* Despite opposition from League of Imams and Alfas
* They are only looking for cheap publicity
* Sultan is sole authority on beginning and termination of Ramadan fasting
Muslims in Southwest Nigeria have reaffirmed their allegiance to the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad III as the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.
They affirmed his inalienable authority to announce the commencement and termination of the Ramadan fasting in the country.
The Sultan has long been recognised as the Amir-ul-Mumineen (Leader of the Believers) in Nigeria, going by his exalted position as the President-General of the NSCIA, the apex body representing Muslims in the country.
Let’s avoid unnecessary controversies over the sighting of the moon for #Ramadan2025. Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad III is the amir-al-Muminin of Nigeria. “Obey Allah, and obey the messenger and those of you who are in authority…” Qur’an 4: 59#Ramadan #Hajj #Islam pic.twitter.com/CGwx3np7vq
— Muslim News Nigeria (@muslimnews_NG) February 16, 2025
The affirmation comes on the heel of the announcement of a section of some Southwest Imams, under the banner of the League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland, also known as Rabitah, reportedly declaring March 1st as the commencement of Ramadan (2025), and defying the tradition of waiting for the Sultan’s announcement.
Reacting, Muslims on the social media who were taken aback by the rebellious announcement, issued under the office of the ‘Mufti of Yorubaland’, condemned the declaration which they described as a needless attempt that is aimed at dividing the Ummah.
Interestingly, many Yoruba Muslims, including members of the same Rabitah have also distanced themselves from the declaration, saying they unite behind the leadership of the Sultan and the authority of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.
They stressed that the age-old tradition of waiting for the directive of the Sultan on the commencement of the Ramadan fast stands.
Meanwhile, it is worthy of note that since it surfaced on the social media, Rabitah’s declaration have earned the backing of the traditionalists and the support of some Christians who cheered the divisive activity of the Rabitah, reflecting their deep-seated hatred for the Sultan, Northern Nigeria, the Muslims and Islam in general.
Let’s avoid unnecessary controversies over the sighting of the moon for #Ramadan2025. Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad III is the amir-al-Muminin of Nigeria. “Obey Allah, and obey the messenger and those of you who are in authority…” Qur’an 4: 59#Ramadan #Hajj #Islam pic.twitter.com/CGwx3np7vq
— Muslim News Nigeria (@muslimnews_NG) February 16, 2025
Muslim News reports that Rabitah is just a section of the Yoruba Imams who only speak for their members and not necessarily for the Muslims in the Southwest region.
The Muslim Ummah of Southwest Nigeria (MUSWEN), which is the umbrella body of Muslims in the region, and several other unifying Muslim organisations like NACOMYO, CIO, FOMWAN , MSSN, have nevertheless pledged unalloyed loyalty and support to the Sultan.
In a remark on social media, Rilwan Rotimi Ogundipe said the Sultan of Sokoto is the Ameerul Muslimeen of Nigeria. “Those who deny Sultan’s leadership in Yorubaland are one sect of people…” he said.
Zayad Oluwatobi Kosoko said the Sultan of Sokoto is the only one who has the right to declare the start and end of Ramadan in Nigeria.
Also reacting, Saka Olokungboye said Yoruba Muslims should not allow Christians, who have marginalised them and benefited from their divisions, to direct their affairs.
According to him, “The Yoruba Christians have been waiting for an auspicious time to split the Southwest Muslims from their Northern Brothers and by extension, from the leadership of the Sultan, as a result of his stand on the Shari’ah Panel.
Let’s avoid unnecessary controversies over the sighting of the moon for #Ramadan2025. Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad III is the amir-al-Muminin of Nigeria. “Obey Allah, and obey the messenger and those of you who are in authority…” Qur’an 4: 59#Ramadan #Hajj #Islam pic.twitter.com/CGwx3np7vq
— Muslim News Nigeria (@muslimnews_NG) February 16, 2025
“We should emphasize that no Yoruba Christian loves Yoruba Muslims genuinely. It is left for us Muslims to stand firm and stand against their treachery.
“Sultan of Sokoto is the leader of Nigerian Muslim Ummah,” he added.
For his part, Mudashiru Alex said no reasonable Muslim would declare a date for Ramadan fast without sighting the moon. Who are the Yoruba league of Imams?” he queried.
“We still obey and respect the Sultan and his Council. No reasonable Muslim will declare a specific date for fasting (Ramadan) without sighting the moon, and no one knows the actual date or time it’ll be sighted,” he said.
Holla Yusuf said Muslims are Brothers and will not bow to those trying to disintegrate them. We don’t disintegrate ourselves as Muslims! From the West to the East, from the South to the North, we are one as Muslims.
“Yoruba Muslims are one with our Muslim Brothers in the North, East and South,” he said.
Also commenting, Ustādh Shamweel Ibrahīm Educr, said: “In terms of ethnicity, we may be different but Islam unifies us and doesn’t want disunity.
“We should have a single body and a particular leader to follow, not some people causing chaos again this year.”
Adeyinka T Salaam said, “The fact remains that the League of Imams in Yorubaland’ is an association that was formed for the welfare of their members. They are nonentities when it comes to directing the affairs of Muslims. We know our leaders. They are in MUSWEN, CIO, MSSN, FOMWAN, NACOMYO etc.
“We know them. They are used to coming every Ramadan to cause problem and disunity for self recognition, self-conceitedness and material gains. We must not allow them to revive the old tradition of the that’s already giving way to the unity of the Ummah. In Islam, our unity is obligatory. Islam abhors discrimination based on tribes, ethnicity or political affiliation. In unity lies our strength and we must not allow those seeking to achieve cheap popularity to divide us as an Ummah,” he added.
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