The Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, has asked Nigerian Muslims to perform the congregational prayers for this year’s Eid-el-Fitri in their homes.


This year’s Eid-el-Fitri of the Ramadan amid coronavirus outbreak is slated for Saturday or Sunday and the Sultan had implored Muslims to look out for the sighting of the moon.

Abubakar, who is the leader of Nigerian Muslims, also suspended all prayers, gatherings in the outskirts of towns and cities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Sultan, who diclose through the JNI Secretary-General, Dr Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, in a statement in Kaduna, however, noted that in states where government had reached decision to mark the Eid-el-Fitri, Muslims should observe social distancing, wear face masks and use hand sanitisers provided for worshippers to check the spread of the COVID-19.

The Sultan of Sokoto also warned Muslim leaders against unguarded utterances for the overall interests of the Nigerian Muslim community.

The statement read,“The Jama’atu Nasril Islam under the leadership of His Eminence, Alhaji (Dr) Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, Sultan of Sokoto, in a mandate to the JNI  Fatwa Committee, under the leadership of Sheikh Sheriff Ibrahim Saleh Alhusainy, CON, to come up with Fatwa  regarding the year 2020 ‘Eid-el-Fitr prayer, and the committee after due consultations, as well as considerations of the current state – COVID-19 pandemic and the serious threat it poses to life, reached the following decisions:

“‘Eid-el-Fitr congregation in the outskirts of towns and cities should be temporarily suspended.

“That the said ‘Eid-el-Fitr Prayer be performed at home with family members or alone at home.