Nigeria: Osun declares Friday public holiday for Hijrah

The Government of Osun State has declared Friday August 2019 30th as a public holiday to mark the Islamic New Year, Hijrah 1441 AH.

In a statement, the Supervisor for Ministry of Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism, Adebisi Obawale, said the 1441 AH Hirjah will begin on Saturday August 31st 2019..

” Government wishes Muslims in the state and across the world a happy New Year celebration,” Obawale said.

Obawale asked Muslims in the state to use the occasion to pray for the progress, economic prosperity, stability, peace and continuation of good governance in the state.

He also advised Muslims to use the new Islamic Year for their spiritual development.

Obawale asked that “Our people should use the new Islamic Year for their spiritual development.

“As we enter the Islamic New Year, we must not only celebrate but also strive, as part of what Allah commands us, to internalise the lessons and essence of the Hijrah as exemplified by uncommon patience and endurance of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in the face of hardship”.

In 2019, Islamic New Year marks 1,441 years since the migration of the Prophet Mohammed and his companions from Mecca to Medina in 622AD. Hijrah (an Arabic word which means migration) was a turning point in the history of Islam when the choice was made to sacrifice worldly gains and comforts for the perseverance of the religion.