Jonathan Nwokpor
A cleric from Sokoto named Sheikh Musa Lukwa led his followers in Eid prayer on Tuesday.
Wednesday was chosen as the first Shawwal and Eid day in 2024 by the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), led by Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, Sultan of Sokoto.
The council, who had earlier agreed with Saudi Arabian authorities, stated that they had not seen the crescent moon on Monday.
But Lukwa performed prayers at his Juma’at mosque at roughly 8:30 a.m., defying the Sultan’s order on moon sightings over the years.
Lukwa justified the move by stating that the neighboring Niger Republic had seen the Shawwal moon on Monday.
“There were reports of sightings on the new crescent in many places, including here in Nigeria, but the one that we were sure of is that of Niger Republic.”
“We have a verified video clip of their council of Ulamah authenticating the report after which the country declared Tuesday as Sallah day. So it is now binding on us to observe Eid on Tuesday because this is what the teachings of the Holy Prophet says.
“If we can accept that of Saudi Arabia, why can’t we agree with that of Niger Republic which is nearer to us.
“I am not saying all Nigerian Muslims must observe their Eid prayer on Tuesday but we have no moral justification not to observe our prayer on Tuesday because the new moon was sighted by our neighbors. And remember there is no fasting on Sallah day, it is prohibited,” he said.
Lukwa has been disobeying the Sultan’s orders because he feels that the monarch is pressuring Muslims to adopt Saudi Arabia’s moon sighting, which goes against the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
However, the cleric challenged any academic with a different opinion to participate in a public discussion.
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