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Ramadan 2026: Sultan Of Sokoto Asks Muslims To Search For The Moon Tonight - Islam (2) - Nairaland

Nairaland ForumNairaland GeneralIslamRamadan 2026: Sultan Of Sokoto Asks Muslims To Search For The Moon Tonight (8574 Views)

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Re: Ramadan 2026: Sultan Of Sokoto Asks Muslims To Search For The Moon Tonight by Nastrademus(m): 6:49am On Feb 17
Search for moon? Is the moon missing?
Re: Ramadan 2026: Sultan Of Sokoto Asks Muslims To Search For The Moon Tonight by Tenses: 6:49am On Feb 17
YorubaKinging:
So Christians should not rejoice o because yours is far worse as you put all your faith in the WORD
Corrected my friend.

From the beginning was the word, the word was with God, the word is God
Re: Ramadan 2026: Sultan Of Sokoto Asks Muslims To Search For The Moon Tonight by SIRTee15: 6:50am On Feb 17
what I dont understand is why cant Yoruba Muslims sight the moon. why must they wait for the fulani muslim to tell them when to fast.

do fulani muslims have better eyesight or they have a special binocular to sight the moon.

It makes absolutely no sense.
Re: Ramadan 2026: Sultan Of Sokoto Asks Muslims To Search For The Moon Tonight by Slytiger: 6:52am On Feb 17
SIRTee15:
what I dont understand is why cant Yoruba Muslims sight the moon. why must they wait for the fulani muslim to tell them when to fast.

do fulani muslims have better eyesight or they have a special binocular to sight the moon.

It makes absolutely no sense.
Interestingly, islam was being practiced in Yorubaland and Hausa land as far back as the 1300 before the fulani jihadists arrived in the 1700.
Re: Ramadan 2026: Sultan Of Sokoto Asks Muslims To Search For The Moon Tonight by naptu2(op): 6:52am On Feb 17
Sun, moon, calendar, Ramadan and funny ignorance

These ideas were fully formed in my mind by 1987, but I have seen new and very funny examples of ignorance every year since then.

Ignorance

Someone wished another person happy new year (back in the late 1980s) and the person thanked her, but said that he was not a Christian. Many people that were around were shocked. They said that she was referring to the New Year and that it had nothing to do with Christianity. In fact, some of them asked me what the New Year had to do with Christianity.

They were wrong. It's got a lot to do with Christianity.

This second example sounded very funny to me because, luckily, I had learnt the science behind it way back in the 1980s, before I heard the ignorance in the 2000s. Someone referred to the moon sighting for Ramadan and said that it was evidence that Muslims worshipped the moon. I laughed at him.

I had never heard this crazy idea before I started reading Nairaland. I assumed that every Nigerian knew the truth. After all, it was announced on the NTA Network News every year (as far back as I can remember). Some crazy person said that only the Sultan of Sokoto could see the new moon and he questioned why it was only the Sultan that was allowed to see the new moon. I felt sure that he was mad.

Year, month, day

I am not going to be very detailed about this first part because it is almost 40 years since I read about it and I can't remember the minute details.

Between 1985 and 1987 I read all about how our modern calendar was created. The calendar is based on the earth's revolution around the sun. The earth revolves around the sun in 365¼ days. The ¼ leads to a full day every 4 years and that's how we have our leap year (the extra day is in February).

The moon revolves around the earth in 27.3 days (it takes around 29.5 for us to see the new moon). This gives us our month.

It takes 23 hours and 56 minutes (basically 24 hours) for the earth to rotate on its axis. This gives us our day.

Hold on a second. I said that it takes around 27-29 days for the moon to rotate around the earth and this gives us our month, but 30 days have September, April, June and November; all the rest have 31, except February alone, so what's responsible for the difference?

Gregorian Calendar

It's all about how our calendar was created. Various religious and political leaders manipulated the calendar to suit their needs. Julius Ceaser created July and made it the longest month, Augustus Ceaser created August and made it the longest month and Pope Gregory The 13th (Pope of the Catholic Church in the 1500s) rearranged the calendar into the form that we know today. It is called the Gregorian Calendar (that's right, it is a Christian calendar).

All these changes altered the number of months in the Gregorian calendar (there are more changes that I did not list, for example, January is named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings, but as I said, I won't be detailed in this section).

