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Controversy As Mudir Markaz Agege Defies Sultan’s Directive, Conducts Eid Prayer With Congregation On Monday

BySodiq Lawal

PublishedMarch 31, 2025

There has been controversy as the Mudir of Markaz Agege, Sheikh Muhammed Habibullah Adam Abdullah El-Ilory, led his congregation in observing Eid-ul-Fitr prayers on Monday, 31st March 2025, despite the directive of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar, who had declared Sunday, 30th March, as the official day for the celebration.

The development has sparked widespread debate within the Nigerian Muslim community, with many questioning the implications of differing moon-sighting interpretations.

In a video sighted by OSUN DEFENDER, a large congregation of Muslim faithful was seen gathered at the prayer ground, offering their two Rak’ah Eid prayers under the leadership of Sheikh El-Ilory.

The cleric, who had earlier released a statement through his spokesperson, Nurudeen Ibrahim, maintained that astronomical calculations had clearly indicated that the crescent moon would not be visible on Saturday, thereby making Monday the rightful day for Eid-ul-Fitr.

He asserted that Islamic tradition supports the use of scientific knowledge to determine the commencement of Shawwal, dismissing the reliance on artificial crescent images generated by CCD machines.

Earlier, the Sultan of Sokoto had declared Sunday as the Eid-ul-Fitr celebration. He made this announcement in a live broadcast on Saturday evening, following reports that the moon had been sighted in certain locations. However, Sheikh El-Ilory insisted that, according to Islamic jurisprudence and modern astronomical data, the moon’s age in both Nigeria and Saudi Arabia on Saturday was insufficient for visibility.

He urged Nigerian Muslims to avoid unnecessary confusion, stating that religious decisions should be informed by both Shari’ah and scientific accuracy.

The decision by the Mudir of Markaz Agege to proceed with Eid prayers on Monday has reignited discussions on the role of Islamic scholars and scientific advancements in determining religious observances.

While some Muslims have commended his stance as being in line with scholarly reasoning, others argue that his defiance of the Sultan’s directive could deepen division within the Muslim Ummah.

Sodiq Lawal

Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.