By Abdullahi Isah Wasagu
The Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sayyid Ibraheem Zakzaky (H) has on Tuesday the 18th of January, 2022, received another retinue of visitors from north central part of the country in his Abuja residence. The visitors were representatives from Anyigba community of Kogi state and Islamic Scholar Sheikh Muhammad Bello from Bidda, Niger State.
Among them include Alh. Muhammad Abdullahi, the traditional ruler of the Igala community, and a top Sunni Scholar from Tijjaniyyah Sufi order Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Muhammad from Bidda of Niger state along with other Muslims faithful from the two regions.
During the visit, Sheikh Muhammad discloses his allegiance to the path of Ahlul Bayt (A.S) and Sheikh Zakzaky’s call towards the path of Allah.
Addressing the audience, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H) began by commenting on the speaker’s statement that Sheikh Muhammad had said that, he had left Tijjaniyyah sect for Shi’ism. Sheikh Zakzaky pointed out that one does not have to leave his path or order to become a Shi’a, both can be combined if desired, because one(Shi’a) is a School of thought(Mazhab) and the other(Tijjaniyyah) order is a path of Irfani or Tasawwuf.
The leader said, "He needs not to leave Tijjaniyya order for Shi’a. It is the Maliki School of thought one has to leave to become follower of Jafariyya (Shi’a) School of thought but one can practice Tijaniyyah order while being Jafari School of thought".
Sheikh Zakzaky added that, “If a person is a Shiite, he can practice Qadiriyyah; he can as well practice Tijaniyyah, while being a Shiite. But pertaining to Mazhab (School of thought) where is mandatory for one to decide which? He or she then ought to follow Jafariyyah only not both".
He further explained that, there are three important areas of study in this religion (Islam); firstly, is Monotheism, the Oneness of God which refers or talks about things a faithful Muslim must believe in. He said these aspects include believe in Oneness of Allah; believe in Prophethood and believe in the Last Day. Any School of thought among the Schools of Thought one follows, he/she must believe in all the above mentioned.
Secondly, Mazhab(School of thought) which in turn deals with commandments, how to worship and relates with one another. Worship includes such things as Prayer, Fasting, Zakat(Alms giving) and Hajj(Pilgrimage). Relations with one another include marriage, division of inheritance to the rightful owner, trade and so on. This area explains more on what has becomes mandatory or obligatory upon a believer; what are referred to Haram(sinful acts) and what are Makruh (undesirable), that is what Fiqh teaches. This is where Schools of thought differ from one another. It is found among the Sunnis there are Malikiyya, Shafi’iyya, Hanafiyya and Hambaliyya. These are the four prominent Schools of thought(Mazahib) but are more than these, only these four are the most famous.
On the other side, there is also Jafariyya School of thought on the part of the Shiites.
Sheikh Zakzaky also explained that, then there is what is called Tasawwuf or Irfani. This is a religious path which teaches a beleiver a kind of spiritual journey between a beleiver and his Lord, through which the sects of the Sufis are formed.
The leader further explained that, this Irfan’s issue has therefore cut across Mazhab. One finds a situation where a beleiver who practices Irfan/Tasawwuf from any sect(Tijjaniyya, Kadiriyya or Jafariyya) relates with a faithful who comes from any of the above mentioned Mazahib(Schools of through).
In view of the above explanation, Sheikh Zakzaky therefore clarified that, "Our understanding of Irfani or Tasawwuf, or whatever it is called, has nothing to do with Mazhab(School of thought). A person who practices Tijjaniyya understands Ahlul Bayt (A.S) does not mean he has to renounce from that of Tijjaniyya".
He further clarified that, "As a matter of fact, all these existing sects, each claims to be descended from Ameerul Mu’mineen (Commander of the Faithful) (AS). If lineage of each of them is been traced, it will be found that it chronologically linked with Commander of the Faithful(Ameerul Mu’imineen Ali) and the other housfold of the holy Prophet (S). Late Sheikh Abdulkadir Jilani is the grandson of Imam Hussein (A.S), also, Late Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani is the grandson of Imam Hasan (A.S)".
Sheikh Zakzaky finally disclosed that, "If one closely traces the practices of Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani, he will find out that the Late Scholar followed the path of Ahlul Bayt (AS), since Malikiyya(School of thought) has already become the most famous of them all".
Responding to a presentation by one of the visitors, Sheikh Zakzaky emphasized the need for provision of translation of the Movement’s messages to different ethnic languages of our various communities, so that messages of the Movement could be conveyed to all nooks and crannies. He underlined that ‘Language’ out not to be a barrier among, towards hearing and understanding of the messages of the Movement".
Therefore, his eminence has finally instructed the visitors to continue practicing all the approved activities of the Movement in their various localities as they return back.
Translated from the report of Sayyid Zakzaky Office
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