You can easily tell that it is a Christian calendar because of the dates. We are in 2024 AD. AD means Anno Domini, which means, "In the year of our Lord". The full form is anno Domini nostri Jesu Christi", which translates to "in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ". It marks the time from the death of Jesus Christ and some refer to it as "After Death". The term BC means Before Christ.


The Gregorian calendar is not the only calendar that exists and is being used. There is the Chinese calendar, the Ethiopian calendar, the Hijri (or Islamic) calendar, etc.

National Concord newspaper wrote the dates in both the Gregorian and the Hijri calendars on its front page in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Hijri Calendar

The Hijri calendar is based on the revolution of the moon around the earth. A year consists of 12 lunar months, that is 354 or 355 days.

Just as the dates in the Gregorian calendar are marked by the death of Jesus Christ (AD and BC), the dates in the Hijri calendar are marked by the migration of Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina (this is known as the Hijrah).

It is because the Hijri calendar is a lunar calendar, that's why people are asked to look out for the new moon. They are not worshipping the moon, they are simply using it to tell the time. That is, they are using it to determine when a new month starts.

For example, Ramadan is one of the months of the Hijri calendar. Muslims are enjoined to fast during the month. That's why people look out for the new moon, because they want to determine when the month starts and ends.

Moon sighting

I am also not going to be very detailed in this section because this knowledge is from many decades ago.

All Muslims are asked to look out for the new moon that signifies the beginning of the new month. However, for the sake of unity and uniformity, Muslims are required to report a sighting to the leader in their area, so that the Muslim faithful can carry out the tasks (beginning of fast, celebration of Eid, etc) together. Anyone can sight the moon, but he is required to report such sighting to the leader who will announce that the moon has been seen.

In Nigeria, the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA) is the umbrella body for Muslims in the country. The Sultan of Sokoto is usually the president-general of the SCIA, while the secretary-general of the SCIA is usually a southerner (for a long time it was Dr Lateef Adegbite).

There is also a National Moon Sighting Committee. The National Moon Sighting Committee usually asks Muslims to look out for the new moon and it provides phone numbers that people can call if they see it.

Once it has been confirmed that the moon has been seen, the Sultan of Sokoto will make the announcement that the new month has begun and he will state where and when the moon was seen and who confirmed it.

This is all very simple and easy for a sensible person to understand.
Re: Ramadan 2026: Sultan Of Sokoto Asks Muslims To Search For The Moon Tonight by whytediamond(m): 6:56am On Feb 17
YorubaKinging:
Using the moon as a witness tells a lot about Islam.

The moon is a false reflection or copy of the sun

And that’s why it never comes out in its appointed times.

Yet the world uses it.

So Christians should not rejoice o because yours is far worse as you put all your faith in a book

Both religions will cease to exist in the new world order that’s coming fast and it’s coming out of Africa.


As you mention Africa in the end. Na that time I know say you no wise.

What the Bleep is new world order? Una go just dey yarn dust because e sweet una for mouth.
Re: Ramadan 2026: Sultan Of Sokoto Asks Muslims To Search For The Moon Tonight by SIRTee15: 6:56am On Feb 17
Basic123:
grin

Stop judging musllims with your religion standard.

Sultan is not like one God from judea that was killed brutally by roman soldiers years back.

Heis just a mortal a fulani man that hapoens to be a muslim leader.In Islam,no racial discrimination.

By the way,when will an Igbo man become a pope?

Also, alery me when an Igbo man becomes the daddy G.O of redeem and wimner
see this one giving excuse for slavery and justifying eternal servitude.
They are trying to help u guys and deliver yoruba muslims from the bondage of fulani in Islam.
unfortunately this one is saying he's happy being a slave. what a pity.

redeem or winners or catholic is just a denomination, u can leave if u want to. why cant u guys cannot leave this so called nigerian council of Islam and form yours. must u be in bondage

Re: Ramadan 2026: Sultan Of Sokoto Asks Muslims To Search For The Moon Tonight by Slytiger: 7:01am On Feb 17
SIRTee15:
see this one giving excuse for slavery and justifying eternal servitude.
They are trying to help u guys and deliver yoruba muslims from the bondage of fulani in Islam.
unfortunately this one is saying he's happy being a slave. what a pity.

