On Tuesday, Sheikh Musa Lukwa, a cleric based in Sokoto, led his congregation in the Eid prayer. The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, declared Wednesday the first Shawwal and Eid day, marking the end of the 2024 Ramadan fast.
The council’s decision was based on the non-sighting of the crescent moon on Monday, a stance also supported by Saudi authorities.
Despite this official declaration, Sheikh Musa Lukwa proceeded to lead prayers at his Juma’at mosque at 8:30 a.m., going against the Sultan’s directive on moon sighting. Lukwa defended his actions by stating that the Shawwal moon had been sighted in the Niger Republic on Monday, with reports of sightings in various locations, including Nigeria.
He emphasized the importance of following the teachings of the Holy Prophet and questioned the preference given to Saudi Arabia’s moon sighting over that of the Niger Republic, which he considered closer to Nigeria.
Sheikh Musa Lukwa has a history of challenging the Sultan’s decisions regarding moon sighting, criticizing the monarch for imposing Saudi Arabian sightings on Nigerian Muslims. He believes that this practice contradicts the traditions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad.
