Sultan Declares Sunday Start Of Islamic New Year 1446 AH

The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, who also serves as the President General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, has officially announced that Sunday, July 7, 2024, will mark the beginning of the Islamic year 1446 AH (After Hijrah).

This declaration signifies an important event in the Islamic calendar, sparking celebrations and religious observances throughout the Muslim community in Nigeria.

The declaration was based on the lunar Islamic calendar, which uses 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 no reports were received from the national moon sighting committees regarding the moon’s sighting.

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

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

The Sultan extended his congratulations to Nigerian Muslims on the new year.

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