Moon

Nigeria's Sultan calls for a search for the Jumada Assaniya crescent

The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar, has called on Muslims across Nigeria to look for the new crescent of Jumada Assaniya on Monday, November 9, 2026, Punch Newspapers reports. The search concerns the month of Jumada Assaniya in 1448 AH, the year used in the Islamic calendar.

The Sultanate Council of Sokoto identified Monday as the 29th day of Jumada al-Ula, the current month, according to Vanguard. The council asked Muslims to look for the crescent after sunset and send any sightings through local traditional leaders.

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The council set out reporting channels#

The request appeared in a statement dated November 8 and signed by Professor Sambo Wali Junaidu, Vanguard reports. Junaidu is the Wazirin Sokoto and chairs the Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, according to Punch Newspapers.

Anyone who sees the crescent was asked to notify the nearest district or village head, who can pass the observation on to the Sultan, according to the council's statement. The Whistler Newspaper reports that confirmed sightings should travel through traditional institutions so the Sultan can take the necessary action.

The council also asked Muslims to seek Allah's guidance and assistance in carrying out the religious responsibility, Punch Newspapers reports. Junaidu included a prayer in the statement, asking Allah to help Muslims discharge that duty.

Jumada Assaniya follows the crescent search#

Jumada Assaniya is the sixth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and is also called Jumada al-Thani or Jumada al-Akhirah, according to Punch Newspapers. According to Wikipedia, the Islamic calendar divides its 354 or 355 days into 12 months based on the moon.

The start of a new Islamic lunar month is established through crescent observation and an announcement by the appropriate religious authority, Obaland Magazine reports. The Sultan's request sets out the route for observations to reach him rather than announcing that the new month has already begun.

The Sultan is also president-general of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, according to Vanguard. The newspaper reports that he is responsible for communicating the result of the moon-sighting exercise to Muslims across the country and making the appropriate announcement on the new month.

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