Muslims makes surprise demand from FG

                                                                 

Vanguard reports that some Islamic groups on Friday, October 7, called on the federal and state governments to declare Muharram 1, the  first day of the Islamic Hijrah Calendar 1438 A.H, a public holiday. The groups include Muslim Community of Oyo state (MUSCOYS), Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) and National Council of Muslim Youths Organisations (NACOMYO).

Others include Muslim Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN), Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates Association (UNIFEMGA) and Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN).

The groups said such a declaration would be in line with the principle of fairness and justice to Muslims in Nigeria. In a statement signed by UNIFEMGA , its national president, Abdulwaheed Odeyimka, he called on the government at various levels to recognise the Hijrah calendar and use it side by side with the Gregorian calendar.

Also in a statement signed by MMPN President, Abdurrahman Balogun, he urged the federal government to declare the public holiday in the interest of fairness and which would give Muslims a sense of belonging.

However, the chairman, Muslim community of Oyo state, Alhaji Ishaq Sanni said the recognition of Hijrah was long overdue and called for its immediate implementation. He called on the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs to enter into dialogue with the Nigerian government on the issue.

On Sunday, October 2, 2016 marked the Islamic New Year 1438 A.H. which is the first day of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic lunar calendar. The Hijri New Year, also known as Islamic New Year is the day that marks the beginning of a new Islamic calendar year. It is the day on which the year count is incremented. The first day of the year is observed on the first day of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic calendar.