Malam Ahmad Yusuf Yashi
By Akanji Alowoludo, Bauchi
Muslims in the country have been called upon to properly understand the message of the Arba’een Symbolic Trek by Shi’ite members rather than condemn it entirely.
The call is coming as the sect, Islamic Movement in Nigeria under the leadership of Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky holds its annual mass trek every month of Safar in the Islamic calendar is scheduled for Sunday, 3rd September, 2023 in Pambegua exit of Kaduna state.
The Pambegua axis comprises Bauchi, Adamawa, Taraba, Nasarawa and Plateau states among others which usually undertake the annual trek exercise from the Pambegua starting point.
Speaking with journalists on Saturday, the Bauchi state representative of the Islamic movement, popularly known as Shi’ite, Malam Ahmad Yusuf Yashi, said that, “As usual, having found ourselves in the month of Safar, the Islamic Movement under the leadership of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky is about to embark on what we call symbolic trek.”
He explained that,”Just as the name implies, it is to symbolize what is actually taking place in Iraq presently.”
According to him, “But, we here, due to some economic constraints, we would not be able to find ourselves there at Iraq, therefore we would do what we can do in our locality here.”
Ahmad Yusuf added that, “under this opportunity, the movement is used to categorize the whole country under Seven axis that the Muslim brotherhood use to gather and conduct this trek. We have the Kano axis, Malumfashi/Katsina, Funtua axis, Kaduna, Pambegua among others.”
Arbaeen Trek is a Shiite annual religious practice usually conducted on 20th Safar of Islamic calendar to mark the 40th day of the murder of Imam Hussein ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Muhammed who was killed on 10th Muharram.
Malam Ahmed Yashi explained that the event is not a new thing, but they make use of these medium of communication to enlighten some people who may be ignorant about the day of commencement of the symbolic trek, which would be embarked this weekend.
He stressed that, “It is an annual event being undertaken over a long period of years. It is called ‘Arba’een Trek’ under the Islamic tenent. It is usually being observed 40 days after the demise of a person, which started after the assassination of Imam Hussyein who was killed on the 10th of Muharram, 61 years after the Wafat of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).”
According to him, “Before 2015, we used to trek from the starting point of the Pambegua axis up to Zaria, where we met the leader. From there, he gives the closing remarks and people return back to their states. From 2015, after the former President Buhari led regime descended on the Islamic movement, especially our leader, killing thousands of people, we changed the practice.”