- The statement confirmed that Friday would be observed as the 30th day of Ramadan, bringing the fasting period to an end
- an Islamic cleric based in Sokoto, Sheikh Musa Lukuwa, held Eid prayers on Thursday,
- He argued that if sightings from distant Nigerian cities are accepted, then those from a nearby country should not be dismissed
Iranian authorities have announced that Friday will mark the final day of Ramadan, with the Eid al-Fitr celebration scheduled to begin on Saturday.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the decision was made public through state television, citing the office of Mojtaba Khamenei after the completion of moon sighting observations.
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The statement confirmed that Friday would be observed as the 30th day of Ramadan, bringing the fasting period to an end.
Eid al-Fitr, which signals the conclusion of the holy month, is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon in accordance with the Islamic lunar calendar. A similar announcement was made in Iraq by leading Shia cleric Ali al-Sistani, aligning with Iran’s timeline.
The development comes shortly after Mojtaba Khamenei assumed leadership following the reported death of his father, Ali Khamenei, who was said to have been killed in an airstrike during the early phase of the conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel, an episode Iranian authorities have referred to as the “Ramadan war.”
Meanwhile, in Nigeria, an Islamic cleric based in Sokoto, Sheikh Musa Lukuwa, held Eid prayers on Thursday, going against the directive of the Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar, who had fixed Friday as the official day for the celebration.
Lukuwa led the Eid prayer at his mosque in Mabera at about 9:10 a.m., attracting a large number of followers who supported his stance. His decision followed the Sultan’s earlier announcement that the Shawwal moon had not been sighted anywhere in Nigeria.
The cleric, however, disagreed, pointing to reports of moon sightings in the neighbouring Niger Republic. In a message shared online, he explained that the proximity of Niger, about 100 kilometres away, made such reports credible.
He argued that if sightings from distant Nigerian cities are accepted, then those from a nearby country should not be dismissed.
Despite differing from the Sultan’s position, Lukuwa insisted his action was based on religious conviction and not an attempt to challenge established authority.
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