Over 50,000 Shiite Muslims yesterday staged a peaceful march across Kaduna metropolis and the city of Zaria in remembrance of the late Imam Hussain and his household.
The members of the Shiite in Zaria, who wore black dresses, sang dirges expressing sadness over the martyrdom of Hussain.
One of the leaders of the procession, Malam Abdul-Hameed Bello, told LEADERSHIP that the Ummayyats intended to wipe out the prophet’s progeny by attacking the prophet’s grandson and his household. It was, he said, a total massacre of the household of the Holy Prophet (SAW) worthy to be mourned by the generality of the Muslims.
In Kaduna, the group were led by the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Kaduna branch, Muhammad Mukhtar Sahabi. A peaceful session was held in Tudun Wada.
Speaking during the procession, Muhammad Mukhtar Sahabi said: “Through the Ashura tragedy, we have learnt that the victor and the vanquished cannot be determined by the immediate results of a battle or war, but by the long-term repercussions of the clash of their ideologies on the course of events and influence on the minds of men.
“We hold firm the belief that, to uproot evil, one must act like the candle, which burns to give others light. True love for martyrdom is the one and only way of genuine revolution. While we feel afresh the anguish and pain inflicted on the Household of the Holy Prophet (SAW) on Ashura Day, we re-echo the sayings of Imam Khomeini (QS): “Every day is Ashura, every land Karbala.”
“As we purify our hearts with the remembrance of Imam Hussain (A.S.) during days of mourning and reflection, we take this opportunity to remind individuals and communities of the great responsibility that we shoulder as followers of this great Imam who sacrificed all he had in order to safeguard Islam. The measure of our commitment to this path should ultimately reflect in our characters, etiquette and steadfastness.’’