The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has declared Wednesday as the first of Shawwal and Eid day, commemorating the completion of the 2024 Ramadan fast.
This is due to the fact that the new crescent was not sighted in the Kingdom on Monday.
The implication is that the Ramadan fast would be 30th while the first of Shawwal would be on Wednesday.
Haramain News, the Kingdom’s foremost news medium, in a statement on its X handle, said, “The crescent moon was NOT sighted in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, Eid Al Fitr will be celebrated on Wednesday, 10th April 2024.”
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, had urged Muslims across the country to look for the new moon of Shawwal on Monday.
The Secretary-General of the NSCIA, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, said this on Sunday in a statement tagged ‘Idul Fitr goodwill message and Felicitations’.
“Consequent upon the advice of the National Moon-Sighting Committee (NMSC), the President-General enjoins the Nigerian Muslim Ummah to search for the crescent of Shawwal 1445 A.H. immediately after sunset on Monday, 29th Ramadan 1445 A.H. which is equivalent to 8th April 2024.
“It must be noted that, according to scientific calculations, the expected time for the Shawwal moon conjunction in Nigeria is Monday 8th April 2024 at 07:21 p.m. That notwithstanding, as Islamic tradition stipulates, Muslims are enjoined to search for the crescent of Shawwal on the 29th of Ramadan.
“If Muslims sight the crescent in accordance with the moon sighting and verification standards, then His Eminence would declare Tuesday, 9th April 2024 as the 1st of Shawwal and the day of ‘Idul Fitr. However, if the crescent is not sighted that day, then Wednesday, 10th April 2024, automatically becomes the day of ‘ ‘Idul Fitr,” Oloyede said.
He added that in addition to the established traditional and Islamic leaders in each locality, the Muslims can reach members of the National Moon-Sighting Committee (NMSC), to report any credible and positive sighting of the crescent of Shawwal 1445 AH.