redeem or winners or catholic is just a denomination, u can leave if u want to. why cant u guys cannot leave this so called nigerian council of Islam and form yours. must u be in bondage
It's just bigotry and nothing else. The fulani ruling class in the north reserves the sultanate for their own tribe even though they were the last arrivals of Muslims in present day Nigeria. Uthman Danfodio, the ancestor of the current sultan and it's emirs even waged war against the kanem- Bornu empire that was already Muslim.
To a fulani, Islam is just a tool of conquest aka political Islam.
Re: Ramadan 2026: Sultan Of Sokoto Asks Muslims To Search For The Moon Tonight by Obviouslyblunt: 7:02am On Feb 17
Seems Ramadan and Ash Wednesday which is tomorrow, wants to fall into same day. Good.
Re: Ramadan 2026: Sultan Of Sokoto Asks Muslims To Search For The Moon Tonight by CodeTemplar: 7:05am On Feb 17
Conquered muslims from his sultanate or all muslims?
Re: Ramadan 2026: Sultan Of Sokoto Asks Muslims To Search For The Moon Tonight by Oakenshield: 7:09am On Feb 17
Will bombers do same
Re: Ramadan 2026: Sultan Of Sokoto Asks Muslims To Search For The Moon Tonight by 11doubledee: 7:10am On Feb 17
Basic123:
As a witnessshuh


You are too Ignorant!

What does Islam says about the moon

(Surah Fussilat 41:37): "And of His signs are the night and day and the sun and moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or to the moon, but prostrate to Allah, Who created them, if it is Him you worship".


Muslims have 12 calender month,which is even more reasonable than gregorian calender because each month is exactly in line with the movement of the moon.One of the months is ramadan.
When they say,look out of the moon,it means,check wether a new montj called ramadan has heralded
You are right about people respecting other peoples faith.
But which one is Muslim calendar is more reasonable than gregorian calendar?
Like what calendar do you plan your day to day activities with?
Re: Ramadan 2026: Sultan Of Sokoto Asks Muslims To Search For The Moon Tonight by jojothaiv(m): 7:12am On Feb 17
And the Gregorian calendar stay firm and consistent on tomorrow 18th being the day the fast will start and we are out here waiting to sight something that's written into the calendar...
Re: Ramadan 2026: Sultan Of Sokoto Asks Muslims To Search For The Moon Tonight by Exceed15: 7:13am On Feb 17
He' has been elusive. Where has he been after the US bombing in sokoto?
Re: Ramadan 2026: Sultan Of Sokoto Asks Muslims To Search For The Moon Tonight by 11doubledee: 7:13am On Feb 17
Mirasteel:
Ramadan kareem to all 2 billion Muslims worldwide. ☪️
Remember make una dey preach tolerance, love and peace.
Make una stop to dey cause trouble and violence everywhere including here on nairaland.
Me self wish only peace loving Muslims Ramadan kareem in advance grin grin grin grin
Re: Ramadan 2026: Sultan Of Sokoto Asks Muslims To Search For The Moon Tonight by SIRTee15: 7:26am On Feb 17
Slytiger:
Interestingly, islam was being practiced in Yorubaland and Hausa land as far back as the 1300 before the fulani jihadists arrived in the 1700.
That's even the most shocking thing.
naptu came here and was writing long epistle.
I want to ask him, when Islam landed in Iwo in the 17th century and Ibadanin the late 19th century who was sighting the moon for them?
who were they calling to announce the beginning of ramadan once the new moon is sighted.
were people of Iwo calling on the sultan of sokoto during pre nigeria era when fasting.

who made the sultan of sokoto the leader of Yoruba muslims? when was this decision made, who and who were present when it was announced the sultan of sokoto is now the leader of all Yoruba muslims.
who forced Yoruba Muslims to become slave to sultan of sokoto, who forced the Yoruba muslims to accept such humiliating servitude.

sultan of sokoto has no influence whatsoever on the progress and development of Islam in Yorubaland. Islam didnt arrive in Yorubaland from sokoto. Sokoto imams were not responsible for the introduction or spread of Islam in Yorubaland.

Islam has been in Yoruba land for over 500 years, it was introduced by Wangara traders from Mali in the 16th century. The first mosque in Yorubaland was built 1550 in Oyo Ile, Iwo had its first mosque in 1655. This was at a time the sultan of sokoto was a pagan.
Yes, when Yorubas started practicing Islam, the sultan of sokoto was a pagan.
So I dont understand how someone who has no idea how u became Muslim is now the one telling u how to be a muslim.
Islam also introduced literacy to Yoruba land and the language was already written in ajami script prior to Latinization of the Yoruba language by Ajayi Crowther.

