Sultan of Sokoto declares Saturday as end of fast

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Sultan of Sokoto and President-General Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has announced the sighting of the new moon on Saturday night, June 23, 2017.

Speaking at his Palace in Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar said the new moon was sighted  in parts of the country including Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

This indicates the end of the Ramadan fasting.

The monarch asked Muslims all over Nigeria to cease to fast as it is not permitted to fast on Sallah day.

The Sultan congratulated the Muslims for successful completion of the one month fasting period and urged them to keep alive the lessons if Ramadan even after fasting is over.

Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and other Arab countries announced on Saturday that Sunday will be the first day of Eid al-Fitr 1438. Oman, however, has not sighted the moon, and thus declared Monday June 26 as the first day of Eid al-Fitr.

According to Bangladesh, Pakistan, India will be sighting the moon on Sunday. These countries started Ramadan on May 28 and so Sunday will be the 29th of Ramadan for them.

Eid al-Fitr, which means "festival of breaking the fast," marks the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan.

Turkey and Muslim communities in North America, Europe and Australia had previously announced they would celebrate Eid al-Fitr from Sunday, June 25 based on astronomical calculations.