Islamic movement stages Ashura procession in Abuja

The Islamic movement in Nigeria under the leadership of Sheikh Ibraheem El- Zakzaky, on Wednesday, staged an Ashura procession in Abuja.

The procession which kicked off from Wuse Market, terminated at Berger roundabout, peacefully.

Popularly known as the Shi’ites, the group in a statement by Professor Dauda Nalado, said the procession was staged in mourning the brutal assassination of Imam Husain (AS), a 7th century revolutionary Leader who sacrificed his life fighting against injustice, tyranny and oppression.

Ashura he stated further means the tenth day of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic lunar calendar which coincided with the day Imam Husain ibn Ali bn Abi Talib (AS), the grandson of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) was unjustly assassinated by the devilish tyrant; Yazid bn Mu’awiyya on the 10th of Muharram, 61 AH which corresponds to the (10th of October 680) at Karbala, Iraq.

The statement reads: “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. We are also calling on all people of conscience to continue to support the people of Palestine.”