By Mal. Yusuf Abdullahi
In the name of Allah who states "… verily, never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves with their own souls …” Q13:11. Peace and blessings of Allah be upon His noble servant, our master Muhammad and his purified progeny.
Congratulations to Muslim world on the memorable, historic and undeniable and generally recorded events of Ghadeer and Mubahala of the 18th and 24th of Zilhijjah respectively. The prophet (s) publicly appointed his successor in the former at a place called Khum, after the popular farewell pilgrimage 10 years after hijra and 70 days to his heavenly departure. He started with a question to the pilgrims “Do you witness that I have a prior right to and superior authority over all the faithful? They replied yes o messenger of Allah. There upon he said” Ali is the master of all those of whom I am master. O Allah! Love him who loves him and hate him who hates him, help him who helps him, forsake him who forsakes him, and turn justice with him wherever he turns" The history has graphically recorded how the companions and other believers hailed Imam paying allegiance to him and the supervision of the noble messenger. Authentic traditions were recorded from different sources on this.
In the latter, the prophet (s) invited the Christians of Najran to invoke Allah’s curse on the lying party after calling his bother Ali, daughter Fatima and sons Imams Hasan and Husain (as), putting them under a clock. Observing the nobility of the infallible, they retreated and the prophet prayed at that point "O Allah, verily, each prophet had a family members whom were the nearest to him. O Allah, these are my household; so please remove uncleanliness from them and purify them thoroughly". Archangel Gabriel immediately descended with the verse "And Allah only wishes to remove all abomination from you, ye members of the family, and to make you pure and spotless" Q33:33
Another significant historic event was the circumstance that led to the revelation of Sura al – Insaan on 25th of the month in praise of the great sacrifice of Imam Ali and his and his family.
LAST DAY OF ZULHIJJA
The significance of the last day of this month cannot be overemphasized. It signifies the end of Arabic or Islamic calendar. Two raka’ats prayers, reading Fatiha and each of Surah al – Ikhlas and Ayat al – Kursy ten times were recommended after which the following supplication will be recited "Allahumma ma amiltu fi hadhihis sanah min amalin nahaitani anhu wa lam tardhahu wa naseetuhu wa lam tansahu wa da’awtani ilat tawba baada ijtiraa’iy alaik, Allahumma fa inni astaghfiruka minhu, faghfirli, wa ma amiltu min amalin yuqarribuniy ilaika faqbalhu minniy wa la taqtaa raja’iy minka ya kareem"
The Satan will say woe unto me! All the effort I have exerted throughout this year for misleading him has failed. In addition to that, the person will be testified of sealing the year with a good act.
The piece for this week is on the subject of the sixth Annual Sallah feast hosted by the leader of the Islamic movement, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky at Zaria. The event was convened under the auspices of Resource forum of the movement. After the opening prayer, Professor Dahiru Yahya, Barrister Solomon Dalung, Pastor Yohanna Buru and Dr. Abdullahi Bawa Wase among others were acknowledged as guests of honour. Other important guests were representatives of the Islamic movement in Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Zaria and Jos and Azare.
The national coordinator, Dr. Danladi welcomed the participants stressing the rationale behind the establishment of the forum and its activities. He then invited those on the high table to the buffet.
After the meal, the chief host reiterated the essence of the feast as a forum that brings people of different backgrounds together to exchange views for the betterment of the society. The sheikh discussed with dismay the deplorable trend experienced by the country from mid 70’s to date. He reminded the audience of the intense ideological warfare of those days when they were at lower school to first level in the universities describing the level of deterioration to virtually all sectors of our national life. Even the religious ambassadors in the most sensitive sector were not spared from the unfortunate corrupt tendencies according to the sheikh as many were employed to serve the selfish interest of the corrupt in the community.
In the cause of studentship, the sheikh who graduated with first class honours in Economics at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in the late 70’s wished to become a civil servant to lead a reserve life, but for his stand against oppression and cry for justice right from then he was arrested and imprisoned for several times nailing him more in the struggle and distant away from the initial ambition, becoming a full time religious activist. The sheikh observed collective responsibility as a necessity for societal reform. Therefore, people should not fold their hands waiting for the saviour to come to their aid without playing their moral role emphasizing the destiny as proportionate to deeds of the people. He exemplified with recent president Buhari’s remark on the people’s paradoxical yearning for change which he said must be supported and wisely complemented.
He extensively stressed the fact that goodness and badness were two parallel things that people must understand saying it was unfortunate that many people expect their oppressors to save them. Basically, the righteous are related to goodness and justice and the bad to mischief and injustice!
DR. ABDULLAHI BAWA WASE
In his short but very significant speech, Wase expressed appreciation over the programme and the way its invitation was extended to him, promising to attend whenever invited from whichever point he might he might be in the world. He emphasized the need for understanding and tolerance between people with different background in whichever society citing example with Jos where they created an all comprising forum for peaceful coexistence. He shared his experience with the audience on some programmes he attended with the sheikh as far back in the 70’s.
Generally speaking, the issue of peaceful coexistence was paramount in all nations citing examples with 133 countries he visited. He said Iran was the most sensitive Muslim country concerned with the unity of Muslim world. Finally, he thanked the Sheikh for hosting the feast which was apparently instrumental to the socio – economic well being of the country.
BARRISTER SOLOMOM DALUNG
The Barrister stressed the significant need for ethno – religious tolerance in all heterogeneous society, expressing gratitude to the widely recognised effort of the Sheikh in this direction. He commented on the blessed life of the sheikh which touches millions of people thanking Allah that the sheikh did not engage in the said civil service keeping him away from all corrupt tendencies and serving as a model towards justice regardless of ethno – religious backgrounds. The barrister added that justice is a prerequisite for peaceful coexistence, as such there can be no peace whenever injustice prevails. He lamented the way people considered knowledgeable religious ambassadors were misused by politicians at will because of greediness. He emphasized the need for understanding and ethno – religious tolerance giving examples with way the prophet (s) accommodated and related with prominent Christians at the initial stage of Islamic history.
PASTOR YOHANNA BURU
As a usual participant, Buru thanked the Sheikh for organizing the event and honour in the invitation always extended to him and other Christians. He thanked Allah for having the Sheikh’s voice that struggle for the dislodgement of oppression and establishment of justice in the country.
He described the lessons behind the feast as very instrumental which encouraged him to build stronger relation not with the Islamic movement alone but other Muslim scholars in the country. He emphasized the benefits behind the programme to the entire country and asked the organiser to keep up the tempo for the advancement of the country.
The vote of thanks was delivered by Engineer Yahya Gilima, who thanked Allah, the Omnipotent through whose favour the programme was successful. He also thanked the special guests, the chief host and all participants for sparing their good time to attend and wished all a happy and safe journey back. The closing prayer was offered by the Sheikh.
PUSHING NIGERIA FORWARD
With Nigeria’s 55 years of independence, it was imperative to put a word or two at this juncture. Lamentably, a flash back at our socio – economic sectors such as education, health, aviation, agriculture and security among others, is very disheartening despite numeric strength and overwhelming resources. Undoubtedly, corruption was responsible for the deterioration of our national life. Allah says “Whatever misfortune happens to you, is because of the things your hands have wrought, and for many of them He grants forgiveness”.
To destroy the menace and uplift our country to greater height, we must fear Allah, popularly referred as the beginning of wisdom. We should also encourage one another to promote the country sincerely as a single tree cannot make a forest. So all hands must be on deck.
We pray to Allah, the omnipotent to bless our nation and empower the most upright of us for the socio – economic stability of the country.
Wassalamu alaikum!