ZARIA CITY, Nigeria: The method applied by Imam Khomeini (R) for unifying the Muslim Ummah through organizing the unity week in the month of Rabiul Awwal same was adopted in Nigeria by the Islamic Movement under the leadership of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky some years back for achieving the same purpose.

This year’s unity week started on Wednesday 19th of March, 2008 which is equivalent to the 12th Rabiul Awwal and concluded on Monday 17th Rabiul Awwal which is the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) and Imam Sadeq (a.s.) birthday.

Islamic scholars from different sect and dariqat in most of the Nigerian regions and their neighbours have been invited to give lectures on respective topics. Among the scholars invited include; Sheikh Lawal Sule Abdullahi who delivered his lectures on the situation of Islam in the present time. Ustadh Dr. Yusuf Ali discussed the topic titled holding the rope of Allah is the solution. Lecture on importance of Muslim Unity was delivered by Sheikh Murtadha Sheikh A. Abdulfatah. Brotherhood in Islam by Sheikh AbdulAzeez Jos. Sheikh Karibullah Nasiru K. delivered his lecture under the titled of leadership in islam. A guest scholar from Niger Sheikh Sale Lazare explained the right of Prophet and his family (pbuh&hf) . Sheikh Halliru Maraya delivered his lecture on the struggle of Sheikh Othman Bin Fodio (the leader of the Islamic revival in West Africa around 1804). The unity week was held in Fudiyya Islamic Centre in Zaria city. Thousands of brothers and sisters from many towns and villages attended to benefit from the lectures delivered.

The leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky made a concluding remark on the respective lectures delivered by the guest scholars.

On Monday a special procession took place in Zaria city by the members of the Islamic Movement marched across the main roads of the city to express their happiness and rejoice with the entire Muslim Ummah on the auspicious birthday of the Holy Prophet (pbuh)

Hundred of thousands participated in the procession including men, women and their children who came from different areas of Nigeria and their neighboring countries. They marched to the street in line, dressed in new cloths distributing gifts to the people in the street. The Fudiyya school students and Hurras (Guards) dressed in different colourful uniforms performed a special parade and karate in the street to honour this important event. Some of the participants wore a traditional dress of the Nigerian tribes as a sign of call to unity in islam.

The procession was concluded in Kofar Doka Stadium whereby the leader of the Islamic Movement Sheikh Zakzaky closes the event with a concluding speech.

During his speech, Sheikh Zakzaky focused his speech on the life of Jahiliyya period before the coming of islam and the life of the Holy Prophet Muhammad in the society before and after the declaration of monotheism to the Ummah. He stated that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) taught the Ummah great lessons practically on the ways need to be adopting for changing the kufr system. Though the believers have been maltreated and oppressed for accepting islam by the unbelievers but they remain firm and assisted the Prophet to establish and spread Islam. Sheikh called on the Muslim Ummah to follow the same as the only way to gain victory and to be saved from painful punishments in the hereafter.

In the other hand he also commend on the life of Imam Jafar Sadeq (A.S.) where the Sheikh said Imam Jafar (A.S) is the father and one who spread the knowledge of Tauheed and Fiqh. He teaches to the thousands of scholars including those who created their own madhaheeb.

While explaining the current oppression on the Muslim Ummah in most of the muslim countries by the so called world powers, Sheikh said that the only solution is the path followed by Ruhullah Imam Khomein (R) when he wiped the enemies of Islam from Iran and gave a painful blow to America.

Sheikh blamed America, Russia and their allies for attacking and occupying Muslim countries. He gave an example with Afghanistan, Iraq, Chechnya, Somalia and Palestine whereby Muslims are being killed daily by those countries. To make it understand clearly he gave an example with Nigeria whereby Muslim has 66 – 70% of the total population but they are living in depression and oppressed by the leaders. The leaders are always concentrating on stealing the public money while the masses have no access to social amenities like electricity and welfare.

He called the Muslim to wake up and rise to adopt Islamic system which is the only solution to their problems. He concluded by promising that very soon Islamic system will prevail in Nigeria as Almighty Allah promised victory to the believers.