Yoruba Muslim be proud of your heritage and your rich history. stop all these embarrassing follow follow, its annoying and nauseating.
its not like they even regard u in anyway. So waht exactly do u gain by submitting to them? what is the gain exactly.
Re: Ramadan 2026: Sultan Of Sokoto Asks Muslims To Search For The Moon Tonight by Kukutente23: 7:33am On Feb 17
YorubaKinging:
Using the moon as a witness tells a lot about Islam.

The moon is a false reflection or copy of the sun

And that’s why it never comes out in its appointed times.

Yet the world uses it.

So Christians should not rejoice o because yours is far worse as you put all your faith in a book

Both religions will cease to exist in the new world order that’s coming fast and it’s coming out of Africa.
You want to attack religion but you don't even know basic science
Na wa o
Re: Ramadan 2026: Sultan Of Sokoto Asks Muslims To Search For The Moon Tonight by yomi531(m): 7:34am On Feb 17
Mirasteel:
Ramadan kareem to all 2 billion Muslims worldwide. ☪️
who dash una 2 billion 😂😂😂
Re: Ramadan 2026: Sultan Of Sokoto Asks Muslims To Search For The Moon Tonight by saddler: 7:36am On Feb 17
I
Basic123:
grin

Stop judging musllims with your religion standard.

Sultan is not like one God from judea that was killed brutally by roman soldiers years back.

Heis just a mortal a fulani man that hapoens to be a muslim leader.In Islam,no racial discrimination.

By the way,when will an Igbo man become a pope?

Also,alery me when an Igbo man becomes the daddy G.O of redeem and wimner
are you serious right now?

One was killed physically by Roman soldiers while the other one died from food poisoning by a woman.


What's the difference?
Re: Ramadan 2026: Sultan Of Sokoto Asks Muslims To Search For The Moon Tonight by Orlandoo(m): 7:36am On Feb 17
JoeEeL:
But the fulani terrorists that surround his palace in Sokoto, and other parts of Northwest like Kebbi and Niger, this guy cant set his torchlight on them to find them?

Mtcheew. Nobody fit deceive me for this life. We all know what he is.

___

Note to Mods: You guys must refrain from taking down comments that appear at the top or very close to it, that dont bend to your bias.

I dont know if its people from higher authority that tells u guys to take down certain comments but as far as rules are not broken, u cant just keep taking down comments at the top and making it seem random. I dont have energy to be typing and u just yank my comment off cos una no lkke am, not like any rule was broken. That rubbish must stop in 2026.

Thank you!
Bro, it's the people in higher authority that tells them what to do. Reno Omokri included. I noticed it when I commented on one of Omokri's thread which he created himself. Because he is an active member on this forum. I told nairaland members that they shouldn't take Reno serious, a comment made in the afternoon o, many people qouted me. Can you believe that the following morning my post was no where to be found. You ever wonder why every topic about Reno insulting the opposition always make front page.
Re: Ramadan 2026: Sultan Of Sokoto Asks Muslims To Search For The Moon Tonight by ispreloaded(m): 7:46am On Feb 17
YorubaKinging:
Using the moon as a witness tells a lot about Islam.

The moon is a false reflection or copy of the sun

And that’s why it never comes out in its appointed times.

Yet the world uses it.

So Christians should not rejoice o because yours is far worse as you put all your faith in a book

Both religions will cease to exist in the new world order that’s coming fast and it’s coming out of Africa.
are u saying no one created the earth and the universe?🙄
Re: Ramadan 2026: Sultan Of Sokoto Asks Muslims To Search For The Moon Tonight by Helinuse: 7:49am On Feb 17
Basic123:
As a witnessshuh


You are too Ignorant!

What does Islam says about the moon

(Surah Fussilat 41:37): "And of His signs are the night and day and the sun and moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or to the moon, but prostrate to Allah, Who created them, if it is Him you worship".


Muslims have 12 calender month,which is even more reasonable than gregorian calender because each month is exactly in line with the movement of the moon.One of the months is ramadan.
When they say,look out of the moon,it means,check wether a new montj called ramadan has heralded
It is more reasonable yet years behind the Gregorian.
Re: Ramadan 2026: Sultan Of Sokoto Asks Muslims To Search For The Moon Tonight by ArcSEMPECJ(m): 7:53am On Feb 17
YorubaKinging:
Using the moon as a witness tells a lot about Islam.

