Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Bornet .k
The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has declared Sunday, 13 September 2026, as the first day of Rabiu Assani 1448AH.
The declaration was issued in Sokoto on Friday, 11 September 2026, following the absence of any credible report confirming the sighting of the new crescent for Rabiu Assani 1448AH across Nigeria.
The announcement was contained in a statement signed by the Chairman of the Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs and Wazirin Sokoto, Professor Sambo Wali Junaidu.
Professor Junaidu said the Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs worked with the National Moonsighting Committee to receive reports from moonsighting committees across the country.
He said the committees did not receive any report confirming the sighting of the crescent of Rabiu Assani 1448AH on Friday.
According to the statement, Friday, 11 September 2026, corresponded to the 29th day of Rabiu Awwal 1448AH in the Islamic calendar.
The statement said Saturday, 12 September 2026, would therefore complete the 30th day of Rabiu Awwal 1448AH.
The Sultan accepted the report from the Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs and the National Moonsighting Committee.
He subsequently declared Sunday, 13 September 2026, as the first day of Rabiu Assani 1448AH.
Rabiu Assani, also known as Rabi al-Thani or Rabi al-Akhir, is the fourth month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
The Islamic calendar is based on lunar months. The beginning of a new month is determined through the sighting of the new crescent or the completion of 30 days of the preceding lunar month.
The Sultanate Council’s announcement follows the established moonsighting process used for major Islamic calendar declarations in Nigeria.
The process involves reports from recognised moonsighting committees in different parts of the country.
The National Moonsighting Committee works with the Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs in receiving and assessing reports of crescent sightings.
The Sultan of Sokoto is the President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and a leading religious authority for Muslims in Nigeria.
The declaration provides the official date for the beginning of Rabiu Assani 1448AH for Muslims who follow the Sultanate Council’s moonsighting announcement.
The confirmation that no credible crescent sighting was received on Friday meant that Rabiu Awwal completed 30 days.
The Islamic calendar contains 12 lunar months. Because it follows the lunar cycle, its months do not correspond to fixed dates in the Gregorian calendar each year.
The calendar is used to determine Islamic months, religious observances and dates of significance to Muslim communities.
The Sultanate Council’s statement did not announce any special public holiday or national event linked to the beginning of Rabiu Assani.
The declaration concerns the start of the new Islamic month after the conclusion of Rabiu Awwal 1448AH.
Muslims across Nigeria have been informed that Sunday, 13 September, is the first day of Rabiu Assani under the Sultanate Council’s declaration.
The statement was signed by Professor Sambo Wali Junaidu in his capacity as Chairman of the Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs and Wazirin Sokoto.
Professor Junaidu also serves in the Sultanate Council’s religious advisory and moonsighting structure.
The announcement follows a public instruction issued before Friday for Muslims to look out for the new crescent of Rabiu Assani on the 29th day of Rabiu Awwal.
The Sultanate Council received no credible sighting report from the various moonsighting committees across the country.
The absence of a confirmed sighting formed the basis of the Sultan’s declaration that the preceding month would complete 30 days.
The announcement establishes the sequence of dates as follows: Friday, 11 September, was the 29th day of Rabiu Awwal; Saturday, 12 September, was the 30th day of Rabiu Awwal; and Sunday, 13 September, is the first day of Rabiu Assani 1448AH.
The declaration has been communicated through the Sultanate Council’s religious advisory structure and public statements from its representatives.
Stone Reporters News joins Muslim faithful in marking the beginning of Rabiu Assani 1448AH.
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