In an act that highlights the diversity and complexity of Islamic jurisprudence, Musa Lukwa, a prominent Islamic cleric based in Sokoto, Nigeria, has openly defied the directives of the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, by conducting Eid prayers a day earlier than the date announced by the Sultanate Council.
The Sultan of Sokoto, as the President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, had declared Wednesday as the day of Eid following consultations with the National Moon Sighting Committees, which did not confirm the sighting of the new moon. However, Lukwa, leading a group at his Juma’at mosque in Sokoto, followed the moon sighting report from Niger Republic, which announced Tuesday as the day for Eid celebrations.
This act of defiance is not Lukwa’s first; he previously contested the Sultan’s directive on moon sighting and has been involved in other controversies, including a religious debate over the consumption of horse meat, which he argued is permissible (halal), contrary to the Malik Islamic School of thought prevalent in Nigeria and the Sokoto Caliphate.
Lukwa’s decision to observe Eid on Tuesday is based on his assertion that the moon was sighted in several places, including Niger Republic, which is geographically and culturally closer to Nigeria than Saudi Arabia, whose moon sighting reports are often accepted by Nigerian Islamic authorities. He argues for the autonomy of local moon sighting and its precedence in determining religious observances, stating, “If we can accept that of Saudi Arabia, why can’t we agree with that of Niger Republic which is nearer to us.”
The cleric’s stance has reignited discussions on the principles guiding Islamic celebrations and observances, challenging the centralized moon sighting process and calling for a more localized approach. By inviting scholars with opposing views to a public debate, Lukwa is seeking a platform for dialogue on these issues.
Lukwa’s actions also reflect ongoing tensions with the Sokoto authorities, including a dispute over land seizure by the previous administration. These actions and the broader discussions they spark highlight the ongoing negotiation of religious authority, tradition, and modernity within Nigeria’s Islamic communities.
As this situation develops, it underscores the importance of dialogue and respect for diverse interpretations within the Islamic faith, particularly in a multicultural and multi-religious society like Nigeria.
