Sultan declares May 18th as first day of Zulhijja 1447AH

By Daud Oluwalogbon

SULTAN  of Sokoto and President-General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar has declared Monday 18th May, 2026 as the first day of Zulhijja 1447AH.

This was contained in a statement issued Sunday night by Wazirin Sokoto and Chairman, Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sultanate Council Sokoto, Professor Sambo Wali Junaidu.

Zulhijjah (or Dhul-Hijjah) is the 12th and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It is one of the four sacred months in Islam and is globally renowned as the month of the Hajj pilgrimage and the festival of Eid al-Adha.

During this month, millions of Muslims from across the globe gather in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to perform the Hajj, which is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The core rituals of Hajj take place between the 8th and 13th days of the month.

The First 10 Days

The first 10 days of Zulhijjah are considered the most sacred and blessed days of the entire year. Islamic tradition emphasises that righteous deeds—such as charity, fasting, and reading the Quran—performed during this window are more beloved to Allah than at any other time.

Day of Arafah (9th of Zulhijjah):

The pinnacle of Hajj, where pilgrims gather on the plains of Arafah to pray. For Muslims not on pilgrimage, fasting on this day is highly encouraged, as it is believed to expiate the sins of the past and coming year.

Eid al-Adha (The Festival of Sacrifice)

The 10th of Zulhijjah marks Eid al-Adha, one of the two major Islamic holidays. It commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s unwavering willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God, before God provided a ram to sacrifice instead. To celebrate, Muslims who have the financial means perform Qurbani (the sacrifice of a livestock animal), distributing the meat to family, friends, and those in need.

Sultan urges Nigerians to promote religious tolerance, unity