Sokoto cleric defies Sultan, observes Eid prayer Thursday
Popular Islamic scholar, Sheikh Musa Lukuwa, on Thursday, led a section of his followers in observing the Eid-el-Fitr prayer, effectively defying the directive issued by the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III.
The Sultan, who serves as the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), had earlier announced that the Shawwal crescent was not sighted on Tuesday, declaring Wednesday as the 30th of Ramadan and Friday as the official day for Sallah.
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The cleric conducted the two-unit Eid prayer at his Mabera mosque at approximately 9:10 a.m. Justifying his decision to break away from the national directive, Sheikh Lukuwa cited confirmed moon sightings in the neighboring Niger Republic. He argued that the geographical proximity of Niger Republic makes their reports more relevant than sightings from distant Nigerian cities.
“Niger Republic is very close to us—about 100 kilometres away,” Lukuwa stated. “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.”
‘Religious adherence, not disrespect’
Despite the clear departure from the Sultan’s position, Lukuwa maintained that his actions were not intended as a slight against the monarch’s authority. Instead, he framed the move as a commitment to prophetic tradition.
Lukuwa stated that while they usually follow the Sultan, they must act on confirmed sightings in accordance with the teachings of the Prophet.
He referenced the era of the late Sheikh Abubakar Mahmoud Gumi, noting that moon sightings were handled differently before being centralized under the Sultanate for the sake of unity.
Reports indicate Lukuwa informed his congregation of the sighting around midnight, instructing them to converge for prayers the following morning.
This development is not the first time Sheikh Lukuwa has challenged the Sultanate’s official calendar. The cleric has a history of independent moon sighting declarations, often leading to a split in the timing of Sallah celebrations within the seat of the Caliphate.
While the majority of the Muslim Ummah in Sokoto and across Nigeria continue their fast today in anticipation of Friday’s Eid, the Mabera mosque remains a focal point of independent lunar observation.
