A Sokoto-based Islamic scholar, Musa Lukuwa, on Thursday led his followers in observing Eid al-Fitr prayers, going against the official directive of the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, who had declared Friday as the day for Sallah in Nigeria.

Lukuwa conducted the Eid prayer at his mosque in Mabera in the early hours of Thursday, shortly after the Sultan announced that the Shawwal crescent moon had not been sighted across the country, meaning the Ramadan fast would continue for an extra day.

Explaining his decision, the cleric said his action was based on verified reports that the moon had been sighted in neighbouring Niger Republic. According to him, proximity makes such sightings valid, arguing that it would be inconsistent to accept reports from distant Nigerian cities while rejecting those from a nearby country.

He, however, clarified that his move was not an attempt to challenge the Sultan’s authority but rather a matter of religious obligation.

“We usually follow the Sultan’s directive, but when there is clear evidence that the moon has been sighted, we must act in line with the teachings of the Prophet,” he stated.

The development highlights a recurring debate within Islamic practice over how moon sightings should be determined—whether strictly within national borders or extended to nearby regions with shared geographical and religious contexts.

Historically, different scholars announced moon sightings independently until the authority was centralised under the Sultan to ensure unity among Muslims in Nigeria. Despite this, occasional disagreements still arise, especially in northern parts of the country, where some clerics rely on alternative confirmations.

While the Sultan, who also leads the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, remains the recognised authority for declaring the start and end of Ramadan in Nigeria, incidents like this continue to reflect differing interpretations within Islamic jurisprudence.

The early Eid observance by Lukuwa and his followers has once again brought attention to the balance between religious unity and individual conviction in the country’s Muslim community.