The moon is a false reflection or copy of the sun

And that’s why it never comes out in its appointed times.

Yet the world uses it.

So Christians should not rejoice o because yours is far worse as you put all your faith in a book


Both religions will cease to exist in the new world order that’s coming fast and it’s coming out of Africa.
No Christians put all their faith in a book, because even if you burn down the book , a true Christian keeps the words from the book lives a Christ like life...

So we don't submit to the book but we submit to the words from the book and work out our faith from the words , that's why you can see who has the book but because he doesn't study or meditate in the book, he will always be defeated in the realms where his faith will be tested for approval....
Re: Ramadan 2026: Sultan Of Sokoto Asks Muslims To Search For The Moon Tonight by femi4: 8:00am On Feb 17
Una still dey search
Re: Ramadan 2026: Sultan Of Sokoto Asks Muslims To Search For The Moon Tonight by femi4: 8:03am On Feb 17
YorubaKinging:
Using the moon as a witness tells a lot about Islam.

The moon is a false reflection or copy of the sun

And that’s why it never comes out in its appointed times.

Yet the world uses it.

So Christians should not rejoice o because yours is far worse as you put all your faith in a book

Both religions will cease to exist in the new world order that’s coming fast and it’s coming out of Africa.
And you where you put your faith?

Sango, Ogun or Esu

Afofungbemu
Re: Ramadan 2026: Sultan Of Sokoto Asks Muslims To Search For The Moon Tonight by sweetkev(m): 8:07am On Feb 17
From the letter or should I say articles, no condemnation of terrorists attack but always playing victims as usual. Religion of p indeed.
Re: Ramadan 2026: Sultan Of Sokoto Asks Muslims To Search For The Moon Tonight by casdoruche: 8:09am On Feb 17
naptu2:
Sun, moon, calendar, Ramadan and funny ignorance

These ideas were fully formed in my mind by 1987, but I have seen new and very funny examples of ignorance every year since then.

Ignorance

Someone wished another person happy new year (back in the late 1980s) and the person thanked her, but said that he was not a Christian. Many people that were around were shocked. They said that she was referring to the New Year and that it had nothing to do with Christianity. In fact, some of them asked me what the New Year had to do with Christianity.

They were wrong. It's got a lot to do with Christianity.

This second example sounded very funny to me because, luckily, I had learnt the science behind it way back in the 1980s, before I heard the ignorance in the 2000s. Someone referred to the moon sighting for Ramadan and said that it was evidence that Muslims worshipped the moon. I laughed at him.

I had never heard this crazy idea before I started reading Nairaland. I assumed that every Nigerian knew the truth. After all, it was announced on the NTA Network News every year (as far back as I can remember). Some crazy person said that only the Sultan of Sokoto could see the new moon and he questioned why it was only the Sultan that was allowed to see the new moon. I felt sure that he was mad.

Year, month, day

I am not going to be very detailed about this first part because it is almost 40 years since I read about it and I can't remember the minute details.

Between 1985 and 1987 I read all about how our modern calendar was created. The calendar is based on the earth's revolution around the sun. The earth revolves around the sun in 365¼ days. The ¼ leads to a full day every 4 years and that's how we have our leap year (the extra day is in February).

The moon revolves around the earth in 27.3 days (it takes around 29.5 for us to see the new moon). This gives us our month.

It takes 23 hours and 56 minutes (basically 24 hours) for the earth to rotate on its axis. This gives us our day.

Hold on a second. I said that it takes around 27-29 days for the moon to rotate around the earth and this gives us our month, but 30 days have September, April, June and November; all the rest have 31, except February alone, so what's responsible for the difference?

Gregorian Calendar

It's all about how our calendar was created. Various religious and political leaders manipulated the calendar to suit their needs. Julius Ceaser created July and made it the longest month, Augustus Ceaser created August and made it the longest month and Pope Gregory The 13th (Pope of the Catholic Church in the 1500s) rearranged the calendar into the form that we know today. It is called the Gregorian Calendar (that's right, it is a Christian calendar).

All these changes altered the number of months in the Gregorian calendar (there are more changes that I did not list, for example, January is named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings, but as I said, I won't be detailed in this section).

