Islamic New Year Begins: Sultan Of Sokoto Declares July 7, 2024 As Commencement

Islamic New Year Begins: Sultan Of Sokoto Declares July 7, 2024 As CommencementThe Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, also serving as the President General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, has formally announced that Sunday, July 7, 2024, will mark the beginning of the Islamic year 1446 after Hijrah. This declaration signals a significant occasion in the Islamic calendar, initiating festivities and religious observations across Nigeria’s Muslim community.

The announcement was made according to the lunar Islamic calendar, which depends on the sighting of the moon to determine the start of each month.

Sambo Junaidu, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs at the Sultanate Council in Sokoto, affirmed in a statement released on Friday that no reports were received from national moon sighting committees regarding the sighting of the new moon of Muharram on Friday, July 5, 2024, corresponding to the 29th of Dhul’Hijja 1445 AH. Therefore, Saturday, July 6, 2024, is recognized as the 30th of Dhul’Hijja.

Muharram is one of the revered months in the Islamic calendar, marking the commencement of the new Islamic lunar year.

The Sultan extended his congratulations to Nigerian Muslims on the occasion of the new year, urging them to continually pray for peace, progress, and development in Nigeria.