

- Picture: The Sultan*
The National Moon Sighting Committee of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has asked Muslims in the country to look for the crescent of the new moon on Thursday.
Professor Usman A. El-Nafaty in a statement issued on behalf of the committee stated that “ Today Thursday, 1st August 2019(G), is the 29th of Dhul-Qa’dah 1440(H) and hence the first day to look for the crescent of Dhul-Hijjah 1440(H). The expected time for the moon conjunction in Nigeria, was early morning today, 1st August 2019(G), at 04:12am (03:12am GMT).”
Dhul-Hijjah is the month of Hajj (Pilgrimage) and the Eid-el –Kabir festival takes place on the 10th of the month.
Full text of the statement read:
Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah, Allah (SWT) says in the Qur’an: “They ask you concerning the crescents; say they are a means to measure your specific times (mawaa-qeet) and are also for the commencement of the hajj” (Al-Baqarah 2:189).
“It is He (Allah) who made the sun shine and the moon glow, and determined the lunar phases that you August know the number of years and calculation” (Yunus 10:5). “And among His signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Do not bow down to the sun, nor to the moon, but bow down to Allah, Who created them both, if it is Him that you worship” (Fussilat 41:37).
This is a reminder with regards to crescent sighting for the lunar month of Dhul-Hijjah 1440(H).
Today Thursday, 1st August 2019(G), is the 29th of Dhul-Qa’dah 1440(H) and hence the first day to look for the crescent of Dhul-Hijjah 1440(H). The expected time for the moon conjunction in Nigeria, was early morning today, 1st August 2019(G), at 04:12am (03:12am GMT).
The local sunset and moonset times for Abuja and other selected Nigerian cities on Thursday and Friday, 1st and 2nd August 2019 respectively are as follows In Sha Allah:
Thursday 1st August 2019
City Sunset Moonset Time Lag Moon age Moon altitude
Abuja 06:52pm 07:27pm 00hr. 35min. 14hr. 40min DA^ 080 :04’
Kano 06:52pm 07:27pm 00hr. 35min. 14hr. 40min. DA^ 070 :59’
Lagos 07:05pm 07:41pm 00hr. 36min. 14hr. 53min. DA^ 080 :14’
Maiduguri 06:33pm 07:07pm 00hr. 34min. 14hr. 21min. DA^ 070 :49’
P/ Harcourt 06:48pm 07:23pm 00hr. 35min. 14hr. 36min. D A^ 080 :06’
Sokoto 07:06pm 07:41pm 00hr. 35min. 14hr. 54min DA^ 080 :05’ *
DA^ means directly above the point where the sun set then upwards to the given altitude
Friday 2nd August 2019
City Sunset Moonset Time Lag Moon age Moon altitude**
Abuja 06:52pm 08:22pm 01hr. 30min. 38hr. 40min. SL^ 210 :14’
Kano 06:51pm 08:21pm 01hr. 30min. 38hr. 39min. SL^ 200 :51’
Lagos 07:05pm 08:27pm 01hr. 32min. 38hr. 53min. SL^ 210 :38’
Maiduguri 06:33pm 08:02pm 01hr. 29min. 38hr. 21min. SL^ 200 :43’
P/ Harcourt 06:48pm 08:20pm 01hr. 28min. 38hr. 36min. SL^ 210 :38’
Sokoto 07:06pm 08:36pm 01hr. 30min. 38hr. 54min. SL^ 200 :50’
**SL^ means slightly to the left of the point where the sun set then upwards to the given altitude Images showing expected sun-moon relative positions at sunset for Abuja on Thursday and Friday, 1st and 2nd August 2019G respectively are given in Figures 1 and 2 below.
Kindly endeavor to look for the crescent on these two days and forward to us your observations, whether positive or negative. In your report please indicate your full name, location (city) and approximate time of observation.
You are free to share this reminder with your contacts please.
Thank you and Jazakumullahu Khairan. Wassalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah (August 1st, 2019). Usman A. El-Nafaty (for National Moon Sighting Committee, NSCIA) Phone: +234 (0) 802-374-2492, 806-287-0892; Email: elnafaty@gmail.com
