The commencement and completion of Ramadan have long been a recurring source of confusion among many Muslims in Nigeria. Every year, questions arise concerning the exact date Ramadan begins, the day Eid-l-fitr will be, the basis upon which it is established, and whose announcement should be followed. Some ask whether Ramadan is tied to a fixed calendar date or astronomical calculations, while others are baffled whether the moonsighting of Saudi Arabia applies to Muslims in Nigeria or not.

These questions are not new. They stem from a limited understanding of the Hijrah (Islamic) calendar, the Islamic principles governing moonsighting, and the role of legitimate religious authority in Islam. This article aims to clarify these issues using authentic textual evidence and established scholarly positions.

The Hijrah (Islamic) Calendar and Its Lunar System