“The Holy Prophet (S) said: Verily, there is a flame within the hearts of believers in the wake of Hussein’s martyrdom, which will never be extinguished.” (Mustadrak al-Wasa’il, vol 10, p 318).
With the termination of month of Muharram and entrance of Safar, the Islamic Movement in Nigeria under the leadership of Sayyed Ibraheem Yaqub Zakzaky commiserate with followers of Ahlul Bayt (AS) on this auspicious day of Arba’een to hoist the flag of Imam Husain (AS) and spread the message of Ashura across the world.
The African Muslims, particularly from Nigerian through the Islamic Movement, view Ashura and Arba’een as periods of great depression, at the same time a period for display of courage and heroism; periods of victory of blood over sword.
Millions of lovers of Ahlul Bayt (AS) from all nooks and crannies of Nigeria annually embark on Arba’een symbolic trek to the Hussainiyyah Baqiyyatullah in Zaria city, North-west of Nigeria as a mark of solidarity and to identify with fellow Muslims in Karbala.
As representatives of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, we extend our condolence with the Muslim world over the monumental tragedy during Hajj in Saudi Arabia, in which the blood of pilgrims was unjustly spilled in Mina by the Al-Saud regime.
We also use this opportunity to condemn the similitude of Ashura tragedies being repeated in Yemen, Bahrain, Syria, Palestine, Pakistan and Iraq by terrorists who are hired by the evil states of Britain and the United States.
Indeed in 40 lies a hidden secret that only Allah knows. There are however pointers in the Holy Qur’an and Ahadeeth of the Holy Prophet regarding hidden secrets and virtues associated with the numerical number 40.
Similarly, the Arba’een pilgrimage to Imam Husain (AS) is imbued with great secrets and wisdom. It is narrated from Imam Hassan Ibn Ali Al-Askary (AS), who said: “A true believer has five distinctive qualities; praying 51 units of prayers, visitation of Arba’een, wearing ring on the right finger, sign of prostration on the cheeks and reciting out Basmallah during prayers”. In Nigeria, Allah in His infinite mercy has blessed us by witnessing the secrets and virtues of Arba’een, that were neither coincidental nor accidental, but the mercy and glory of Allah the Almighty.
In only few years that we embarked on symbolic Arba’een trek across Nigeria and from neighbouring countries to Zaria city under our revered spiritual Leader Sayyed Ibraheem Zakzaky, we witnessed wide acceptance by all segments of the society, including non-Muslims.
By keeping alive the spirit of Arba’een through the symbolic trek in a very short time, the event has become a point of reference across the world. It has also unified our people into a single entity that strongly abhors and condemns tyranny and oppression. At the shrine of the Doyen of Martyrs in Karbala, the secrets and virtues are more crystal clear. Karbala remains the only place where the largest gathering takes place, and the number increases every year.
The Islamic Movement is a mass movement of people struggling for the establishment of justice and fairness in our immediate environment called Nigeria. It started in the late 70s at the time when Sheikh Ibraheem Yaqoub Zakzaky was a student at the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, 1976 to 1979 precisely. The Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), formed in 1954, was the launching pad for the Movement. Malam Ibraheem Zakzaky was then the Secretary General of the Society at the university, and later became its Vice President in charge of international affairs (1979-1980) of the main body.
The Movement, though not a registered entity, it has units that are duly registered. These include the Shuhada Foundation (Marturs’ Foundation), which is a charity organization that caters for the children of the Martyrs of the Movement; the IM Publication, which produces books and the newspapers and relevant materials of the Movement. Other bodies are the Islamic Movement Medical Association, ISMA in-charge of health delivery activities of the Movement; the IM Productions, which produces Islamic films, the Resource Forum and Academic Forum, made up of intellectuals, academicians and students. Singers, Journalists, Businessmen, Women and Youth- all belong to various respective fora. The whole aim is to contribute actively towards the overall success of the Movement.
Because the Movement is intellectual in its approach, it promotes education as a foundation towards success. Presently, it has over 300 nursery, primary and secondary schools that adopt unified government accredited syllabus in addition to Islamic studies.
With the growing influence of the Movement, Christians are embracing the call, demanding a Christian wing within the Movement. Intellectuals and organizations with like minds are also identifying with the cardinal objectives of the Movement.
We therefore use the period of Arba’een, on behalf of our Leader Sayyed Ibraheem Zakzaky, to extend our condolence to the Holy Prophet of Islam and the Imam of the Age (AF), the rest of the A’immah and the Wali Amrul Muslimeen, Sayyedul Qa’id Ayatullah Ali Khamane’i, other Maraji’e and the entire Muslim Ummah over the unfortunate event on Ashura and its remembrance on Arba’een.
Peace be upon you.
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