His eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Saad Abubakar, has declared Wednesday 19th of July 2023 as the first day of Muharram 1444.

The announcement was made in a statement signed by the Chairman advisory committee on religious affairs Sultanate Council, Prof. Sambo Wali Junaidu, on Tuesday July 18, 2023.

“Yesterday, being the 17 of July equivalent to the twenty ninth of Zulhajj 1444 AH, the committee didn’t receive any report from the various moon sighting committees across the country confirming the sighting of the crescent of Muharram,” the statement read.

The statement added that “today being the thirtieth of Zulhajj equivalent to 18 of July Islamic calendar, the Sultan has accepted the report and accordingly declared tomorrow as the first day of the new moon.”