Sultan Abubakar leads Nigerian Muslim Ummah in 19th Eid-ul Adha celebrations on throne, Friday

By BASHIR ADEFAKA

The Sultan, in the course of his exercisation of leadership to the Nigerian Muslim Ummah, often makes them realise the significance of Eid-ul Adha, adding at each of the times opportunity affords him that it does not only mean having to sacrifice animal but signifies celebration of submission to Allah.

Sultan of Sokoto Caliphate and President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, will lead the Nigerian Muslim Ummah in celebrating yet another Eid-ul Adha celebration on Friday June 6, 2025.

That will effectively make the 19th of such Islamic festival of the magnitude he would witness since ascending to his Usmaniyyah Throne on November 2, 2006. Like always, the Sultan, Governor of Sokoto State and other leaders in the Seat of Caliphate will officially perform their Solatul Eid, Qurbani, behind the Chief Imam of Sultan Muhammadu Bello Jumat Mosque, who is Chief Imam of Sokoto and most senior Imam in Sokoto State, Liman Malami Akwara, on the 25-acre Central Eid Praying Ground in the Sokoto City.

It will be recalled that although the Sultan ascended the throne on November 2, 2006, he was formally inaugurated by the Attahiru Bafarawa Administration as the 20th Sultan of Sokoto on December 18, 2006 and swung into action immediately with implementation of his plans to provide improved leadership that would not only bring peace, unity and development to the Muslim Ummah but also give a handshake across the Niger among people of various ethnic and religious backgrounds in the country.

In the performance of his duty of new moon sighting and announcement for the 18th time, the Sultan of Sokoto asked members of the Muslim Ummah in the country to begin the search for new moon of Dhul-Hijjah 1446AH on Tuesday May 27, 2025, which returned positive and same night he made his declaration of the commencement of 12th and last month of the Islamic Calendar Year, Dhul-Hijjah 1446AH on Wednesday May 28, 2025.

Recall that this global online newspaper, The DEFENDER, found a space for that declaration when it reported in that Monday May 26, 2025 online publication that, whereas Leader of Muslim Ummah in respective countries directs the commencement and termination of Ramadan fasting based on sighting of the new moon, the date for the performance of Hajj is sole responsibility of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is the headquarters of Islamic World and divinely chosen host of the annual spiritual exercise.

In exercisation of its duty to carry out that divine and spiritual assignment for the world’s Muslim population, the Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court announced that Standing at Arafat, which is the main exercise in the performance of fifth pillar of Islam, Hajj, would be on Thursday June 5, 2025 equivalent to Dhul-Hijjah 9, 1446AH.

The Kingdom also announced that Friday June 6, 2025 would be the first day of the Eid-ul Adha celebrations, being that the festival of animal sacrifice is performed for three days from the day after the Stand on Arafat.

The Supreme Court announced Tuesday May 27 that Wednesday May 28 would be the first day of Dhul-Hijjah, the month during which Hajj takes place.

The Saudi’s top court made the announcement following the sighting of the crescent moon of Dhul-Hijjah in the Kingdom.

The Crescent Sighting Department of the Supreme Court took this decision after holding a session Tuesday May 27 evening and reviewing the testimonies submitted by a number of witnesses with regard to the sighting of the crescent moon for the month of Dhul-Hijjah.

The Supreme Court prayed God to enable the pilgrims perform their rituals of Hajj in ease and comfort and accept from them, as well as to preserve the security, stability, and prosperity of Saudi Arabia.

Recall that The DEFENDER reported the monthly exercise whereby the Leader of Muslim Ummah of Nigeria and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, announced the sighting of crescent of Dhul-Hijjah 1446AH on Tuesday May 27, 2025, declaring Wednesday May 28 as the first day of Dhul-Hijjah 1446AH.

This global online newspaper also noted that, whereas Leader of Muslim Ummah in respective countries directs the commencement and termination of Ramadan fasting based on sighting of the new moon, the date for the performance of Hajj is sole responsibility of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is the headquarters of Islamic World and divinely chosen host of the annual spiritual exercise.

Like always, especially the last Ramadan fasting’s commencement and termination, the announcement of moon sighting by Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar continued to enhance the confidence of Nigerian Muslims in the due diligence on his duty working hard, as done in Saudi Arabia, to provide rightful leadership to them as their leader.

Today, the Sultan, as number one Muslim in Nigeria and consistently one of 50 top most influential Muslims in the world, according to the “The World’s 500 Muslims Report” will lead the over 100 Muslims in the country to the 19th Eid-ul Adha celebration he will have successfully perform on his ancestral throne as 20th Sultan of Sokoto.

