Sultan declares Sunday Eid-id-Fitr day

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has declared Sunday, June 25, 2017 as the day to mark the Eid-el-Fitr.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Sultan announced the sighting of the new moon of the month Shawwal in a broadcast in Sokoto on Saturday.

The Islamic month of Shawwal comes after the 29 or 30 days of the month of Ramadan when Muslims across the world observes a month long fasting.

Abubakar said that the new moon was sighted in parts of Kaduna, Katsina, Borno, Adamawa and Sokoto States.

He said:” In accordance with Islamic law, we have the honour and pleasure to announce that today, Saturday, the 29th day of Ramadan,1438 AH, which is equivalent to June 24, 2017 has marked the end of Ramadan and the beginning of the new month of Shawwal.

” Reliable reports of moon sighting were received from Muslim leaders and religious organisations across the country, which were duly verified and authenticated by the National Moon Sighting Committee.

” Consequent upon this, tomorrow, Sunday, the 25th day of June, 2017 becomes the first day of shawwal,1438 AH and is therefore declared the Sallah day for 2017 Eid-el-Fitr.”

The Sultan urged the Muslim Ummah to sustain fervent prayers for President Muhammadu Buhari, other leaders, as well as for sustainable peace and unity in Nigeria and beyond.

The sultan also urged Nigerians to continue to live in peace irrespective of religious, ethnic and cultural differences