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Sultan announces July 16 as first day of Safar 1448AH
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has announced that Thursday, July 16, 2026, will mark the beginning of Safar 1448AH following the non-sighting of the new crescent moon across Nigeria.
The announcement was made on Wednesday in a statement signed by the Chairman of the Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Professor Sambo Wali Junaidu.
According to the statement, the National Moonsighting Committee, working with other moonsighting committees across the country, did not receive any verified report confirming the sighting of the Safar crescent on Tuesday, July 14, which was the 29th day of Muharram 1448AH.
Based on the outcome of the moon sighting exercise, the Sultan declared Thursday, July 16, 2026, as the first day of Safar 1448AH in Nigeria.
“The Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, in conjunction with the National Moonsighting Committee, did not receive any report from various moonsighting committees across the country confirming the sighting of the crescent of Safar 1448AH on Tuesday, 14th July, 2026, equivalent to 29th Muharram 1448AH.
“Therefore, Wednesday, 15th July, 2026, will be the 30th of Muharram 1448AH,” the statement said.
According to the statement, the Sultan approved the completion of the current Islamic month and declared the commencement of the new month on Thursday.
The declaration marks the beginning of the second month of the Islamic calendar and serves as the official guide for Muslims across Nigeria in observing religious activities tied to the Hijri calendar
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