing that the NSCIA announces that in line with the Qur'anic verse and the tradition of the Prophet (SAW) cited above, as Ramadan draws to its close, any information on sighting the crescent (of Shawwal) should be conveyed to the National Moonsighting Committee so that the President-General of the NSCIA,His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto,may pronounce the end of fasting.IT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED THAT THE OLD (Ramadan) moon will set just before sunset in Nigeria on Saturday, 26 th of July 2014. The new astronomic moon would be born few minutes before midnight of that Saturday. CONSEQUENTLY, THE SEARCH FOR SHAWWAL MOONON SATURDAY THE 26th of July is as traditionally done. The crescent can be sighted in Nigeria on SUNDAY with optical instruments (or with some difficulties) with naked eyes. Any claim of sighting amoon that is yet to be born is not only false or mistaken but also incorrect.Appropriate announcement will be made by the President-General ON THE ADVICE OF THE NATIONAL MOON -SIGHTING COMMITTEE.Once again, the NSCIA congratulates the Muslim Ummah on the auspicious period of Ramadan and wishes all Nigerians happy 'Idul Fitr in advance. Many happy returns of the holy month! Let us PRAY and WORK for restoration of peace, security and brotherhood in our potentially greatCountry.“Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget or fall into error; our Lord! Lay not on us a burden greater thanwe have strength to bear. Blot out our sins and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. You are our Protector, help us against those who stand against faith” (Q. Al-Baqarah, 2:286).SignedProf. Is-haq O. OloyedeSecretary-General, NSCIAFor and on behalf of the NSCIA