A FRESH START: YEAR 1441 A.H. GOODWILL MESSAGE
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, felicitates with the entire Muslim Ummah in Nigeria and all over the world on the auspicious occasion of the new 1441 Hijrah Year.
While thanking Allah for sparing our lives throughout 1440 A. H. and making us witness the beginning of the New Year, we pray that He make this new beginning a turning point in our lives as individuals and as a people so that at the end of the year, we shall be counting gains, not losses, and successes, not failures.
One significance of the New Hijrah Year is the opportunity it accords a Muslim to turn a new leaf, set his priorities right and evaluate himself as a way of preparing for the Judgement Day. As a matter of fact, Hijrah connotes migrating from what is evil and despicable to what is good and righteous. This should be the resolve of every Muslim as the New Year begins.
MUHARAM 1441 AH PRESS RELEASE
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, wishes to inform the Nigerian Muslim Ummah that there was no positive sighting of the crescent of Muharam, 1441 AH on the 29th of Dhul-Hijjah, 1440 AH, equivalent to Friday, 30th August, 2019. Therefore, Saturday, 31st August, 2019 is the last day of Dhul-Hijjah, 1440 AH.
In line with the above, His Eminence, the President-General of NSCIA and Sultan of Sokoto has approved Sunday, 1st September, 2019 as the 1st day of Muharam, 1441 AH.
The Council hereby enjoins the Nigerian Muslim Ummah to continue to promote peaceful coexistence and unity among all the citizens of the country. Happy New Year!
Signed
Prof. Salisu Shehu
Deputy Secretary-General
NSCIA
1440AH ‘EIDEL ADHA GOODWILL MESSAGE
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, felicitates with the Nigerian Muslim Ummah and indeed the entire Muslim world on the auspicious occasion of the 1440 AH ‘Eidel Adha celebrations. We beseech Allah to grant us the opportunity to witness many more of it.
According to the Sunnah of the noble Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Muslims who are not on pilgrimage in the Holy Land are encouraged to fast on the day of ‘Arafat and engage themselves in acts of worship and veneration to Allah, believing that with sincerity of intentions, He will forgive their transgressions and overlook their short-comings of the preceding and succeeding years as well as admit them to His Jannah. We, therefore, ask Allah to accept our ‘ibadat, increase our ‘iman and grant us protection, contentment and grateful hearts throughout the first ten days of this month and most especially on the Arafat Day.
END OF RAMADAN 1440AH (2019G) FAST AND ‘IDUL-FITR CELEBRATIONS
۞يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْأَهِلَّةِۖ قُلْ هِيَ مَوَاقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَالْحَجَّ
“They ask you, [O Muhammad], about the new moons. Say, "They are measurements of time for the people and for Hajj.”(Al-Baqarah 2: 189)
هُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ الشَّمْسَ ضِيَاءً وَالْقَمَرَ نُورًا وَقَدَّرَهُ مَنَازِلَ لِتَعْلَمُوا عَدَدَ السِّنِينَ وَالْحِسَابَۚ
“It is He who made the sun a shining light and the moon a derived light and determined for it phases - that you may know the number of years and account [of time].” (Yunus 10:5)
وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ اللَّيْلُ وَالنَّهَارُ وَالشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُۚ لَا تَسْجُدُوا لِلشَّمْسِ وَلَا لِلْقَمَرِ وَاسْجُدُوا لِلَّهِ الَّذِي خَلَقَهُنَّ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ
“And of His signs are the night and day and the sun and moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or to the moon, but prostate to Allah, who created them, if it should be Him that you worship.” (Fusilat 41:37)
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, felicitates with the entire Muslim Ummah in Nigeria and all over the world on this year’s Ramadan Fast. The Council prays that the Almighty Allah accept it from us as an act of Ibadah. Amin.