Sultan Declares July 16 as First Day of Safar 1448AH

On Wednesday, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III, declared that Thursday, July 16, 2026, will mark the first day of Safar 1448AH. This announcement followed the inability of various state and local moonsight committees to confirm the sighting of the Safar crescent on Tuesday, July 14, which corresponded to the 29th day of Muharram 1448AH.

The declaration was made in a statement issued by the Sultan's council advisory committee on religious affairs, signed by its chairman, Prof. Sambo Wali Junaidu.

The committee explained that since no valid sighting was recorded, the current month of Muharram would be completed, leading to the commencement of the new lunar month. The Sultan urged Muslims across Nigeria to observe the religious activities associated with Safar and to uphold values of peace, unity, and stability in the country.