You can easily tell that it is a Christian calendar because of the dates. We are in 2024 AD. AD means Anno Domini, which means, "In the year of our Lord". The full form is anno Domini nostri Jesu Christi", which translates to "in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ". It marks the time from the death of Jesus Christ and some refer to it as "After Death". The term BC means Before Christ.


The Gregorian calendar is not the only calendar that exists and is being used. There is the Chinese calendar, the Ethiopian calendar, the Hijri (or Islamic) calendar, etc.

National Concord newspaper wrote the dates in both the Gregorian and the Hijri calendars on its front page in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Hijri Calendar

The Hijri calendar is based on the revolution of the moon around the earth. A year consists of 12 lunar months, that is 354 or 355 days.

Just as the dates in the Gregorian calendar are marked by the death of Jesus Christ (AD and BC), the dates in the Hijri calendar are marked by the migration of Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina (this is known as the Hijrah).

It is because the Hijri calendar is a lunar calendar, that's why people are asked to look out for the new moon. They are not worshipping the moon, they are simply using it to tell the time. That is, they are using it to determine when a new month starts.

For example, Ramadan is one of the months of the Hijri calendar. Muslims are enjoined to fast during the month. That's why people look out for the new moon, because they want to determine when the month starts and ends.

Moon sighting

I am also not going to be very detailed in this section because this knowledge is from many decades ago.

All Muslims are asked to look out for the new moon that signifies the beginning of the new month. However, for the sake of unity and uniformity, Muslims are required to report a sighting to the leader in their area, so that the Muslim faithful can carry out the tasks (beginning of fast, celebration of Eid, etc) together. Anyone can sight the moon, but he is required to report such sighting to the leader who will announce that the moon has been seen.

In Nigeria, the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA) is the umbrella body for Muslims in the country. The Sultan of Sokoto is usually the president-general of the SCIA, while the secretary-general of the SCIA is usually a southerner (for a long time it was Dr Lateef Adegbite).

There is also a National Moon Sighting Committee. The National Moon Sighting Committee usually asks Muslims to look out for the new moon and it provides phone numbers that people can call if they see it.

Once it has been confirmed that the moon has been seen, the Sultan of Sokoto will make the announcement that the new month has begun and he will state where and when the moon was seen and who confirmed it.

This is all very simple and easy for a sensible person to understand.


Contact details of members of the Moon Sighting Committee for Ramadan 2026.

https://www.nscia.com.ng/nmsc/
So you are a Muslim.

Now I see where the bias you have comes from when it has to do with US and terrorist
Re: Ramadan 2026: Sultan Of Sokoto Asks Muslims To Search For The Moon Tonight by usmanpogo(m): 8:11am On Feb 17
naptu2:
Sun, moon, calendar, Ramadan and funny ignorance

These ideas were fully formed in my mind by 1987, but I have seen new and very funny examples of ignorance every year since then.

Ignorance

Someone wished another person happy new year (back in the late 1980s) and the person thanked her, but said that he was not a Christian. Many people that were around were shocked. They said that she was referring to the New Year and that it had nothing to do with Christianity. In fact, some of them asked me what the New Year had to do with Christianity.

They were wrong. It's got a lot to do with Christianity.

This second example sounded very funny to me because, luckily, I had learnt the science behind it way back in the 1980s, before I heard the ignorance in the 2000s. Someone referred to the moon sighting for Ramadan and said that it was evidence that Muslims worshipped the moon. I laughed at him.

I had never heard this crazy idea before I started reading Nairaland. I assumed that every Nigerian knew the truth. After all, it was announced on the NTA Network News every year (as far back as I can remember). Some crazy person said that only the Sultan of Sokoto could see the new moon and he questioned why it was only the Sultan that was allowed to see the new moon. I felt sure that he was mad.

Year, month, day

I am not going to be very detailed about this first part because it is almost 40 years since I read about it and I can't remember the minute details.

Between 1985 and 1987 I read all about how our modern calendar was created. The calendar is based on the earth's revolution around the sun. The earth revolves around the sun in 365¼ days. The ¼ leads to a full day every 4 years and that's how we have our leap year (the extra day is in February).

The moon revolves around the earth in 27.3 days (it takes around 29.5 for us to see the new moon). This gives us our month.

