The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, has felicitated the Nigerian Muslim Ummah and indeed the entire Muslim world on the auspicious occasion of the 1443 AH ‘Idul Fitr.
The felicitation was contained in the statement signed by Arc. Zubairu Haruna Usman-Ugwu
Director of Administration on Friday April 29, 2022.
“We beseech Allah to grant every one the opportunity to witness many more of it.
NSCIA stated that in the spirit of Ramadan, Muslims are reminded that Zakatul Fitr is a compulsory food-levy imposed on privileged Muslims, to be given to the less privileged in the society.
The Council, therefore, appeals to all concerned to ensure that they do not only comply but comply on time.
“The general practice is to give out the standard measurement to beneficiaries in the last two days of Ramadan and not later than before the ‘Id prayer.
“Furthermore, 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 1443 AH immediately after sunset on Saturday, April 30th, 2022, which is equivalent to 29th Ramadan, 1443 AH,” the statement says.
It stated further that “If the crescent is sighted by Muslims of impeccable character, then His Eminence would declare Sunday, May 1st 2022, as the 1st of Shawwal and the day of ‘Idul Fitr. However, if the crescent is not sighted that day, then Monday, May 2nd 2022, automatically becomes the day of ‘Idul Fitr.”
“In addition to the established and traditional Islamic leaders in each locality, members of the National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC) can be contacted to report credible and positive sighting of the Crescent of Shawwal 1443 AH (see details on www.nscia.com.ng/nmsc).”
The Council also seizes the opportunity to express its serious concern about the skyrocketing prices of food and consumables in the country and appeal to the government to stem the tide of inflation while urging traders too to desist from the habit of arbitrarily increasing the price of food items.
The council also appeals to politicians to consider politics as a service to the nation, which should not be pursued as a do-or-die affair.
“Nigerians should freely choose their leaders on the basis of those who will lead them with justice, fairness and character in line of our usual prayer, “O Allah, make the best of us our leaders, and don’t make the worst of us our leaders. Don’t make us, on account of our sins, be under those who will neither fear you nor be compassionate to us.”
The statement urges Muslims to exercise their rights to contest elective positions and also participate actively in the electoral process by not only obtaining their Permanent Voters Cards, which is still ongoing, but also casting their votes on the days of elections.
It insists that it is a religious duty for every Muslim to obtain his/her voter’s card.
