Sokoto – The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has declared Wednesday March 13, as the first day of Jumada Awwal, 1434 AH.

Jumada Awwal is the fifth moon (month) of the Islamic calendar for the year 1434 After Hijrah (AH).

Islamic calendar is based on when the moon is sighted and not on counting of days while 1434 AH is the number of years when the calendar started.

The calendar started after Prophet Muhammad, SAW (may peace be upon Him) migrated from Makkah to Medinah, all in Saudi Arabia.

The declaration is contained in a statement in Sokoto on Thursday signed by Prof. Sambo Wali, the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs of the Sokoto Sultanate Council..

The statement said that the announcement followed the sighting of the new moon by some faithful across the country.

It said that the committee received reports from various moon-sighting committees across the country confirming the sighting of the new moon of Jumada Ula, 1434 AH on March 12.

March 12 was equivalent to the 29th day of Rabi’u Thani/Akhir 1434AH (the previous moon).(NAN)