Sokoto Cleric Holds Early Eid Prayer, Defying Sultan’s Directive

Sokoto, Nigeria – Islamic scholar Sheikh Musa Lukuwa led Eid-el-Fitr prayers on Thursday, a day earlier than the nationwide Sallah declared by the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar. The Sultan had announced Friday as the official Eid day.

Sheikh Lukuwa held the prayer at his Mabera mosque, citing reports that the Shawwal crescent moon had been sighted in neighbouring Niger Republic. He argued that the proximity of the sighting justified his early celebration.

The cleric emphasized that his decision followed religious principles and was not meant to challenge the Sultan’s authority. He noted that historically, local moon sightings were often independently verified before central coordination for the sake of unity.

This incident has once again sparked debate over moon sighting practices in northern Nigeria, highlighting ongoing tensions between local traditions and central religious directives.