The Saudi Arabian Supreme Court has confirmed that the crescent moon of Dhul-Hijjah had been sighted, thereby making Friday the first day of the 12th Islamic month.
According to the court, hajj will therefore begin on Friday August 9, with pilgrims spending the day on the plains of Mount Arafat on Saturday, August 10, and Eid Al-Adha starting on Sunday August 11.
It said that as at Wednesday (yesterday), 1,249,951 hajj pilgrims had arrived in the Kingdom for the pilgrimage, according to statistics issued by the Saudi General Directorate of Passports.
When contacted, the Chairman, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) National moon sighting committee, Prof. Usman El-Nafaty, told Daily Trust that the President-General of the council and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, will issue a formal declaration on the new date after submission of reports across the country concerning the sighting of the moon crescent.
An official of the council, who cannot be named as he was not authorized to speak on the matter, said the NSCIA would go with the Saudi Arabia declaration.
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