Sultan Abubakar

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III  on Sunday directed the Muslim community in Nigeria to commence the Ramadan fast on Monday, 6 June.

The Sultan said in a short statement issued in Sokoto that the directive was sequel to the sighting of the new moon of Ramadan, 1437 AH in various states of the federation.

It was gathered that the new moon had been sighted in parts of Katsina and Zamfara State and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The sighting of the new Moon, the Sultan said,  had been duly verified by the National and Sokoto Moon Sighting Committee

“Today, 29th Day of Shaaban, 1437 AH, equivalent to June, 5, 2016, therefore marks the end of Shaaban,” Sultan said in the statement.

“Therefore, tomorrow, June 6, 2016 is equivalent to the 1st of Ramadan,1437 AH,” he added.

The Sultan appealed to Nigerians to intensify their acts of worship during the month-long fasting while he also called on the Muslim community to fervently pray for the nation’s leaders to succeed, at all levels.

He also urged the Muslim Ummah to pray for sustained peace, unity of Nigeria and the world, as well as inter- religious harmony.