Defiance in Sokoto as Cleric Holds Eid-el-Fitr Prayer

Sokoto-based cleric, Sheikh Musa Lukuwa, led his followers in observing Eid-al-Fitr on Thursday despite the official directive by the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, who had declared Friday as the Sallah day after moon-sighting reports showed the Shawwal crescent was not seen anywhere in Nigeria.

Lukuwa justified his decision by citing confirmed moon sightings in neighbouring Niger Republic, arguing that proximity made such reports valid. He said his action was based on religious conviction, not an attempt to challenge the Sultan’s authority.

The incident highlights ongoing debates within Islamic jurisprudence about whether moon sightings from outside national borders should be accepted, as well as occasional differences among clerics despite the Sultan’s role in promoting unity among Muslims.