First Day of Ashura Gathering in Nigeria

The first mourning gathering in the new Islamic year took place on Monday the 1st of Muharram 1432 at Baqiyyatullah Husainiyyah. Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky started by congratulating Muslims on the fall of the new Islamic year 1432. As usual the Sheikh made explanation on the Islamic Months as contained in the Holy Qur’an.

The Islamic Movement in Nigeria under the leadership of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky annually hold a ten-day mourning gatherings on the killing on Imam Husain(AS) and his companions. The history of the event is revisited by the Leaders and the lessons therein.

He also used the opportunity to explain the various deeds expected of Muslims to do with regard to New Year and on the outgoing year. He said that the supplications and acts of worship in the period are essential as reported in various Ahadeeth, they can be found in the book of Mafatihul Jinan or Iqbalul a’amal.

Sheikh Zakzaky further spoke on the event of Ashura in which he expressed his condolence to the Ummah on the tragedy of Ashura which occurred 61AH at the plain of Karbala where Imam Husain (AS) and his followers were brutally killed.

After the sunset prayers led by Sheikh Zakzaky, he made a brief introduction on mourning gathering of Ashura. He explained that after Ashura tragedy, followers of Ahlul Bayt (AS) used to secure a place specifically for holding gathering to mourn the the killing of Imam Husain(AS) and his followers. Such a place was later named Husainiyyah which not only serve for mourning gathering but as learning center too.

latmiyyah was also held where poets on the tragedy of karbala were recited as Mourners shed tears. The programme ended with a recitation of prayers on the fall of new Islamic Year and the passed one.