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Sheikh Musa Lukwa, a Sokoto-based cleric, on Tuesday led his followers to observe Eid prayers despite the directive by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa\u2019ad Abubakar.<\/p>\n

DAILY POST recalls that the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, under the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto, had on Monday night declared that fasting would continue on Tuesday as the crescent moon could not be sighted.<\/p>\n

The Sultan declared Wednesday as the first of Shawwal and Eid day, which would commemorate the completion of the 2024 Ramadan fast.<\/p>\n

The Saudi Arabian authorities had also announced Wednesday for the celebration of the 2024 Eid-el-fitr.<\/p>\n

But Sheikh Lukwa, who has over the years disobeyed the Sultan\u2019s directive on moon sighting, led prayers at his Juma\u2019at mosque on Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n

Lukwa claimed that the moon of Shawwal was sighted in neighbouring Niger Republic on Monday night.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were reports of sightings of the new crescent in many places, including here in Nigeria, but the one that we were sure of is that of Niger Republic.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe 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 says.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we can accept that of Saudi Arabia, why can\u2019t we agree with that of Niger Republic which is nearer to us?<\/p>\n

\u201cI am not saying all Nigerian Muslims must observe their Eid prayerson Tuesday but we have no moral justification not to observe our prayer on Tuesday because the new moon was sighted by our neighbors. And remember there is no fasting on Sallah day, it is prohibited,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

DAILY POST recalls that the cleric had in 2022 disobeyed the directive of the Sultan on the moon sighting and led Muslims in Sokoto State for Eid prayers on a contrary date.<\/p>\n

Sallah: Again, Sokoto cleric defies Sultan\u2019s directive, leads Eid prayers on Tuesday<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sheikh Musa Lukwa, a Sokoto-based cleric, on Tuesday led his followers to observe Eid prayers despite the directive by the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":26316,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,6498,3966,761],"tags":[764,180,6499,3967,762],"class_list":["post-26315","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-salah","category-sokoto","category-top-headlines","tag-headlines","tag-news","tag-salah","tag-sokoto","tag-top"],"yoast_head":"\n