Yoruba Muslim Leaders Announce Ramadan 2025 Start Date, Break from Sultan of Sokoto’s Tradition
The League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland has declared that Ramadan 1446 AH (2025) will begin on Saturday, March 1, 2025, marking a departure from the traditional practice of awaiting the Sultan of Sokoto’s official announcement. The decision, based on precise astronomical calculations and resolutions from international Islamic conferences, signals a potential shift in regional religious autonomy.
In a communiqué issued by the Office of the Grand Mufti, the League cited resolutions from Islamic jurisprudential councils, astronomical experts, and conferences held in Istanbul, Paris, and under the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). According to these findings, the crescent moon will be visible after sunset on Friday, February 28, 2025, making March 1 the first day of fasting.
The announcement references the hadith of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): “Fast when you see the crescent and break your fast when you see it.” This move challenges the long-standing practice in Nigeria, where the Sultan of Sokoto, regarded as the spiritual leader of Nigerian Muslims, typically declares the start and end of Ramadan.
The decision could reignite discussions about religious independence among Yoruba Muslims, who have previously expressed concerns about regional autonomy in religious matters. For instance, the Yoruba Nation Self-Determination Movement recently criticized the Sultan’s call for Sharia law in Yorubaland, describing it as “disrespectful” and rejecting the notion that Yoruba Muslims must accept the Sultan as their leader.
As of now, there has been no response from the Sultan of Sokoto or the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) regarding the League’s independent declaration.
The communiqué also detailed the astronomical basis for the decision, stating that the crescent moon will be visible globally after sunset on February 28, 2025, following the Astronomical New Moon at 12:45 AM UTC. The League confirmed that the first Taraweeh prayer will be held on Friday night, February 28, 2025, with fasting commencing on March 1.
This announcement underscores a growing trend toward regional religious self-determination and could pave the way for further debates on the structure of Islamic leadership in Nigeria.
