Today Wednesday 15th of March 2023 is 23rd of Shaban 1444AH
Next new (astronomical) moon is expected by 17:23 GMT on Tuesday March 21 ie Shaban 29th.
Add 15 hours, meaning that the earliest sighting of Ramadan 1444 crescent is only possible on this planet from 8.23 GMT on March 22 ie Wednesday 30th of Shaban, say 9.23am Nigerian time.
Alhamdulillah, this year, the continent of Africa will be part of the earliest naked eye sighters of the beautiful Hilāl of Ramadan, since our Maghrib comes hours after its emergence. We shall see it inshaAllah 2/3 hours after the very first sighters (indians, Arab Gulf, far northern Europe..with aid).
When we sight the crescent on the evening of Wednesday 22 March 30th Shaban, it shows that the first day of fasting ( *Ramadan 1st 1444/2023) is Thursday 23rd of March 2023.*
Don't let your children miss this memorable sighting. Go to a clear space and watch out for the Hilāl from 6.40 pm upward on Wednesday evening 22nd of March.
The prayer to say on sighting the hilal is:
اللَّهُمَّ أَهِلَّهُ علَيْنَا بِالأَمْنِ والإِيمَانِ، وَالسَّلامَةِ والإِسْلامِ، رَبِّي ورَبُّكَ اللَّه، هِلالُ رُشْدٍ وخَيْرٍ
May Allah make us to be able to harvest lot of blessings in the blessed month. Āmīn.
Mubarak Akomonikewu Yusuff,
F.C.E., Iwo.
