Sheikh defies Islamic head of Nigeria, leads followers to observe Eid before official moon sighting

An Islamic cleric has led his followers to observe Eid Prayers on Sunday, in defiance of the sole spiritual head of Islam in Nigeria, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar.

The dissident cleric, Sheikh Musa Lukwa, claimed he had his reason for going against Sa’ad’s order that the celebration come up on Monday.

According to Lukwa, the Sultan is basing the moon sighting on science, and it contradicts Islam.

“A lecturer at the Usman Danfodiyo University, Dr. Maigari, also confirmed the sighting of the new moon at the main campus of the university and there were reports on the new moon from about 10 communities in Jega, Kebbi state, which was confirmed by the Chief Imam of Jega, Malam Bashar,” he told the Daily Trust.

“And Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi also confirmed the sighting of the new moon in many places in the country.

“So, we observed our Eid in compliance with the instruction of the Holy Prophet who asked us to fast and to break the fast at the sighting of the new moon. It is agreed that, obedience to our leaders, especially, the Sultan, is compulsory for every Muslim but on condition that he did not disobey Allah and His Prophet (SAW).

“You can’t take decision based on scientific evidence by astronauts because is against our religion and even Imam Malik discouraged this.”

The sheikh added this is not the first time science will contradict naked eyes in the matter of moonsighting, and the Committee on Moonsighting has always sided with science.

“In 2011, a similar incident happened. The new moon was sighted in many places and were duly reported to the committee and when they presented their report to the Sultan, he kicked against it. This was the reason why the chairman of the committee, Professor A A Gwandu, resigned at the time,” he told the newspaper.

“And there was a time, the moon was sighted at Mabera area and it was communicated to the village head of Mabera who in turned forwarded the report to the District Head of Gagi and the District head called the Secretary of the Palace severally without response.

“He then wrote to the Sultan but the Sultan replied that, the new moon would only be sighted the next day. I saw the reply. We can’t obey someone who is disobeying Allah and His Prophet (SAW),” he said.