In Pictures: Massive Ashura Procession Held in Zaria

By Ammar M. Rajab The disciples of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky hold annual Ashura processions on the 10th of Muharram. This year's processio...

By Ammar M. Rajab

The disciples of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky hold annual Ashura processions on the 10th of Muharram. This year's procession was held on Tuesday, the 10th of Muharram, 1446, equivalent to the 16th of July 2024. Thousands of people participated in the demonstration in Zaria town, Kaduna State, Northwestern Nigeria.

The procession was attended by men, women, children, adults, the elderly, and the youth. Our reporter stated that the protesters were divided into two groups in Zaria: some started from Agwaro, while others began the procession from Gwargwaje.

The procession, which started at exactly 8:00 a.m., began in an orderly manner, with participants marching and singing songs of sympathy and sorrow for the killing of Imam Hussain (AS) and the rest of the family of the Messenger of Almighty Allah (SAWW) in the 61st year after the migration of the Messenger of God (S). The protesters wore black attire, indicating a state of sadness and grief.

During our interaction with the participants, they told our reporter that the purpose of their demonstration was to express condolences and show sorrow for what happened to the progeny of the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (SAWW), and to inform the community about the massacre of the Prophet's (S) family.

During the demonstration, they handed out a statement signed by Dr. Dauda Nalado on behalf of the Islamic Movement, which explained the purpose of their procession.

The statement, titled "ASHURA MOURNING WITH A PURPOSE: CHANNELLING GRIEF INTO RESISTANCE", stated: “Ashura, the 10th of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, is a day of commemoration in Islam. Ashura is being commemorated to mourn the killing of Imam Hussain (AS), who was beheaded in Karbala (in present-day Iraq) in 61 AH, equivalent to 680 CE. Imam Hussain ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS) is a grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) and a son of Ali ibn Abi Talib and Sayyida Fatima Bint Muhammad (SAWA), as well as a younger brother of Imam Hassan ibn Ali (AS).”

Part of the statement narrated: “The events of the 10th of Muharram in the year 61 AH, when Yazid ibn Mu'awiyah brutally murdered Imam Hussain ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA), in Karbala, Iraq, along with his family and friends, are the most tragic episode not only in the history of Islam but in all of human tragedy.

“All people, regardless of religion, will continue to learn many lessons from Imam Hussain's (AS) martyrdom. Every year, millions of people commemorate the Ashura tragedy all throughout the world, and this universal acceptance is a portent of the return of Imam Mahdi ibn Hassan Al-Askari (ATFS), a long-awaited Saviour of humanity.

‘The Ashura of this year comes with a peculiarity. It comes when the illegal state of Israel launches an all-out genocide against women and children in Palestine. It violates all known humane conventions and commits war crimes with impunity. The Zionists have the full support of the regimes in America and the West. More interestingly, while the regimes in America and its allies support the illegal state of Israel, millions of people in America and other Western countries come out to support the people of Palestine.

‘We would like to use this opportunity to send our condolences to the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) and his holy progeny on the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS), and may Allah (SWT) grant us their intercession on the day of judgement.

‘While commemorating the tragedy of Ashura, we are calling on Ashura mourners to channel their resistance against the Zionist occupation of Palestine. We are also calling on all people of conscience to continue to support the people of Palestine,’ the statement said.

The demonstration, which lasted more than three hours, began and concluded safely. Shaikh Abdulhamid Bello, the representative of the Islamic Movement in Zaria, presented the closing speech. Afterward, prayers were said, and the procession was dismissed.