MUSWEN: Yoruba Muslims Back Sultan on Ramadan Moon Sighting
The Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), the umbrella body representing Yoruba Muslims, has passed a resounding vote of confidence in the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, as the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).
The reaffirmation, contained in a statement signed by MUSWEN President, Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, and Executive Secretary, Professor Wole Abbas, comes amid growing concerns over unauthorized pronouncements regarding the commencement date of the 2026 Ramadan fast.
Preserving Institutional Unity
The intervention by MUSWEN follows reports of certain individuals and groups bypassing the established, Sharia-compliant process for moon sighting. In Nigeria, the NSCIA, under the leadership of the Sultan, is the sole recognized authority for declaring the start and end of Islamic lunar months.
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MUSWEN described the disregard for this process as a threat to the unity of the Ummah. The group urged Muslims across the South West and the nation at large to remain steadfast and ignore “counter-announcements” that lack the backing of the National Moon Sighting Committee.
The leadership of MUSWEN cautioned that the deliberate attempt to create confusion over the Ramadan start date is part of a broader agenda to weaken the Islamic community.
“Muslims must be wary of the antics of people who do not wish Islam and Muslims well,” the statement read. “Their agenda for Muslims in Nigeria is ‘divide and conquer.’ We must not fall into this trap.”
A Scriptural Call to Brethren
To reinforce their position, MUSWEN cited Surah Al ‘Imran (3:103) from the Holy Quran, reminding the faithful of their spiritual obligation to remain united:
“And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah, and be not divided among yourselves; and remember Allah’s Favour on you, for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together, so that, by His Grace, you became brethren…”
By aligning with the Sultanate and the NSCIA, MUSWEN emphasized that Yoruba Muslims remain committed to a unified Nigerian Ummah, ensuring that the spiritual journey of Ramadan begins in an atmosphere of harmony, not discord.
By PRNigeria
