DECLARING RAMADAN FAST NOT TO TACKLE SULTAN – YORUBA LEAGUE OF IMAMS

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DECLARING RAMADAN FAST NOT TO TACKLE SULTAN – YORUBA LEAGUE OF IMAMS

The League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland has said its decision to declare the commencement of Ramadan fasting was not intended to challenge the authority of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, who is traditionally recognised as the spiritual leader of Muslims in Nigeria.

In a communiqué issued by the Office of the Grand Mufti, AbdulAzeez Ishola, on Thursday, the League announced Saturday, March 1, 2025, as the date for the commencement of the Ramadan fast for Muslims in Yorubaland.

The communique read, “Precise astronomical calculations for the crescent moon of Ramadan 1446 AH confirm that the conjunction (Astronomical New Moon) will occur at 00:45 (12:45 am) Universal Coordinated Time on Friday, February 28, 2025, corresponding to 29 Sha’ban 1446 AH, which is 01:45 (1:45 am) local time in Nigeria.

“Consequently, the crescent moon will be visible after sunset on 29 Sha’ban 1446 AH equivalent to 28 February 2025 in various parts of the world, either with the naked eye or through telescopes and observation devices.

“Therefore, the first day of the blessed month of Ramadan 1446 AH will, Insha Allah, be Saturday, March 1, 2025, with the first Taraweeh prayer (Ashamu or Ashari) coming up on Friday night, February 28, 2025, Insha Allah.”

Reacting to reports that the League was challenging the Sultan’s authority by declaring the date of Ramadan fast, Ishola said the move was not meant to undermine the Sultan’s position or create division among Muslims in Nigeria.

Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, Ishola noted that the declaration of the Ramadan fast by the League has no political undertone and was not done to challenge the authority of the Sultan in any way.

“It is not an issue at all. We issued the communiqué on Thursday after our annual general meeting in preparation for Ramadan. It has been our policy for the past 50 years. It is just social media that made this year’s release go viral,” he stated.

When asked if the communiqué indicated that the League of Imams does not usually wait for the Sultan to issue the Ramadan fast directive, Ishola said, “No. Our forefathers have been issuing the release for about five decades, so it is not a new thing. And our move is never against Islamic doctrine.’’

“The League of Imams and Alfas comprises community leaders and scholars of Islamic studies. So, the communiqué is a scholarly release because Islam is a religion of knowledge. It is done in conjunction with Muslim astronomers who accurately calculate the movement of the moon and the sun.

“They are the ones who predicted the eclipse of the sun and moon, which has come to pass. So, our release is not political at all. The Sultan of Sokoto remains the leader of Muslims in Nigeria, and we are not challenging him in any way,” he explained.