Sultan declares July 16 as First Day of Safar 1448AH

Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has declared Thursday, July 16, 2026, as the commencement of Safar 1448AH due to the non-appearance of the crescent moon throughout Nigeria. Demographics

This declaration was made on Wednesday through a statement released by the Chairman of Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Professor Sambo Wali Junaidu.

As stated in the statement, the National Moonsighting Committee, together with other moonsighting committees in the country, did not get any confirmed report about the appearance of the Safar moon on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, which is the 29th day of Muharram 1448AH.

In view of the results of the moon sighting operation, the Sultan has 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.