Islamic Movement (Nigeria)
The Islamic Movement in Nigeria is a religious and political Shi'a organization[1], based in the northern region of the country. Both Shia and Sunni participate in the movement.[2] The head of the movement is Ibrahim Zakzaky, a Shia cleric. The movement conduct most of its spiritual activities in Husayniyya Baqiyyatullah, located in Zaria.[3]
Programs and Activities
The most considerable activities of the movement included, Ta'alim (instill knowledge), Ijtima, Daurah and Ribat.
- Ta'alim is a form of gathering that mostly occurs in the mosque of various locations, aimed at educating members of the movement. In many places, Ta'alim is scheduled twice in a week. During the ta'alim gathering, Amir (representative) of the particular location or any assigned personnel delivers lessons on Hadith and Qur'anic exegesis.
- Ijtimah was used for stimulating moral attitudes of members of the movement. Members usually congregated in either Kano or Zaria Friday congregational prayer for general Ijtima. Later on, Ijtimah was stopped due to lack of enough vacancy which can contain attendees of the Ijtima. To replace the Ijtimah, Daura was established.
- Daura is a 7 day's programme, in which classes are arranged on various religious aspects. Mostly, in every conclusion of the Daurah, leader of the Islamic Movement Sayyid Ibraheem delivers a closing lecture.
- Mu'tamar is another form of congregating members of the movement. It is organized in either a comfortable theatre or central mosque of a particular city. Scholars from different places of Nigeria attend to deliver lectures on important topics.
- In Pre-khuduba, members gather in different locations of the country with Muslim Umma. The Pre-Khuduba preaching focuses on current affairs and issues related to Islamic world and Muslims in general. In some locations, where the Friday preaching can't be done before the congregational prayer, it will be postpone to after the prayers, before everybody left.
- Celebrations and mourning commemorations is another program of the movement. The occasions are mostly the birthday of the holy Prophet (a) on Rabi' I 17, and the birthday of Imam al-Mahdi (a) on Sha'ban 15, and the birthdays of other Imams of Shi'a. While the mourning days are day of the demise of the holy Prophet (a), martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn (a), and other important mourning days.
- Processions or demonstrations are a way of spreading the message of the movement to people. al-Quds day demonstration is annually organized in solidarity to the oppressed people of Palestine. It is a peaceful procession and performed nationwide, but sometimes there is probability of attack by the government forces.[4]
External Links
Notes
- ↑ Genova, Ann, and Toyin Falola, Historical Dictionary of Nigeria, p. 33
- ↑ Nigerian security forces crackdown on Islamic Movement in Sokoto, Islamic Human Rights Commission, August 20, 2007, Retrieved November 7, 2015
- ↑ Husainiyyah Baqiyyatullah, Official website of the Islamic Movement, Retrieved November 7, 2015
- ↑ about, website of the movement, Retrieved November 7, 2015