Awaiting the moonsighting tonight, `Eid Al-Adha will start on June 28 according to astronomical calculations.

For the calculations, Dhul-Hijjah, the tenth month of the hijri calendar and the month of hajj, starts on Monday, June 19.

“The Astronomical New Moon (conjunction) is on June 18, 2023 (Sunday) at 4:37 UT. On June 18, the moon may be seen in USA only. On June 19, it can be seen with difficulty in Australia, but easily everywhere else,” moonsighting.com reported.

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While many countries await moonsighting in different months of the hijri calendar, the majority follows Saudi moon sighting being the country of the hajj rituals.

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Meanwhile, the Sultan of Sokoto and the President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar has directed Muslims to look out for the new moon of Dhul-Hijjah 1444 AH from Sunday, Daily Post reported.

“This is to inform the Muslim Ummah that Sunday 18th June, which is equivalent to 29th day of Dhul-Qadah shall be the day to look for the new moon of Dhul-Hijjah 1444 AH,” a statement signed by Prof. Sambo Junaidu, Chairman Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sultanate Council, Sokoto, read.

According to the Islamic Calendar, hajj begins on the 8th day of Dhul-Hijjah. It ends on the thirteenth day of the same month.

The overarching aim of the Hajj is to strengthen one’s faith and purify him or her of sins. Allah (SWT) mentions the benefits of Hajj as:

“That they may witness benefits for themselves and mention the name of Allah on known days over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] animals. So eat of them and feed the miserable and poor.” (Quran 22:28)