By BASHIR ADEFAKA
The Muslim Ummah in Nigeria, under the leadership of Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, was led into this year’s Eid-ul-Fitri marking the end of a month-long Ramadan fasting, on Thursday 13th May, 2021 which is equivalent to 1st Shawwal, 1442 AH.
The Sultan had Tuesday night approved the report of no-moon sighting submitted to him by Wazirin Sokoto and Chairman, Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs of Sultanate Council, Prof. Sambo Wali Junaidu, in conjunction with the National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC), and other related committees across Nigeria, which automatically meant his declaration that Muslims in the country would fast on Wednesday 12th May that was the 30th day of Ramadan and then celebrate Eid-ul-Fitri on Thursday 13th May that was 1sy day of Shawwal.
His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto, during his broadcast of new moonsighting for Ramadan 1442 AH/2021 in Sultan’s Palace, Sokoto, in Monday April 12, 2021. PHOTO: BASHIR ADEFAKA.
Following the Sultan’s announcement, President Muhammadu Buhari, his Federal Government, and administrations of 36 Federating units and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the country, except the Seyi Makinde Administration in Oyo State, obeyed and, having declared public holiday, they started issuing congratulatory messages to wish Muslims a happy celebration.
In Sokoto, Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar prayed at the Central Eid Praying Ground along with Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, while President Muhammadu Buhari, accopanied by the Senate President Ahmad Lawan and Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila as well as the First Lady of the Federal Republic, Dr. Aisha Buhari, prayed at a moderately populated Eid Praying Ground inside the Rock of Power, that is the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Sultan Abubakar’s moon sighting system may not be well understood by a countable number of self-based individuals, it has been adjudged the best anywhere around as Muslims in Nigeria, since his ascension to the throne 15 years ago, precisely 2006, have had accurately broadcast moon sightings yet to be questioned as they have been in tandem with global practices in line with the conditions of Qur’an and Hadeeth of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, it was gathered.
In his Sallah message Thursday, the Sariki Musulumi of Nigeria reiterated his commitment, as multi-faceted leader locally, continentally and worldwide, to the peace, unity and development project particularly of Nigeria. He urged Muslims to continue to pray for Nigeria and leaders who run its affairs.
The Majilizah coordinating moonsighting reports from across states of Nigeria, led by Prof. Sambo Wali Junaidu, in collaboration with the National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC), inside the Sultan’s Palace, Sokoto, on Tuesday 11th May 2021.
Also, President Muhammadu Buhari called on Nigerians to pray for peace and unity while pledging to take decisive actions towards ending the problem of security currently in parts of the country, especially in the North East and South East.
Generally, all Muslims in the 36 states of the country and their governments obeyed the Sultan of Sokoto’s religious directives on ending fast and celebrating Eid on Thursday 13th May, except Oyo State where, though majority of Muslims across the state obeyed the Sultan, left alone the Chief Imam of Ibadan Land, Sheik AbdulGaniy Agbotomokekere, who had prayed on Wednesday 12th May thereby misleading those who believed him including the Deputy Governor of the state, Rauf Olaniyan, and other top government functionaries.
An Oyo State official reportedly confirmed, under condition of anonymity, that the government of Seyi Makinde attended the Agodi praying ground Ibadan, obviously knowing it contradicted the directive of the Sultan but, in solidarity with the “erring” Chief Imam of Ibadan, which some said was more of political and ethnic doing than religious conviction as the act is not supported by any aspect of Islam.
Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi also did his own Wednesday after he and his followers had told an unprecedented lie against Sultan to justify his self desire but failed as only he and his group saw themselves while over 95 percent of Bauchi State Muslims and their government obeyed their Leader, Sultan Abubakar by refusing to take Dahiru Bauchi’s misinformation of Wednesday and rather prayed on Thursday as declared by the Sultan.
The DEFENDER reports that appearance of new moon of Shawwal, being truly Wednesday night making Thursday 1st Shawwal and Eid-ul-Fitri day, was further confirmed with the size of crescent sighted with naked eyes and snapped by us in Sokoto Thursday night as exact size of second day moon.
The DEFENDER sighted crescent with naked eyes indicating the size of 2nd day of Shawwal moon, in Sokoto Magrib time on Thursday, 13th May, 2021.
In all, the Sultan’s leadership has been applauded not only by Muslims but also the Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly Wordwide in a statement by its Director General, Strategic Planning and Implementations, Amb. Tony Chiemelu Obizoba.
Eid around the world
In the meantime, some 1.8 billion Muslims around the world marked Thirsday’s Eid al-Fitr, the festival ending the holy month of Ramadan, but the celebration is muted in some countries for a second year in a row due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the country with the largest Muslim population, Indonesia, worshippers wore masks as they joined in communal prayers, but in some areas considered at high risk for transmission of the coronavirus, mosques — including Southeast Asia’s largest, the Istiqlal Grand Mosque in the capital Jakarta — closed their doors as a precaution, according to The Associated Press.
Indonesia and neighboring Malaysia, which is in the midst of a nationwide lockdown, asked the faithful for a second year not to travel home for traditional celebrations with family to mark Eid, which concluded a month of dawn-to-dusk fasting, prayer and introspection.
The lead-up to Eid last year saw Indonesia with the largest number of coronavirus cases in Southeast Asia. Despite the government’s ban on travel in 2020, the country failed to stop the spread of the virus and it witnessed a jump in cases in the weeks following the holiday.
“I understand that we all miss our relatives at times like this, especially in the momentum of Eid,” Indonesian President Joko Widodo said in televised remarks. “But let’s prioritize safety together by not going back to our hometowns.”
However, in Bangladesh, tens of thousands of people headed home. Bangaldesh is experiencing a shortage of coronavirus vaccines but that didn’t stop many in the capital, Dhaka, from joining loved ones in villages, leading experts to fear a surge of COVID-19 in the country.
Pakistan’s chairman of the official committee that announces the first sighting of the new moon there, marking the official end of Ramadan, urged the public to follow coronavirus precautions, such as wearing masks and avoiding physical contact, during Eid prayers.
In India, with a Muslim population second only to Indonesia, the festival took place against the backdrop of an unprecedented surge in coronavirus cases and COVID-19 deaths. Many infections have been traced to a massive Hindu festival along the banks of the Ganges River.
Coronavirus outbreaks and new fighting between government forces and Muslim insurgents in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, has prevented large public prayers. Instead, most were worshipping in their homes. In Maguindanao province, many families displaced by the fighting celebrated as best they could in evacuation camps.
In the Gaza Strip, the call to prayer sounded amid the rubble of Israel airstrikes in the territory, in the worst outbreak of violence in years. Scores of people have been killed and there is no ceasefire in sight, despite the start of the Eid.
The chief imam in Ghana has issued directives against gatherings to offer Nawafil (optional prayers) to mark Eid. Instead, he has proposed small meetings that adhere to COVID-19 protocols.
