Moon Sighting Dispute: Sokoto Cleric Defies Sultan, Leads Eid-El-Fitr Prayer
A Sokoto Muslim cleric, Sheikh Musa Lukwa, on Tuesday, led his followers to observe Eid prayer, as against the directive from the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, who had on Monday, declared Wednesday, as the day of Eid-el-fitr.
The Sultan, who is the President General of Nigeria’s Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, said the decision followed the report of National Moon Sighting Committees across the country, which confirmed the non-sighting of the new moon.
A statement signed by the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs to the Sultanate Council, Prof Sambo Junaidu, made available to newsmen in Sokoto on Monday evening, said, “The council accepted the report and accordingly declared Wednesday, April 10, 2024, as the first day of Shawwal 1445AH.
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However, Sheikh Musa Lukwa conducted the Eid prayers at his Juma’at mosque at about 8:30am on Tuesday. Lukwa justified his action by claiming that the new moon had been sighted in neighbouring Niger Republic on Monday, April 8, signifying the end of Ramadan on Monday.
“There were reports of sighting of the new crescent in many places, including here in Nigeria, but the one that we were sure of is that of Niger Republic,” the cleric stated.
