Daily Dates Nigeria recalls that the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, officially declared Tuesday, June 16, 2026, as the first day of Muharram 1448 AH, marking the start of the new Islamic year in Nigeria.

For the year 1448 AH (2026), Ashura is expected to fall on Thursday, June 25, 2026, while Tasu’a is expected to be observed on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, subject to local moon sighting confirmations.

Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, is one of Islam’s four sacred months and offers believers an opportunity for reflection, worship and renewed devotion at the beginning of a new spiritual year.

Among the notable observances during this sacred period are Tasu’a and Ashura, days associated with fasting, remembrance and gratitude to Allah.

Islamic tradition records that Ashura commemorates the day Allah granted deliverance to Prophet Musa (AS) and his followers from Pharaoh. It is reported that when Prophet Muhammad (SAW) learned of the significance of the day, he observed fasting and encouraged Muslims to do the same.

One of the most widely cited sayings of the Prophet (SAW) on the virtue of the day is:

“Fasting the day of Ashura, I hope from Allah, will expiate the sins of the previous year.”
— Sahih Muslim

Islamic scholars explain that this refers to the forgiveness of minor sins and reflects the spiritual rewards attached to voluntary acts of worship.

The observance of Tasu’a on the 9th of Muharram alongside Ashura on the 10th also follows Prophetic guidance. It is reported that the Prophet (SAW) expressed his intention to fast an additional day alongside Ashura, leading scholars to recommend observing both days where possible.

For many Muslim faithful, these days extend beyond abstaining from food and drink. They represent moments for increased prayer, recitation of the Qur’an, acts of charity and personal reflection as individuals set spiritual goals for the new Islamic year.

Across communities, mosques and Islamic organisations are expected to use the season to reinforce values of peace, discipline, compassion and devotion — principles that remain central to Islamic teachings.

The beginning of 1448 AH also recalls the Hijrah — the migration of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) from Makkah to Madinah — an event that marks the commencement of the Islamic calendar and symbolises faith, sacrifice and renewal.

As Muslims observe Tasu’a and Ashura, the period offers an opportunity to embrace the lessons of patience, gratitude and a renewed commitment to spiritual growth in the year ahead.

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The appointment marks a significant transition for Jimoh, who built a reputation in Nigerian journalism through years of reporting on governance, religion, public affairs and national issues.

Before his appointment, Abbas Jimoh served with Daily Trust, where he contributed extensively to news coverage and developed experience in public communication and media engagement.

His new role at NSCIA places him at the forefront of the organisation’s public communication efforts, with responsibilities expected to include media relations, dissemination of official positions, and strengthening public engagement on issues relating to the council’s activities.

Observers note that the appointment reflects NSCIA’s continued interest in leveraging experienced media professionals to enhance institutional communication and public outreach.

The council is one of Nigeria’s leading Islamic bodies and plays an active role in religious advocacy, interfaith engagement and national discourse.

The appointment has attracted congratulations from colleagues and stakeholders within the media and religious communities, who described it as recognition of professional competence and years of service in journalism.

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Daily Dates Nigeria reports that Eyewitnesses said the assailant infiltrated the mosque unnoticed and detonated the explosive device while worshippers were observing the Maghrib congregational prayer. The blast caused extensive damage within the mosque premises and left several people injured.

Some worshippers who survived the attack recounted that the explosion was sudden and devastating, forcing many to flee for safety. They described scenes of confusion as people attempted to rescue the wounded amid the rubble.

Security operatives and emergency responders were swiftly deployed to the scene to evacuate victims and secure the area. The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals for medical attention, while security agencies cordoned off the mosque for investigation.

The attack has been widely condemned by residents and religious leaders, who described it as a senseless act of terror against innocent Muslims at worship. Authorities have vowed to track down those responsible and reinforce security around places of worship across the state.

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Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the announcement in a statement by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Magdalene Ajani on Wednesday.

Eid-il-Fitr is a celebration to mark the end of the month-long fasting in the Islamic month of Ramadan.

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The announcement of sighting of the moon was made by the Saudi Supreme Court, confirming the start of the holy month of fasting for Muslims across the country.

The moon sighting, which marks the beginning of Ramadan, was confirmed after careful observation by local committees.

This marks the start of a month-long period of reflection, prayer, and community for Muslims around the world.

Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam and is considered mandatory for all healthy Muslims.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, presided over by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has urged Muslims to look out for the 2025 Ramadan moon from Friday, February 28, 2025.

The Sultan made the call on Thursday in a statement signed by the Secretary General of the NSCIA, Prof Ishaq Oloyede.

“The council hereby enjoins Muslims all over the country to be on the lookout for the Ramadan crescent on the night of Friday, 28th of February 2025 and await the official announcement by the President-General of NSCIA on the commencement of the 1446 AH Ramadan fast,” the statement read.

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O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you—as it was for those before you¹—so perhaps you will become mindful ˹of Allah.

quran 2:183

The central act of Ramadan is fasting, which involves abstaining from food, drink, and other physical needs from dawn until sunset. The fast is intended to foster self-discipline, spiritual growth, and empathy for those less fortunate.

Sahur is the pre-dawn meal consumed by Muslims before they begin their fast during the month of Ramadan. It is eaten early in the morning, before the Fajr (dawn) prayer, which marks the start of the daily fast. The purpose of sahur is to provide energy and hydration to sustain individuals throughout the day of fasting.

While there are no strict rules about what can be eaten during sahur, it is common to consume nutritious foods that are high in fiber, protein, and water content, as these help maintain energy levels and prevent dehydration. Common choices include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, yogurt, eggs, and water. Some people also include dates or other traditional foods, depending on their cultural practices.

Having sahur is considered highly recommended and encouraged in Islam, as it helps ease the fasting experience and is also a time of blessing, as the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasized the importance of partaking in this meal.

The fast is broken each day at sunset with a meal called iftar, and it typically begins with the eating of dates and drinking water.

During Ramadan, Muslims also engage in increased prayer and recitation of the Quran, and they strive to improve their personal conduct, focusing on virtues such as kindness, charity, and humility.

The last ten days of Ramadan are especially significant, with many Muslims seeking the “Night of Power” (Laylat al-Qadr), a night believed to be when the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Ramadan concludes with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, a festive holiday that marks the end of the fasting period and is a time for giving thanks, feasting, and sharing with loved ones and the less fortunate.

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Daily Dates Nigeria reports that Amir Ajala who was also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Hajj Monsur Consolidated Travels Limited, returned to his creator, Allah on Thursday evening.

“He wasn’t ill. In fact, he observed his Salaatul Maghrib and returned home to eat so he could go back to observe Salaatul Ishai when he slumped. He was rushed to the Lagos Island hospital where he was pronounced dead,” a family source revealed.

Information has it that Salaatul Janazah (funeral prayers) will be held for late Amir Ajala on Friday, January 24 at Campus Mini Stadium, Lagos Island by 10.00am.

“We leave immediately after the prayer for the burial activities at the Mainland Central Muslim Community Burial Ground, Mowe/Ofada, Ogun State ,” the source added.

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The news of his death was shared by Sheikh Akewugbagold Taofeek, an Ibadan-based Islamic scholar, in a Facebook post on Friday.

According to Akewugbagold, the fearless preacher, who hailed from Oyo State, returned to his Creator on Friday. He prayed for Allah’s mercy and eternal peace for the late cleric’s soul.

“Today is one of my saddest days! My father and mentor has returned to his Creator. SULTONUL WAHIZEEN of Yorubaland, Sheikh Muhyideen Ajani Bello, may Allah be pleased with your soul. Aljannah Firdaus for you. Our hearts are full of grief and our eyes full of tears, but we will say nothing except what pleases our Creator, the sole commander of life and death – ALLAH,” he wrote.

The cleric’s son, Alhaji Basit Olanrewaju Katibi Bello, also known as Aponle Annabi, confirmed the news on social media. While his post included crying emojis and a picture of the late scholar, no additional details were provided.

Sheikh Bello, born in 1940 to Alhaji Bello Ajani and Alhaja Ubaidat Bello of Arolu Compound, Ita Olukoyi, Ibadan, became a prominent figure in the Muslim community, both nationally and internationally.

He was a passionate advocate for Islamic education and played a pivotal role in establishing and managing schools and institutions that combined Islamic values with modern education. His balanced approach to learning, which integrated religious teachings with sciences and humanities, earned him respect across generations.