It takes 23 hours and 56 minutes (basically 24 hours) for the earth to rotate on its axis. This gives us our day.

Hold on a second. I said that it takes around 27-29 days for the moon to rotate around the earth and this gives us our month, but 30 days have September, April, June and November; all the rest have 31, except February alone, so what's responsible for the difference?

Gregorian Calendar

It's all about how our calendar was created. Various religious and political leaders manipulated the calendar to suit their needs. Julius Ceaser created July and made it the longest month, Augustus Ceaser created August and made it the longest month and Pope Gregory The 13th (Pope of the Catholic Church in the 1500s) rearranged the calendar into the form that we know today. It is called the Gregorian Calendar (that's right, it is a Christian calendar).

All these changes altered the number of months in the Gregorian calendar (there are more changes that I did not list, for example, January is named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings, but as I said, I won't be detailed in this section).

You can easily tell that it is a Christian calendar because of the dates. We are in 2024 AD. AD means Anno Domini, which means, "In the year of our Lord". The full form is anno Domini nostri Jesu Christi", which translates to "in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ". It marks the time from the death of Jesus Christ and some refer to it as "After Death". The term BC means Before Christ.


The Gregorian calendar is not the only calendar that exists and is being used. There is the Chinese calendar, the Ethiopian calendar, the Hijri (or Islamic) calendar, etc.

National Concord newspaper wrote the dates in both the Gregorian and the Hijri calendars on its front page in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Hijri Calendar

The Hijri calendar is based on the revolution of the moon around the earth. A year consists of 12 lunar months, that is 354 or 355 days.

Just as the dates in the Gregorian calendar are marked by the death of Jesus Christ (AD and BC), the dates in the Hijri calendar are marked by the migration of Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina (this is known as the Hijrah).

It is because the Hijri calendar is a lunar calendar, that's why people are asked to look out for the new moon. They are not worshipping the moon, they are simply using it to tell the time. That is, they are using it to determine when a new month starts.

For example, Ramadan is one of the months of the Hijri calendar. Muslims are enjoined to fast during the month. That's why people look out for the new moon, because they want to determine when the month starts and ends.

Moon sighting

I am also not going to be very detailed in this section because this knowledge is from many decades ago.

All Muslims are asked to look out for the new moon that signifies the beginning of the new month. However, for the sake of unity and uniformity, Muslims are required to report a sighting to the leader in their area, so that the Muslim faithful can carry out the tasks (beginning of fast, celebration of Eid, etc) together. Anyone can sight the moon, but he is required to report such sighting to the leader who will announce that the moon has been seen.

In Nigeria, the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA) is the umbrella body for Muslims in the country. The Sultan of Sokoto is usually the president-general of the SCIA, while the secretary-general of the SCIA is usually a southerner (for a long time it was Dr Lateef Adegbite).

There is also a National Moon Sighting Committee. The National Moon Sighting Committee usually asks Muslims to look out for the new moon and it provides phone numbers that people can call if they see it.

Once it has been confirmed that the moon has been seen, the Sultan of Sokoto will make the announcement that the new month has begun and he will state where and when the moon was seen and who confirmed it.

This is all very simple and easy for a sensible person to understand.


Contact details of members of the Moon Sighting Committee for Ramadan 2026.

https://www.nscia.com.ng/nmsc/
Quick question

The Arabs fasted during the month of Ramadan before the advent of Islam, True or false ?
If True, who were they fasting to and who was their God(s) ?
Take your time
Re: Ramadan 2026: Sultan Of Sokoto Asks Muslims To Search For The Moon Tonight by naptu2(op): 8:13am On Feb 17
usmanpogo:
Quick question

The Arabs fasted during the month of Ramadan before the advent of Islam, True or false ?
If True, who were they fasting to and who was their God(s) ?
Take your time




casdoruche:
So you are a Muslim.

Now I see where the bias you have comes from when it has to do with US and terrorist
Ladies and gentlemen, quick, come and see the type of people that I'm always talking about o!

Hahahahahahahahahaha

(We'll see more of them tomorrow).
Re: Ramadan 2026: Sultan Of Sokoto Asks Muslims To Search For The Moon Tonight by Yemimovich(m): 8:16am On Feb 17
Lols. Moon ko, crescent ni.
Happy searching o
naptu2:
National Moonsighting Committee Nigeria @moonsightingng




https://x.com/i/status/2023168584558526491
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