24th Annual Imam Khomeini Week marked in Nigeria / Photos

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - June 2, 2013 is the 2nd day of the activities marking the 24th Annual Imam Khomeini’s week  organized by the Academic Forum of Shiite Islamic Movement in Nigeria (AFIMN).The revered leader of the Movement, his Eminence, Sheikh Ibraheem Ya’qoub El-Zakzaky delivered a lecture on the topic: Islamic Awakening: The great gift of Imam Khomeiny (QS) to the Muslim World.In his opening remarks, Sheikh Zakzaky noted that what is happening currently in the Muslim World coined as uprising or Arab spring is nothing but awakening which has its roots attached to the Islamic Revolution in Iran led by Imam Ruhullah Khomeini (QS). This revolution made impact in those days even to the non Muslim World. In Nicaragua, Duvalier’s Haiti and Aquino’s Philippines, for example, people rose and deposed their sit tight emperors. They learnt that power belongs to the people. They also learnt that religion is a useful tool to push people towards progress rather than being ‘opium of the masses’ as erroneously asserted by the communists. This fact made the enemies to mount sinister surveillance on all religious activities. He pointed to the fact that the revolutionary process takes time. It needs a background. In Iran it took 100 years for the Ulema struggling. The Revolution in Iran, noted Sheikh, was as a result of persistent da’awah (call) started by  late Imam Khomeini right from his teachings at the Seminary school, where hitherto, the traditional role of the Ulema (non interference in political life ) was maintained.Of course, there are differences between the Shia and the Sunni schools of thought in the areas of taqlid (followership) and that of Khums. Whereas the Sunni closed the doors of ijtihad and restricted followership to the four jurisprudence schools (Maliki, Hanbali, Hanafi and Shafi’i), the Shia produces a Mujtahid (authoritative scholar who can derive religious verdicts based on his knowledge) after due and appropriate rigorous procedures. Once you are not a Mujtahid (Jurist), you are a Muqallid.Sheikh Zakzaky, after briefly recalling the event in Tunisia, that kick-started the uprising which spread to Egypt and subsequently to other places, asserted that Islam is the common factor in these events, whatever dimension they take. During these uprisings, tyrant rulers like Mubarak and Zain el abidine were deposed. Unfortunately, there was a missing link and the the old order was back. Egyptians, for example, could have formed a government right at the Tahrir square before dispersing.Instead, they said that they had confidence in the Military. How could they have such confidence whereas the military is just an instrument? It is the people that dictate to the military on what to do and not vice versa. This blunder notwithstanding, the uprising is one stage. There is need for yet another stage. This is where the call of Imam Khomeini comes in. This is because the World needs only one Khomeini and it got him. So people yearning for change should follow Khomeini. The Imam is late. However, he has left Sayyid Khamenei as his able successor amidst us.Referring to the situation in Nigeria, Sheikh noted that the tyrants create their Ulema championing various Da’awas to confuse people. In the 70’s, for example there was a call accusing Muslims of Shirk (polytheism). Such counterfeit Da’awahs have one thing in common: Subservience and allegiance to tyrant rulers. Despite these attempts, it is a clear fact that the ‘Shias’,  as they commonly refer to members of the Islamic movement, are not confused. This is because, as asserted by a soldier, they have a leader who guides them on what to do and they are loyal to him.In his conclusion, Sheikh pointed out that two things: situation and authentic Da’awah (call) would make people to realize what to do, where to go and who to follow. He closed by re-emphasizing the fact that Islamic awakening is as a result of the call of Imam Khumeini and that people, with time, shall understand and trace the right path to adhere to./129