By Our Correspondent

National News – A Sokoto-based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Musa Lukuwa, led his congregation in Eid al-Fitr prayers on Thursday, defying the official directive from Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, who announced Friday as the national Sallah day.

Lukuwa conducted the two-unit Eid prayer at Mabera Mosque around 9:10 a.m., citing confirmed moon sightings in Niger Republic.

He emphasized that his action was based on religious conviction and not intended to challenge the Sultan’s authority.

The cleric explained that reports from nearby Niger Republic, only about 100 kilometers away, were reliable and should guide local observances.

“When it is clear that the moon has been sighted, we must act according to the Prophet’s teachings, even if it differs from the Sultan’s declaration,” Lukuwa stated.

Historically, scholars such as Abubakar Mahmoud Gummi independently announced moon sightings before the central authority of the Sultan was established to ensure nationwide unity.

Lukuwa informed his followers around midnight and directed them to gather for early Eid prayers, signaling a growing debate on accepting moon sightings from neighboring countries.

The Sultan of Sokoto, also President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, remains the recognized authority for declaring the start and end of Ramadan in Nigeria, aiming to maintain unity among Muslims nationwide.

While most communities follow the Sultan’s pronouncements, divergences occasionally occur when local clerics receive verified moon sightings from nearby countries, highlighting the complexities of Islamic jurisprudence and moon-sighting traditions in Northern Nigeria.

Sheikh Lukuwa’s decision reflects broader discussions among Islamic scholars about balancing local evidence with national directives.

This recurring divergence emphasizes both religious adherence and the challenges of maintaining uniformity in observance across regions.