Cleric defies Sultan, leads early eid prayer in Sokoto

 

A Sokoto-based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Musa Lukuwa, on Thursday led members of his congregation in observing Eid al-Fitr prayers, going against the directive issued by the Sultan of Sokoto,  Saad Abubakar, who had declared Friday as the official Sallah celebration.

The cleric presided over the two-unit Eid prayer at his mosque in Mabera at about 9:10 a.m.

Earlier, he had addressed his followers following the Sultan’s announcement that the Shawwal crescent moon was not sighted anywhere across Nigeria.

In a message that later made rounds on social media, Lukuwa explained the basis for his action, pointing to reports indicating that the moon had been sighted in neighbouring Niger Republic.

According to him, reliable contacts in the country confirmed the sighting, which informed the decision by his group to proceed with the Eid observance.

“Niger Republic is very close to us—about 100 kilometres away,” he said. “If we 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.”

He emphasized that the decision was not an act of disregard for the Sultan’s authority but rather adherence to religious teachings.

“We usually follow the Sultan’s directive in starting and ending Ramadan. However, when it is clear that the moon has been sighted, we must act in accordance with the teachings of the Prophet, even if it differs from the Sultan’s declaration,” he stated.

Lukuwa also referenced 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.

He maintained that the Sultan’s decision in this instance was incorrect and insisted that his followers would not comply.

Separate reports indicated that Lukuwa had notified his followers around midnight about the reported moon sighting and directed them to assemble for Eid prayers the next morning.

This is not the first time the cleric and his followers have gone against the Sultan’s official position regarding the timing of Eid celebrations.