From Ahmad SAKA, Bauchi
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| IMAM AHMAD YUSUF Bauchi State Leader of IMN |
Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), have concluded all arrangements to embark on their peaceful annual nationwide Arba’een symbolic trek on the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Husain (AS), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad Peace be upon him.
The group, however, said that the symbolic trek would be peaceful and devoid of any attempt to disrupt the right of safe passage to other road users and explained that there is no cause for alarm over the trek.
Leader of the group in Bauchi State Imam Ahmad Yusuf said the event will be a peaceful journey and gatherings and any attempt to disrupt their gathering is a clear violation of their fundamental human rights, and freedom of religion as enshrined in the constitution.
IMN spokesperson explained that the essence of the trek, "Arba’een, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, comes 40 days after the Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Husain (AS), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA)."
He added that, "Each year, millions of Muslims flock to the Iraqi city of Karbala, and since we can't go to Karbala, we will try to emulate what our brothers are doing in order to get regard from Allah by trekking to somewhere along Zaria axis and pray and depart."
Imam Yusuf said, "The purpose of the trek was to experience the trial and tribulation faced by the household of the Holy Prophet who were chained and dragged in the scorching desert, barefoot from Karbala in Iraq to Damascus in Syria after the killing of Imam Husain 61 years after Hijra."
"The fortieth day (Arbaeen) commemoration after the martyrdom of Imam Husain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) is commemorated annually by the Islamic movement, following a symbolic trek by millions of people from across the country," he said.
"In Nigeria, the Islamic movement under the leadership of Ibraheem Yakub Al-Zakzaky, we use to conduct the trek just to symbolize what happened. There are about seven axis that the Muslim brotherhood use to gather and conduct this trek, we have the Kano, kastina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna, Bauchi and Plateau axis"
"Before 2015, we use to trek from the starting point of this Bauchi axis up to Zaria, where we meet the leader. From there, he gives the closing remarks and people return back to their states. From 2015, after the Buhari regime descended on the Islamic movement, especially our leader, killing thousands of people, the government took it upon itself to prevent this trek, particularly in Kaduna state. Since that time, we usually hold press conferences to enlighten the public on the importance of the trek"
"There is no need for the authorities to descend on us or attack us. This is the essence of calling on the media to enlighten the public that there is no reason to panick.We have the rigth in the constitution to practice our religion without any fear or intimidation as Muslims," he said.
Imam Yusuf said that they hpave informed the security, traditional rulers, religious leaders and other members of the public concerning the trek so that it will be peaceful.
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