Sultan Declares July 16, 2026, First Day of Safar 1448AH

Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III, declared Thursday, July 16, 2026, as the first day of Safar 1448AH. This announcement was made following the non-sighting of the crescent moon across Nigeria.

The declaration was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, by the Sultan's Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, chaired by Prof. Sambo Wali Junaidu.

The National Moonsight Committee collaborated with various moonsight committees across the country but did not receive any authentic reports confirming the sighting of the Safar crescent on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, which corresponded to the 29th of Muharram 1448AH. Consequently, the statement indicated that Wednesday, July 15, 2026, would be the 30th of Muharram 1448AH, and the Sultan approved the commencement of the new month on Thursday, July 16, 2026, marking the beginning of the second month in the Islamic calendar for Muslims across Nigeria.