Reason we celebrate Eid el-Fitri on Monday - Egba Muslim leader The Wakeelu Muslimeen of the South-West, Edo, and Delta states, Sheikh Iskil Awwal, has illuminated why the congregational prayer was not observed on Sunday at the Lantoro Eid praying ground in Abeokuta.
Sheikh Awwal, who is further a leader of the Egba Muslim community, said that Ramadan is supposed to be 30 days and not 29.
Recall that the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, and Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, publicised the sighting of the moon on Saturday, signifying the end of Ramadan and the beginning of Eid-el-Fitr on Sunday.
The Sultan’s directive was preceded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s announcement of the sighting of the moon’s crescent, marking the commencement of Shawwal and the end of Ramadan.
However, The Round Table reveals that more or less Muslim faithful were left stranded, and the Lantoro Eid praying ground was deserted as the Egba Muslim leaders, led by the Chief Imam, ignored the Sultan’s directive to observe Sallah on Sunday.
Speaking about the controversy surrounding the end of the fast, Sheikh Awwal, popularly summoned Sheikh Sugar, said that the dates, at the same time not in alignment with Saudi Arabia’s declaration, should albeit be considered valid.
He spoke on Monday while fielding questions from journalists after the Eid-ul-Fitr prayer held at the Lantoro praying ground.
He disclosed, “As for the matter of the discovery of the new moon, it varies across heterogeneous parts of the world. It could be seen in Nigeria at any rate not in Saudi Arabia, and vice versa.
“As for the new moon of this very 2025, Ramadan lasted 30 days because the new moon was finded the previous day. As such, more or less Muslim faithful observed Eid on the same day, while the rest who did not, observed it today.”
He pointed out that both the Egba Muslim community and those who went after the Sultan’s and Saudi Arabia’s directives had cohered to their respective Islamic leaders and had not sinned against the religion.
“The issue of the new month is something God, in His mysterious ways, has not allowed any man on earth to have thorough power over.
“Therefore, whether one terminated their fast yesterday or today, they have both cleaved to the guidance of their Islamic leaders. God will accept their prayers as an act of ibadah.
“It is whatever our leaders in Islam report that we must cleave to. They are knowledgeable in the religion. The start and end of the fast are based on knowledge, so we must cling strictly to their teachings,” he revealed.
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Category: World-News
Tag: Reason we celebrate Eid elFitri on Monday Egba Muslim leader
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Published 4/1/2025