Muslims and some sections of the Christian community yesterday, mourned the brutal killing of Imam Husain, grandson of the Holy Prophet of Islam, and some of the Prophet’s family members by despotic Yazid, son of Mu’awiyyah, in the plain of Karbala, Iraq, 61 years A.H.
Yesterday too was marked as the Day of Ashura which was the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar.
There had been daily mourning sessions, which culminated in a large procession yesterday, drawing about one million participants.
The procession, which took off in the morning from Maiduguri Road Juma’at Mosque amidst tight security, passed through Ahmadu Bello Way and Kano Way, and terminated at Kwanar Chanchangi in Tudunwada.
Among the participants were a delegation from the Christian community led by Pastor Yohanna Y. Buru.
They included Reverend David Abaya, Pastor Joel Zego, Pastor Maxwell Sanda, Adun A. Adua and Pastor Muhammad Abdullahi.
In an interview, Pastor Yohanna Buru said it was a religious obligation for the Christian community to commemorate with Muslims over the monumental tragedy that befell the household of the Prophet of Islam.
“It is expedient and necessary for us to be with our Muslim colleagues in times of joy, in time of sorrow.
“Moreover, the people killed were those luminaries in Islam who Prophet Muhammad ordered Muslim faithful to strictly adhere to.
“We therefore extend our sincere condolence to the entire Muslim Ummah on this day.”
During the terminal speech, the Ameer of the Kaduna zone of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Muhammad Mukhtar Sahabi, said that Ashura is not exclusively observed by the Shi’a but the entire Muslims because Imam is the grandson of the Prophet of Islam.
Sahabi pointed out that love for the household of the holy Prophet (Ahlul Bayt), as prescribed by Allah is a religious obligation, while disdain for their enemies and their killers is also a religious duty.
“You cannot love Imam Husain and at the same time love those who killed him. It is impossible! You should either love Husain and dislike his enemies, or love killers of Husain and dislike Husain. There is no two-way about this issue.”
Sahabi therefore called on the Muslim Ummah to show practical love for the Infallible Progeny of the holy Prophet, as amplified and exemplified by Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, through whose call people are now being more aware.
“In the path of the Ahlul Bayt, genuine religion lies, on their path injustice and tyranny is wiped out. [myad]
