The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, who is also the President General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, has officially declared Sunday, July 7, 2024, as the commencement of the Islamic year 1446 after Hijrah.

This announcement marks a significant moment in the Islamic calendar, initiating celebrations and religious observances across the Muslim community in Nigeria.

The declaration was based on the lunar Islamic calendar, which relies on the sighting of the moon to determine the beginning of each month.

The Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs at the Sultanate Council in Sokoto, Sambo Junaidu, confirmed in a statement released on Friday that there had been no report of the moon being sighted by the national moon sighting committees.

Muharram is one of the four sacred months in the Islamic calendar and marks the beginning of the new Islamic lunar year.

He said, “The national and the various moon sighting committees across the country did not receive any report on the sighting of the new moon of Muharram on Friday, 5th July, 2024, which is the 29th of Dhul’Hijja 1445 AH, hence Saturday, 6th of July, is the 30th of Dhul’Hijja.”

The Sultan felicitated Nigerian Muslims on the new year.

He urged them to continuously pray for peace, progress and development in Nigeria.