Sultan Declares May 18 First Day of Zulhijja
The Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has officially declared Monday, May 18, 2026, as the first day of Zulhijja 1447AH, signalling the commencement of the twelfth and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
The declaration was contained in a press release issued by the Sultanate Council Sokoto on Sunday and signed by the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sambo Wali Junaidu.
“His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar CFR, mni, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has declared Monday 18th May, 2026, as the first day of Zulhijja 1447AH,” the statement read.
Zulhijja holds profound religious significance in Islam as the month during which millions of Muslims worldwide undertake the annual Hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. The month also marks the occasion of Eid el Kabir, also known as Eid al Adha or the Festival of Sacrifice, commemorating the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son in obedience to God.
The announcement comes as Nigerian pilgrims are already participating in the 2026 Hajj season, with states including Zamfara recording their first Hajj flights from Gusau airport, reflecting the country’s broad participation in the pilgrimage this year. The season has, however, not been without sorrow, as Bauchi State recorded the death of a permanent secretary during the exercise in Saudi Arabia.
The Sultanate Council used the occasion to call on Muslims in Nigeria and beyond to dedicate the sacred month to prayers, acts of charity, and sacrifice, with a particular emphasis on interceding for peace, unity, and national progress.
Junaidu, in the statement, urged the Muslim faithful to uphold the teachings of Islam and sustain prayers for national stability and harmony across the country.
The Sultan of Sokoto occupies the most senior traditional and religious position among Muslims in Nigeria, and his declarations on Islamic dates carry authority across Muslim communities nationwide.