In a contentious move, Sokoto-based cleric Sheikh Musa Lukwa led his followers in observing Eid prayers on Tuesday, contravening the directives issued by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.
The decision to hold Eid prayers on Tuesday came despite the announcement by the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), led by the Sultan, declaring that fasting would continue on Tuesday due to the non-sighting of the crescent moon.
While the Sultan designated Wednesday as the official Eid day, Sheikh Lukwa, known for his defiance of the Sultan's rulings on moon sighting, conducted prayers at his Juma’at mosque on Tuesday morning.
Justifying his actions, Sheikh Lukwa referenced reports of the crescent moon being sighted in neighboring Niger Republic on Monday night.
"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," he asserted.
Despite the NSCIA's declaration and the announcement from Saudi Arabia, which also designated Wednesday as Eid day, Sheikh Lukwa argued that proximity to neighboring Niger Republic justified their observance of Eid on Tuesday.
"If we can accept that of Saudi Arabia, why can’t we agree with that of Niger Republic which is nearer to us?" he queried.
The cleric's actions have stirred controversy, with echoes of a similar defiance in 2022 when he led Muslims in Sokoto State for Eid prayers on a differing date, in opposition to the Sultan's directives.
While Sheikh Lukwa's decision to hold Eid prayers on Tuesday may have divided opinion, it underscores the complexities surrounding moon sighting and the diverse interpretations of Islamic rulings within the Nigerian Muslim community.
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