In defiance to the directive by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubaksr, who directed that Friday is the official Sallah day, a Sokoto-based Islamic Scholar, Sheikh Musa Lukuwa led his followers on Thursday in observing Eid-el-Fitr prayers.
At his Mabera mosque, the cleric conducted the two-unit Eid prayer at approximately 9:10 a.m, where he had earlier addressed his followers after the Sultan’s announcement that the Shawwal crescent moon had not been sighted anywhere in Nigeria.
He justified the decision in a message that was circulated on social media citing reports of moon sighting in neighbouring Niger Republic.
According to him, “Trusted contacts in the country verified the development, prompting the group to proceed with the Eid celebration.”
The Islamic cleric stated that Niger Republic is very close to them; that is about 100 kilometres away, stressing that if they accept reports from cities like Kano or even Lagos, which are farther away, there is no reason to reject confirmed sightings from a neighbouring country.
Lukuwa explained that the decision was not an act of disregard for the Sultan’s authority but rather adherence to religious teachings.
He further explained that they usually follow the Sultan’s directive in starting and ending Ramadan, pointing out that when it is clear that the moon has been sighted, they must act in accordance with the teachings of the Prophet, even if it differs from the Sultan’s declaration.
The Islamic cleric made reference to the historical role of the late Abubakar Mahmoud Gummi in announcing moon sightings before the responsibility was centralized under the Sultan for the sake of unity within the Muslim community.
According to him, the Sultan’s decision in this instance was incorrect and insisted that his followers would not comply, while separate accounts indicate that Lukuwa informed congregants around midnight of the reported moon sighting and instructed them to return for Eid prayers the following morning.