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If you take the pure and undefiled practices of Orthodox Christianity and compare them to the Christendom that came from Europe, you will have little similarities. Orthodox Christianity has more in common with Islam than with European Christendom, whether it be Catholicism, Anglicanism, Methodism or any other isms.

As a matter of fact, Islam as a religion thrived because the Abyssinian Orthodox Christians gave the very first Muslims asylum when the Quraysh of Mecca wanted to kill them. Abyssinia, or Habesha, is the old name for Ethiopia.

It may surprise you that for centuries, Ethiopia or Abyssinia was the dominant world superpower. They militarily protected Isreal. You see that in 2 Kings 19:9. Also, the kings of Israel customarily had a spiritual counsellor from Ethiopia. You see that in Jeremiah 38:7. It was the Ethiopian adviser to King Zedekiah, named Ebed Melech (an Ethiopian name used till today) that saved Jeremiah from death.

Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) nurse and nanny, Umm Ayman, was an Ethiopian. She was present on the day the prophet of Islam was born and on the day he died. She was one of the first converts to Islam.

Ruqayyah, the daughter of prophet Muhammad (SAW), lived in Ethiopia for ten years with her husband, Uthman, the third Caliph of Islam.

Some ask me why I use the honorific when referring to the prophet of Islam. To me, that question is moot. I am not a Muslim. However, it is not a sin in the sight of God or man to wish good for anybody, living or dead. As long as Muslims honour my faith, I will honour theirs. And we can agree to disagree without being disagreeable with each other.

My guide is Romans 12:18:

“As far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

Men and women enter an Orthodox Church from different entrances and do not mingle within the building. They sit in separate places. And they do not set aside Sundays for worship services. Every day is a service day.

Before you argue, they have the world’s oldest complete and illustrated New Testament. If you take your King James Version or any other European version and look at the footnotes, when they have interpretation issues, they will resolve it by saying, ‘The Ethiopic Scriptures say…’ The oldest complete and illustrated Christian Scriptures on Earth are the Garima Gospels. Look it up. If this is false, I vow to pay the first person to disprove me $10,000.

There were likely books older than the Garima Gospels, but the Italians destroyed probably a million books and killed over ten thousand Orthodox priests when they invaded Ethiopia in 1935. So, we may never know.

Orthodox Christianity frowns on prosperity teachings and instead teaches contentment. If you want to use money to win an Orthodox Christian girl, you are wasting your time. They do not place the same value on materialistic things as you do. But if you are prepared to follow their faith genuinely, they can marry you, even if you are a pauper.

Their faith guides them in everything. How, when, and what to eat. How, when and where to do even quotidian things such as going to the toilet. They may not fight you for economic reasons, but they are willing to fight and die for religion. Their faith is the foundation and zenith of their lives. All other things are downhill.

And whereas Christendom came from Europe to Africa, Orthodox Christianity started from Ethiopia and Armenia and spread to Europe. A Russian and Greek Orthodox person is actually closer to Ethiopia than to their fellow Europeans. That is why Ethiopia is the only African country never to be colonised. Because when Christendom Europe invaded them, Orthodox Europe supported them with weapons, money and soldiers.

Reno Omokri is a Gospeller. Deep Thinker. #TableShaker. Ruffler of the Feathers of Obidents. #1 Bestselling author of Facts Versus Fiction: The True Story of the Jonathan Years. Hodophile. Hollywood Magazine Humanitarian of the Year, 2019. Business Insider Influencer of the Year 2022.

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Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Oluwatoyin Akinlade, on behalf of Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo announced the holiday in a statement on Monday night.

Tunji-Ojo said the holiday is to commemorate the Eid-ul-Maulid celebration, the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).

He congratulated all Muslim faithful both at home and in the diaspora for this year’s occasion.

“His admonition to Nigerians is to imbibe the spirit of love, patience, tolerance and perseverance which are deep spiritual virtues that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) exemplified,” the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Oluwatoyin Akinlade said in a statement.

The Honorable Minister, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has urged Nigerians, especially our youths, to embrace the virtues of hard work and peaceful disposition to fellow humans, irrespective of faith, ideology, social class, and ethnicity, and join hands with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s led-Administration in its effort to build a progressive and enviable Nation that all citizens will be proud of. The Minister wishes all Muslim Faithfuls a joyful celebration.”

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