By Rabiu sanusi
The Kano State Sharia Commission has organised a sensitisation programme to enlighten the public on the importance of the Islamic calendar and its significance in the religious and social life of Muslims.
The programme, sponsored by the Kano State Government, was designed to deepen public understanding of the Hijri calendar and its role in determining major Islamic activities, including fasting, Hajj, Eid celebrations and other acts of worship.
Speaking to journalists on the significance of the programme, the Second Commissioner of the Kano State Sharia Commission, Sheikh Ali DanAbba, said the Islamic calendar was more than a system of counting dates, describing it as an essential guide for Muslims in organising and observing important religious obligations.
Sheikh Ali DanAbba explained that several major acts of worship and significant Islamic occasions were directly linked to the Hijri months and dates, making knowledge of the calendar vital to the proper practice of Islam.
He commended the Kano State Government for sponsoring the production of the Islamic calendar, saying the initiative demonstrated the government’s commitment to supporting religious affairs and providing Muslims with accurate information on important Islamic dates.
Presenting a paper at the event, Malam Ibrahim Falaki provided an insight into the history, origin and development of the Islamic calendar, stressing its importance in helping Muslims fulfil their religious obligations and understand major events in Islamic history.
Falaki urged Muslims to give greater attention to the Hijri calendar and incorporate it into the planning of important aspects of their lives, particularly activities connected to religious observances.
He also called for sustained efforts to educate young people and the wider public on the Islamic calendar, noting that such enlightenment would help preserve Islamic knowledge and promote a deeper understanding of the religion.
The programme brought together Islamic scholars, officials of the Sharia Commission and other stakeholders, who underscored the need for continuous public enlightenment on the proper use and importance of the Islamic calendar.
The participants expressed support for initiatives aimed at strengthening awareness of the Hijri calendar, saying greater knowledge of Islamic dates would enable Muslims to observe their religious obligations correctly and preserve important aspects of Islamic heritage.