Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, declared Friday, 14 August 2026, as the first day of Rabi’ul Awwal 1448 AH. He based the decision on confirmed moon sightings.
Sambo Wali Junaidu, the Wazirin Sokoto and Chairman of the Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, issued the official statement. The announcement followed reports from moon-sighting committees nationwide.
The Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs worked with the National Moon Sighting Committee. Together they received reports from various committees across the country.
Those reports confirmed the sighting of the new moon of Rabi’ul Awwal 1448 AH on Thursday, 13 August 2026. That date corresponded to the 29th day of Safar 1448 AH.
The Sultan accepted the submitted reports. He then declared Friday as the start of the new month. The process followed the established system of local reports channelled through traditional authorities to the national level.
Rabi’ul Awwal carries particular significance in the Islamic calendar. Many Muslims traditionally mark the 12th day of the month as the birthday of Prophet Muhammad. Communities often observe the occasion with gatherings, lectures, Qur’an recitation and other religious activities.
The Sultanate Council had urged Muslims to look out for the crescent on Thursday. It directed those who sighted the moon to report it promptly to the nearest district or village head for onward transmission. The successful sighting reports completed that process and led to the formal declaration.
