Crescent Sightings Confirmed As Sultan Announces Rabi’ul Awwal 1448 AH
The Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), His Eminence Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has declared Friday, August 14, 2026, as the first day of Rabi’ul Awwal 1448 AH, following confirmed sightings of the new crescent across several parts of the country.
The declaration brings the Islamic calendar into a month of profound religious significance for Nigeria’s Muslim community and marks the commencement of Rabi’ul Awwal, the third month of the Islamic lunar calendar, traditionally associated with the birth of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
The announcement was contained in a statement signed by the Wazirin Sokoto and Chairman of the Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Professor Sambo Wali Junaidu, on behalf of the Sultanate.
According to the statement, the Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, working in conjunction with the National Moon Sighting Committee, received credible reports confirming the sighting of the new moon of Rabi’ul Awwal 1448 AH on Thursday, August 13.
The sighting was recorded on Thursday, which corresponded with the 29th day of Safar 1448 AH, thereby signalling the end of Safar and the commencement of the new Islamic month.
The statement said the reports were received from various authorised moon-sighting committees across the country and subjected to the necessary religious verification before being presented to the Sultan for consideration.
After reviewing and accepting the reports, Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar formally approved the commencement of Rabi’ul Awwal 1448 AH from Friday, August 14.
The declaration followed a directive issued by the Sultan on Wednesday, August 12, calling on Muslims across Nigeria to look out for the new moon of Rabi’ul Awwal 1448 AH on Thursday, August 13.
The directive, contained in a press release signed by Professor Sambo Wali Junaidu, designated Thursday, August 13, as the day for sighting the crescent, as it corresponded with the 29th day of Safar 1448 AH.
Muslims who sighted the crescent were instructed to report it to the nearest District or Village Head for onward communication through the traditional leadership structure to the Sultan of Sokoto.
The Sultanate Council, Sokoto State Chapter, had urged Muslims across the country to actively search for the crescent and participate in the moon-sighting exercise as part of their religious duty.
“Muslims are therefore requested to start looking for the new moon of Rabiul Awwal 1448AH on Thursday and report its sighting to the nearest District or Village Head for onward communication to His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA),” the statement read.
Rabi’ul Awwal holds a special place in the Islamic calendar, particularly for its historical and spiritual significance to Muslims worldwide. It is widely associated with major events in the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), including his birth and passing.
The 12th day of Rabi’ul Awwal is traditionally observed by many Muslims as the birth date of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), an occasion known as Maulud Nabiyy. The month is traditionally marked by acts of devotion, increased recitation of the Quran, special prayers, public gatherings and lectures that reflect on the life and teachings of the Prophet.
In Nigeria, public awareness about Maulud Nabiyy is very high, and the commemoration is observed with widespread participation across Muslim communities nationwide.
The Sultan, as the spiritual leader of Nigeria’s Muslim community and the country’s recognised authority on matters concerning the Islamic lunar calendar, routinely relies on verified moon-sighting reports before announcing the start of each new Islamic month.
The Sultanate Council traditionally coordinates the official moon-sighting process in Nigeria, while the Sultan of Sokoto makes the final announcement on the commencement of each new Islamic month after receiving verified reports from across the country.
The latest declaration underscores the importance attached to the traditional and religious process of moon sighting in determining dates in the Islamic calendar. The process involves the physical sighting of the crescent moon, a practice that has been observed for centuries and remains a cornerstone of Islamic tradition in Nigeria.
The Sultan’s declaration is expected to guide Muslims nationwide in determining the appropriate dates for religious observances and activities associated with the new Islamic month.
The announcement provides the necessary religious framework for Islamic scholars, institutions, communities and individuals across Nigeria to plan activities associated with the new month, including special prayers, fasting, charity and the celebration of Maulud Nabiyy, which falls on the 12th of Rabi’ul Awwal.
The Sultanate Council urged Muslims to take note of the declaration and conduct their religious activities in accordance with the commencement of Rabi’ul Awwal 1448 AH.
With the declaration, Friday, August 14, 2026, officially becomes 1 Rabi’ul Awwal 1448 AH in Nigeria, following the confirmed crescent sighting and the Sultan’s acceptance of the reports.
Nigeria is home to one of Africa’s largest Muslim populations, with Muslims making up approximately half or more of the country’s estimated 240 million people. Estimates suggest there are about one hundred million Muslims in Nigeria, with the majority residing in the northern states. The Sultan’s declaration therefore carries significant weight for a substantial portion of the nation’s population as they observe the religious rites and commemorations associated with the new month.