Eid-al-Fitr: Nigeria Celebrates End of Ramadan Admits Controversies
From Maiduguri to Lagos, Nigerian Muslims across the nation today celebrate Eid-al-Fitr but there was confusion on Saturday night over whether the new moon of Shawwal was sighted in Nigeria to mark the end of the one month long Ramadan fast.
Eid al Fitr is celebrated after the month of fasting i.e Ramadan, on the 1st of Shawwal. Its significance is purely spiritual. It is the day when the Muslims thank Allah for having given them the will, the strength and the endurance to observe fast and obey His commandments during the holy month of Ramadan.
Muslims are encouraged to dress in their best clothes (new if possible) and to attend a special Eid-al-Fitr prayer that is performed in congregation at Mosques or open areas like fields, squares etc.
There is usually a fair bit of disagreement on the day Eid-al-Fitr is celebrated due to moon sighting difficulties and interpretation.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Abubakar Sa’ad, who is also the President of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, had around midnight on Saturday announced the sighting of the new moon and therefore the end of Ramadan.
But according to Premium Times, when the Secretary-General of the organisation, a professor of Islamic Studies Is-haq Oloyede was contacted after the Sultan’s announcement, he said he was not aware that the moon had been sighted.
"I spoke to the Sultan about four times tonight and he did not tell me that the moon has been sighted," Mr. Oloyede said.
"In any case, any such claim is ridiculous and unscientific. It cannot be right.
The National Moon-Sighting Committee has not informed us of any credible sighting of the moon. Rather, they said the moon wasn’t sighted. The new moon was only born at 11:45 P.M. tonight (Saturday) and it will take several hours for it to be sighted. “Is our own sky different? Is our own moon manufactured in Nigeria?"
Professor Oloyede urged Muslims to continue their fast on Sunday and prepare for Eid-Fitri on Monday in line with the verdict of the National Moon-Sighting Committee (NMC).
In contrast, briefing journalists in his palace yesterday, the Sultan said, "In line with laid down Islamic rules and regulations, I have the pleasure to inform you that the new moon of Shawwal has been sighted today, Saturday, the 29th Day of Ramadan 1435, after hijira of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW), which is equivalent to July 26, 2014.
According to Leadership, reliable reports of moon sighting were also received from Muslim leaders across the country, which includes, His Royal Highnesses, the Shehu of Borno, Lamido of Adamawa, the Emirs of Katsina, Daura, Zazzau, Hadejia, Minna, Kontagora, Talata Mafara, Tsafe, Bogundu, Muri, Gusua, Anka and some parts of Sokoto State.
The issue of moon sighting has never been as divisive as it has become today. In the past, Muslim scholars agreed on a certain method to decide the start and end of the month of Ramadān. In the last few years, advancements in communications and media have turned the world into a small village creating a new context where matters concerning trans-national relations are involved.
A second new context may also be related to the presence of many Muslims in countries that lack one single Muslim authority. Resultantly, readily understood issues related to a number of Islamic rituals have now become controversial and confusing.
This confusion is further fuelled by the influence of a Western lifestyle upon Muslims; generally speaking, Muslims are often accused of being anti-Western or even unscientific in their spheres of life.
This can influence them to react emotionally and unreasonably. One such observable sphere in which many Muslims have reacted in this manner is with regard to moon-sighting and the establishment of the start of the month of Ramadān, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
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| Photo: Muslims during Eid Prayers in Minna by Adams d Fotographer |
Eid al Fitr is celebrated after the month of fasting i.e Ramadan, on the 1st of Shawwal. Its significance is purely spiritual. It is the day when the Muslims thank Allah for having given them the will, the strength and the endurance to observe fast and obey His commandments during the holy month of Ramadan.
Muslims are encouraged to dress in their best clothes (new if possible) and to attend a special Eid-al-Fitr prayer that is performed in congregation at Mosques or open areas like fields, squares etc.
There is usually a fair bit of disagreement on the day Eid-al-Fitr is celebrated due to moon sighting difficulties and interpretation.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Abubakar Sa’ad, who is also the President of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, had around midnight on Saturday announced the sighting of the new moon and therefore the end of Ramadan.
But according to Premium Times, when the Secretary-General of the organisation, a professor of Islamic Studies Is-haq Oloyede was contacted after the Sultan’s announcement, he said he was not aware that the moon had been sighted.
"I spoke to the Sultan about four times tonight and he did not tell me that the moon has been sighted," Mr. Oloyede said.
"In any case, any such claim is ridiculous and unscientific. It cannot be right.
The National Moon-Sighting Committee has not informed us of any credible sighting of the moon. Rather, they said the moon wasn’t sighted. The new moon was only born at 11:45 P.M. tonight (Saturday) and it will take several hours for it to be sighted. “Is our own sky different? Is our own moon manufactured in Nigeria?"
Professor Oloyede urged Muslims to continue their fast on Sunday and prepare for Eid-Fitri on Monday in line with the verdict of the National Moon-Sighting Committee (NMC).
In contrast, briefing journalists in his palace yesterday, the Sultan said, "In line with laid down Islamic rules and regulations, I have the pleasure to inform you that the new moon of Shawwal has been sighted today, Saturday, the 29th Day of Ramadan 1435, after hijira of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW), which is equivalent to July 26, 2014.
According to Leadership, reliable reports of moon sighting were also received from Muslim leaders across the country, which includes, His Royal Highnesses, the Shehu of Borno, Lamido of Adamawa, the Emirs of Katsina, Daura, Zazzau, Hadejia, Minna, Kontagora, Talata Mafara, Tsafe, Bogundu, Muri, Gusua, Anka and some parts of Sokoto State.
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| Getty Images via Huffpost |
A second new context may also be related to the presence of many Muslims in countries that lack one single Muslim authority. Resultantly, readily understood issues related to a number of Islamic rituals have now become controversial and confusing.
This confusion is further fuelled by the influence of a Western lifestyle upon Muslims; generally speaking, Muslims are often accused of being anti-Western or even unscientific in their spheres of life.
This can influence them to react emotionally and unreasonably. One such observable sphere in which many Muslims have reacted in this manner is with regard to moon-sighting and the establishment of the start of the month of Ramadān, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
Eid-al-Fitr: Nigeria Celebrates End of Ramadan Admits Controversies
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