As Muslim community marks the Ashura Day across the world, the Islamic Movement, also known as the Shiites, has held a peaceful procession in Abuja to commemorate the day.
The procession which kicked started from Wuse Market around 11:00am on Wednesday, terminated at Berger roundabout peacefully despite warning by the Nigerian police against the Islamic group not to hold the rally.
Professor Dauda Nalado, in a statement on behalf of the Islamic Movement under the leadership of Sayyid Ibraheem Yaqoub El-Zakzaky (H), said the Shiites are channelling the Ashura grief into resistance against the injustice being perpetuated against the people of Palestine.
“We are also calling on all people of conscience to continue to support the people of Palestine,” he added.
According to him, Ashura, the 10th of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, is a day of commemoration in Islam.
“Ashura is being commemorated to mourn the killing of Imam Hussain (AS), who was beheaded at Karbala (in present-day Iraq) in 61 AH, equivalent to 680 CE. Imam Hussain ibn Ali ibn Abi Ṭalib (AS) is a grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) and a son of Ali ibn Abi Talib and Sayyida Fatima bintu Muhammad (SAWA), as well as a younger brother of Imam Hassan ibn Ali (AS).
“The events of the 10th of Muharram in the year 61 AH, when Yazid ibn Mu’awiyah brutally murdered Imam Hussain ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA), in Karbala, Iraq, along with his family and friends, are the most tragic episode not only in the history of Islam but in all of human tragedy.
“All people, regardless of religion, will continue to learn many lessons from Imam Hussain’s (AS) martyrdom. Every year, millions of people commemorate the Ashura tragedy all throughout the world, and this universal acceptance is a portent of the return of Imam Mahdi ibn Hassan Al-Askari (ATFS), the long-awaited Saviour of humanity.
“The Ashura of this year, comes with a peculiarity. It comes when the illegal state of Israel launches an all-out genocide against women and children in Palestine. It violates all the known humane conventions and commits war crimes with impunity.
“The Zionists have full support of the regimes in America and the West. More interestingly, while the regimes in America and its allies support the illegal state of Israel, millions of people in America and other western countries come out to support the people of Palestine.
“As usual, the Islamic movement, under the revered leadership of his Eminence Sayyid Ibraheem Yaqoub El-Zakzaky (H), joins the global community in commemorating this annual event with the theme Ashura mourning with a purpose: channelling grief into resistance.
” Imam Ali bn Abi Tablib (AS) says, ‘When you see an oppressed person, then help him against the oppressor.” In another hadith, Imam Hussein bn Ali (AS) says, “Those who are silent when others are oppressed are guilty of oppression themselves.’ This hadith reminds us of our duty to support the oppressed and resist oppression.
“While commemorating the tragedy of Karbala, at the same time we are channelling our Ashura grief into resistance against the injustice being perpetuated against the people of Palestine.
“We would like to use this opportunity to send our condolences to the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) and his holy progeny on the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS), and may Allah (SWT) grant us their intercession on the day of judgement.
“While commemorating the tragedy of Ashura, we are calling on Ashura mourners to channel their grief towards resistance against the Zionist occupation of Palestine,” Professor Nalado said.
