Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alh. Sa’ad Abubakar
Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has declared Sunday, September 13, 2026, as the first day of Rabiu Assani 1448AH.
The announcement was contained in a statement signed by the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs and Wazirin Sokoto, Professor Sambo Wali Junaidu.
According to the statement, the declaration followed the absence of any credible report confirming the sighting of the new crescent on Friday, September 11, 2026.
It explained that the Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, working with the National Moonsighting Committee, did not receive any confirmed report from the various moonsighting committees across the country indicating that the Rabiu Assani crescent had been sighted.
The statement noted that Friday, September 11, 2026, corresponded to the 29th day of Rabiu Awwal 1448AH, making Saturday, September 12, the 30th day of the month.
Following the report, the Sultan accepted the recommendation of the advisory committee and officially declared Sunday, September 13, 2026, as the first day of Rabiu Assani 1448AH.
The declaration marks the beginning of the new Islamic month for Muslims across Nigeria and other countries that follow the Sultanate Council’s moon sighting announcement.
