The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has officially declared Thursday, July 16, 2026, as the first day of Safar 1448AH after the crescent moon marking the beginning of the Islamic month was not sighted across Nigeria.
The declaration was announced in a statement released on Wednesday by the Chairman of the Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sambo Junaidu.
According to the statement, the National Moonsighting Committee and state moonsighting committees did not receive any authenticated reports confirming the sighting of the Safar crescent on Tuesday, July 14, which corresponded to the 29th day of Muharram 1448AH.
The committee therefore confirmed that Wednesday, July 15, would complete the 30 days of Muharram.
Based on the report, the Sultan, who is also the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), approved Thursday, July 16, 2026, as the first day of Safar 1448AH.
