Residents of Sokoto defied the official Eid-el-Fitr declaration by the Sultan, gathering in significant numbers for prayers on Thursday, led by local Islamic scholar Sheikh Musa Lukuwa.
Lukuwa led a two-unit Eid prayer at his Mabera mosque, hours after Sultan Muhammad Abubakar III announced that the Shawwal crescent moon had not been sighted anywhere in Nigeria, effectively extending Ramadan by a day.
In a statement shared on social media, Lukuwa explained his decision, citing confirmed moon sightings in neighbouring Niger Republic:
“Niger Republic is very close to us, about 100 kilometres away. If we accept reports from cities like Kano or Lagos, which are farther, there is no reason to reject confirmed sightings from a neighbouring country.”
He emphasized that his action was rooted in religious conviction rather than a challenge to the Sultan’s authority.
“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.”
Providing historical context, the scholar referred to the period of Abubakar Gummi, noting that prominent clerics historically announced moon sightings independently before the process became centralised under the Sultan to maintain unity among Muslims.
Lukuwa maintained that the Sultan’s decision on this occasion was incorrect and informed his congregants around midnight, instructing them to assemble for Thursday morning prayers.
In Nigeria, the Sultan of Sokoto serves as President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, and his pronouncements on the start and end of Ramadan are generally followed nationwide to promote uniformity among Muslim communities.
Nevertheless, disputes over moon sightings, particularly when confirmed reports come from neighbouring countries, have occasionally prompted some clerics and communities in northern Nigeria to observe Eid independently.
Lukuwa’s stance highlights the ongoing debate within Islamic jurisprudence on whether foreign moon sightings can legitimately influence local religious observances.