Sultan of Sokoto Calls for Moon Sighting on April 17, 2026

On Thursday, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III, issued a statement advising Muslims to observe the new moon of Zulki'ida for the year 1447 AH, which is set to begin on Friday, April 17, 2026. The Sultan, who presides over the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Nigeria, instructed that the sighting of the moon should be reported to the nearest district head.

This information was communicated through a press release made available to newsmen in Sokoto, which was also endorsed by the chairman of the Sultan Council's advisory committee on religious affairs, Professor Sambo Waliyi Junaidu. The Sultan emphasized the importance of this observance for the Muslim ummah, indicating that the new moon sighting is a significant event in the Islamic calendar.