The League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland, along with clerics from Edo and Delta, has announced that Ramadan 1446 AH (2025) will begin on Saturday, March 1. This marks a departure from the long-standing tradition of waiting for the Sultan of Sokoto’s official declaration.
In a communiqué from the Office of the Grand Mufti, the group stated that its decision is based on astronomical calculations and resolutions from international Islamic conferences.
“The crescent moon marking the start of Ramadan will be visible after sunset on Friday, February 28, making March 1 the first fasting day,” the statement read.
The decision aligns with conclusions from Islamic jurisprudential councils, astronomical experts, and global Islamic conferences, including those in Istanbul, Paris, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The communiqué also referenced a hadith of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): “Fast when you see the crescent and break your fast when you see it.”
Traditionally, the Sultan of Sokoto, as the spiritual leader of Nigerian Muslims, announces the start and end of Ramadan. However, this move by Yoruba Muslim clerics signals a shift towards religious autonomy, with some Yoruba Muslims previously questioning the Sultan’s central authority in their religious affairs.
The communiqué further referenced the Unified Hijri Calendar Committee and the International Fiqh Council, confirming that the astronomical new moon will occur at 12:45 AM UTC on February 28. The crescent moon will be visible in multiple locations worldwide, either with the naked eye or through observation devices.
There has been no official response from the Sultan of Sokoto or the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) regarding this independent declaration.
