BREAKING: Sultan Declares Thursday First Day of Safar 1448AH

• The Sultan of Sokoto has declared Thursday as the first day of Safar 1448AH after the National Moonsighting Committee confirmed that the new crescent moon was not sighted across Nigeria.

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has declared Thursday, July 16, 2026, as the first day of Safar 1448AH following the non-sighting of the new crescent moon across Nigeria.

The announcement was made in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs and signed by its Chairman, Prof. Sambo Wali Junaidu, the Waziri of Sokoto.

According to the statement, the National Moonsighting Committee, working alongside various state and local moonsighting committees, did not receive any authenticated report confirming the sighting of the Safar crescent on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, which corresponded to the 29th day of Muharram 1448AH.

As a result, Wednesday, July 15, was declared the 30th day of Muharram, completing the Islamic month.

Following the report, the Sultan approved the completion of Muharram and officially declared Thursday, July 16, as the beginning of Safar 1448AH.

The declaration marks the commencement of the second month of the Islamic calendar and serves as the official guide for Muslims across Nigeria in observing religious activities and dates based on the Hijri calendar.