Poets in the making

Mal. Mukhtar presenting a gift to a pupil

Mal. Mukhtar presenting a gift to a pupil

Mal. Ibraheem Aqil delivering his speech

 scene of the occasion

Mal. Muktar presenting a gift to a community leader in Rigasa.

Since the sighting of the month of Jimadah Thani, being the birth month of the leader of all women, Sayyidah Fatimah Az-Zahara(AS) various birthday gatherings have been going through out zones and centers of the Movement and to that effect group of members of the Movement in Rigasa area of Kaduna state organized annual Maulid to mark the birthday anniversary of Fatimah Az-Zahra(AS) on Wednesday, 27th of May 2009.

During the programme Malama A’isha Umar, who is among the organisers, gave a welcome address in Hausa and Arabic languages. While Malam Auwal, the group leader  introduced the guest speaker Mallam Ibrahim Aqil from Zaria who delivered extensive speech on the life history of Sayyidah Az-Zahra(AS).

L-R Mal. Ibrahim Aqil and Mal. Mukhtar Sahabi kaduna

Mallam Ibraheem Aqil, a renowned scholar and one of the pioneer member of the Movement described a gathering of this nature as a blessed one adding that God and Prophet  are happy with it and a great reward awaits those who organized it or contribute in making it a success.

He added that speaking on Sayyidah Az-Zahra is a big area “speaking on Fatimah Az-Zahra(salamu llahi Alaiha) is too wide for  someone with little knowledge like me”  said Aqil. He however explained that effort will be made in order to draw some lessons from her life. He added that Surah kauthar in the holy Quran was solely revealed on her to explain her lofty status in the sight of Allah and to rebuke the enemies of the prophet who tagged  him as one without a heir. Az-Zahra was given to the Prophet through whom his progeny will come from, he explained.

He noted that Sayyidah Fatimah, according to ahadeeth from Ahlul bayt(AS), has  nine names in which each particular  name described a certain qualities peculiar to her. Some of the names include Tahirah, Siddiqaah, Al-Muhaddethah, adding that the name Siddiqah is a special position as mentioned in the holy Quran. He said that each of the names has numerous lessons to get. He therefore decided to speak on the name the Prophet AS) referred to her- Umm Abihah ( the mother of her father).

He added that she was referred as the mother of her father for the parental position she took in taking care of the prophet, support and protecting him during difficult time. She took care of the prophet just as parents do take care of their siblings, he noted.

During the advent of Islam, he explained further, the prophet suffered series of persecution from Arab idolatries at which sayyidah Fatimah was always at his side to help him out. Her helping attitude to the prophet is far beyond parent- child caring.

Mal. Ibrahim Aqil delivering his lecture.

He, however explained that the Jahili set up which the prophet fought and wiped clean is now back in our midst,  a sympathetic situation in which the need to revive the path of the Prophet and Ahul bayt(AS) is of utmost necessity.

 Muslims are in dare of her just they are in dare need of the prophet and of course the person who champion this course of revival is already known to all, he pointed. He explained that the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky has been championing the course of Islam in this part of the world to the extent that when one speaks of Islamic Struggle what automatically comes to mind is the personality of Sheikh Zakzaky, as hardly one would talk of Islam in this part of the world without Sheikh Zakzaky. He cautioned that whoever speaks ills of a personality of one calling to Islam is no doubt aiming at attacking Islam.

He concluded that Az-Zahra is not only for women; she is for all for her status of protecting the Prophet and as such each must strive hard to the service of Islam in order to be raised among her companions on the Day of Resurrection adding that, though her life was short, her contributions are enormous expressing further that it an incumbent duty upon her lovers to spread the knowledge of her status to all Muslims.

The progamme was also marked with quiz competitions, parades by Fudiyyah School pupils and Islamic songs. Gift items that include books, copies of the holy Quran, cloths and food items were distributed to people and needy in the area to mark the birthday of the leader of all women.

Mallam Mukhtari Sahabi the representative of members in Kaduna also spoke at the gathering where he highlighted on the position of Az-Zahra and A’immah (AS). Also a walimah was served after the lecture.

Present at the occasion include the community leaders in the area.

Gift items

Cross section of male participants

Cross section of female particpants

Mal. Aisha Umar giviing welcome address

The scene of the occasion.