NEWS: SULTAN DECLARES FRIDAY FIRST DAY OF RABI’UL AWWAL 1448 AFTER CRESCENT SIGHTING IN NIGERIA

By— Pen Blog Media.
Date: Friday, 14th August, 2026 | 1st Rabī’ul Awwal, 1448 AH.

Crescent Moon for Islamic Month— Rabī’ul Awwal

SOKOTO, 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 Friday, August 14, 2026, as the first day of Rabi’ul Awwal 1448 AH, following confirmed reports of the sighting of the new crescent across Nigeria.

The declaration followed moon-sighting activities conducted on Thursday, August 13, which corresponded to the 29th day of Safar 1448 AH.

According to a statement issued on behalf of the Sultanate, the Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, working with the National Moon-Sighting Committee, received reports from authorised moon-sighting committees confirming the sighting of the new crescent of Rabi’ul Awwal.

The reports were subjected to the necessary verification before being presented to the Sultan. After considering and accepting the reports, the Sultan approved Friday, August 14, as 1 Rabi’ul Awwal 1448 AH.

The development means that Thursday, August 13, marked the final day of Safar 1448 AH in Nigeria, with the new Islamic month beginning the following day.

The Sultan's declaration provides the official basis for the Islamic calendar in Nigeria as Muslims enter Rabi’ul Awwal, the third month of the Hijri calendar.

RELATED DEVELOPMENT IN SAUDI ARABIA

The commencement of Rabi’ul Awwal also corresponds with Friday, August 14, 2026, in Saudi Arabia. Saudi government calendar information places 1 Rabi’ al-Awwal 1448 AH on August 14, while Saudi astronomical and calendar references had also projected the date.

A social-media update attributed to Al-Haramain also highlighted the entry of the new month through imagery of the Makkah Clock Tower. While the specific wording of that social-media post could not be independently confirmed through major news reports, its date is consistent with the Saudi Hijri calendar.

The development has therefore seen Muslims in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia enter Rabi’ul Awwal on the same Gregorian date, although the determination of lunar months remains dependent on the recognised sighting and calendar procedures followed by each jurisdiction.

Rabi’ul Awwal is a significant month in the Islamic calendar and is widely associated with important events in the life and biography of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. The month is particularly noted in Muslim tradition for its association with the Prophet's birth and passing.

The beginning of the month is determined through the Islamic lunar calendar, with moon-sighting authorities announcing the start of a new month after considering verified sightings or completing the preceding month according to the applicable religious procedure.

The Sultan's latest announcement therefore formally marks the beginning of Rabi’ul Awwal 1448 AH in Nigeria.

Pen Blog Media will continue to provide verified updates on significant Islamic dates and developments affecting Muslims in Nigeria and beyond.

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