Friday June 6, 2025 is the day after Standing at Arafat and day the animal sacrifice practiced by father of faith, Prophet Ibrahim peace be upon him, is marked as directed by Allah and explained by Holy Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. The Sallah also underscores the continued relevance of the sacrificial display of trust in Allah, resoluteness against the temptations of Shaytan, and commitment of Mother Hajar as a wife of Ibrahim and mother of Ismail to the directives of Allah, who directed her husband, Ibrahim, to fulfill his promise of sacrificing their only child, Ismail, until he received a new directive to stop and get replacement of the son with a ram for the sacrifice.

Over half a million years after that Holy Prophet Muhammad pbuh came, he told his Muslim Ummah that the “animal sacrifice was the practice of our father, Ibrahim, and so continue with it.” This practice was sanctioned by Allah in the Holy Qur’an but with detailed explanations and caution.

The Sultan, in the course of his exercisation of leadership to the Nigerian Muslim Ummah, often makes them realise the significance of Eid-ul Adha, adding at each of the times opportunity affords him that it does not only mean having to sacrifice animal but signifies celebration of submission to Allah, the importance of the animal sacrifice and the spirit of community. By going to Eid Praying Ground to perform Solatul Eid called Qurbani in the Islamic term, and sharing the meat with the less privileged and even the non-Muslims, the Sultan of Sokoto members of the Ummah understand continually that, by so doing, they manifest the core Islamic values and principles of charity, unity and compassion. The acts also allow them to demonstrate their gratitude to their Lord, Allah, for His blessings, to strengthen the bonds of community and to ensure that everyone, regardless of status, shares in in the joy of Eid.

Suratul Hajj Chapter 22 verse 34: “And for all religions we have appointed a rite (of sacrifice) that they may mention the name of Allah over what He has provided for them of (sacrificial) animals. For your god is one God. So to him submit. And, (O Muhammad), give good tidings to the humble (before their Lord).

Chapter 22 verse 35: “Who, when Allah’s name is mentioned, their hearts are fearful, and (to) the patient over what has afflicted them, and the established of prayers and those who spend from what we have provided them.

Chapter 22 verse 36: “And the camels and cattle We have appointed for you as among our symbols of Allah; for you there in is good. So mention the name of Allah upon them when lined up (for sacrifice); and when they are (lifeless) on their sides, then eat from them and feed the needy and the beggar. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may be grateful.

Chapter 22 verse 37: “Their meat will not reach Allah nor will their blood, but what reaches him is piety from you. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may glorify for that (to) which He has guided you; and give good tidings to the doers of good.”

The Sultan also has spent his position to promote improved knowledge of the religion among Muslims and non-Muslims as he has always been able to point to the Muslims evidence of Eid-ul Adha from the Hadeeth of the Prophet where, according to Sahih Muslim (Book 32, Haith 6234), he said, “Give good to the hungry, visit the sick, and free the captive.

These, Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, has done for the 18 Eid-ul Adha celebrations he has led in Nigeria on the following dates:

Dates of 18 Eid-ul Adha celebrations Sultan performs on the throne

Eid al-Adha in 2007 was on Thursday, the 20th of December (20/12/2007).

Eid al-Adha in 2008 was on Monday, the 8th of December (8/12/2008).

Eid al-Adha in 2009 was on Friday, the 27th of November (27/11/2009).

Eid al-Adha in 2010 was on Tuesday, the 16th of November (16/11/2010).

Eid al-Adha in 2011 was on Sunday, the 6th of November (6/11/2011).

Eid al-Adha in 2012 was on Friday, the 26th of October (26/10/2012).

Eid al-Adha in 2013 was on Tuesday, the 15th of October (15/10/2013).

Eid al-Adha in 2014 was on Saturday, the 4th of October (4/10/2014).

Eid al-Adha in 2015 was on Wednesday, the 23rd of September (23/9/2015).

Eid al-Adha in 2016 was on Sunday, the 11th of September (11/9/2016).

Eid al-Adha in 2017 was on Friday, the 1st of September (1/9/2017).

Eid al-Adha in 2018 was on Wednesday, the 22nd of August (22/8/2018).

Eid al-Adha in 2019 was on Monday, the 12th of August (12/8/2019).

Eid al-Adha in 2020 was on Friday, the 31st of July (31/7/2020).

Eid al-Adha in 2021 was on Tuesday, the 20th of July (20/7/2021).

Eid al-Adha in 2022 was on Sunday, the 10th of July (10/7/2022).

Eid al-Adha in 2023 was on Thursday, the 29th of June (29/6/2023).

Eid al-Adha in 2024 was on Monday, the 17th of June (17/6/2024).

Eid al-Adha in 2025 is on Saturday, the 6th of June (6/6/2025).