• Hausa Edition
  • Podcast
  • Conferences
  • LeVogue Magazine
  • Business News
  • Print Advert Rates
  • Online Advert Rates
  • Contact Us
Saturday, August 16, 2025
Leadership Newspapers
Read in Hausa
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Leadership Newspapers
No Result
View All Result

Moon Sighting Dispute: Sokoto Cleric Defies Sultan, Leads Eid-El-Fitr Prayer

by Hafsat Bello Bahara
1 year ago
in News
Sokoto
Share on WhatsAppShare on FacebookShare on XTelegram

Sheikh Musa Lukwa, a prominent cleric based in Sokoto State, on Tuesday, defied the directive of the Sultan of Sokoto and president-general of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), by leading his followers in observing eid-el-fitr prayers.

Advertisement

This followed a contentious debate over the sighting of the crescent moon, which marks the beginning of the month of Shawwal and the end of Ramadan.

The NSCIA, led by Sultan of Sokoto, His Emminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, had announced Wednesday, April 10, 2024 as the official Eid day and first of Shawwal in the Islamic lunar calendar, citing the absence of the crescent moon on Monday. This decision followed a declaration by Saudi Arabian authorities that Ramadan fast should continue on Tuesday being the 30th day of the holy month.

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.

Sokoto

RELATED

Amid Hunger, Nwaoma Foundation Feeds The Needy In Imo, Abuja, Lagos

Amid Hunger, Nwaoma Foundation Feeds The Needy In Imo, Abuja, Lagos

2 hours ago
Nigerian Music PR, Marketing Expert David Adeyemi Joins Grammy Recording Academy

Nigerian Music PR, Marketing Expert David Adeyemi Joins Grammy Recording Academy

2 hours ago

“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.

“We have a verified video clip of their Council of Ulamah authenticating the report after which the country declared Tuesday as Sallah day. So it is now binding on us to observe Eid on Tuesday because this is what the teachings of the Holy Prophet say,” he emphasised.

Sheikh Lukwa further argued that since Niger Republic is geographically closer to Nigeria than Saudi Arabia, whose moon sighting is generally accepted, there should be no reason to disregard the sighting from a neighbouring country.

“I am not saying all Nigerian Muslims must observe their Eid prayer on Tuesday, but we have no moral justification not to observe our prayer on Tuesday because the new moon was sighted by our neighbours,” he insisted, adding that, “And remember there is no fasting on Sallah day, it is prohibited.”

The disagreement over moon sighting is not uncommon within the Nigerian Islamic community, where various nations and sects often have differing opinions on the matter.

In Islam, Eid-El-Fitr day typically marks the end of Ramadan, falling on the first day of the new month of Shawwal.


We’ve got the edge. Get real-time reports, breaking scoops, and exclusive angles delivered straight to your phone. Don’t settle for stale news. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for 24/7 updates →

Join Our WhatsApp Channel

US based Nigerian used a secret app to catch his cheating wife in Nigeria, Click here to see step by step on how he uncovered the truth


Tags: Eid-el-fitriRamadan
SendShareTweetShare
Previous Post

ISIS Threatens Terror Attack On Champions League Q/Final Matches

Next Post

PEEC: As Abdulkabir Aliu Heeds President Tinubu’s Clarion Call

Hafsat Bello Bahara

Hafsat Bello Bahara

You May Like

Amid Hunger, Nwaoma Foundation Feeds The Needy In Imo, Abuja, Lagos
News

Amid Hunger, Nwaoma Foundation Feeds The Needy In Imo, Abuja, Lagos

2025/08/15
Nigerian Music PR, Marketing Expert David Adeyemi Joins Grammy Recording Academy
Entertainment

Nigerian Music PR, Marketing Expert David Adeyemi Joins Grammy Recording Academy

2025/08/15
leadership
News

Reps Deny Receiving Bribes To Sponsor Motions, Bills, Petitions

2025/08/15
By-elections: Air Force Asks INEC To Settle Debts Before Poll Materials Airlift
News

INEC Obeys Court Order, Includes SDP In Saturday’s By-elections

2025/08/15
PICTORIAL: NCoS Promotes 30 Senior Officers To Assistant Controller-General Rank
News

PICTORIAL: NCoS Promotes 30 Senior Officers To Assistant Controller-General Rank

2025/08/15
Canada Restarts 2 Pilot Programmes For Permanent Residency
News

Nigeria Condemns Canadian Court’s Labelling Of APC, PDP As Terrorist Groups

2025/08/15
Leadership Conference advertisement

LATEST

Amid Hunger, Nwaoma Foundation Feeds The Needy In Imo, Abuja, Lagos

Nigerian Music PR, Marketing Expert David Adeyemi Joins Grammy Recording Academy

Reps Deny Receiving Bribes To Sponsor Motions, Bills, Petitions

INEC Obeys Court Order, Includes SDP In Saturday’s By-elections

PICTORIAL: NCoS Promotes 30 Senior Officers To Assistant Controller-General Rank

Nigeria Condemns Canadian Court’s Labelling Of APC, PDP As Terrorist Groups

Veteran Yoruba Actor ‘Chief Kanran’ Dies At 72

By-elections: IGP Orders Watertight Security, Deploys AIGs, CPs

Court Jails Italy-Bound Traveller Caught With 7.6kg Of Tramadol

Appoint Competent INEC Chairman, Yiaga Africa Tells Tinubu

© 2025 Leadership Media Group - All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us

© 2025 Leadership Media Group - All Rights Reserved.