By Abubakar Yunusa
The Islamic Movement in Nigeria, popularly known as Shiites, will on Saturday, embark on its annual Arbaeen Symbolic Trek around Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Arbaeen 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, the grandson of Prophet Muhammed who was killed on 10th Muharram.
In a statement on Friday, Sidi Munir Mainasara Sokoto, a member of the movement, urged residents not to panic.
Sokoto said the purpose of the trek was to experience the trial and tribulation faced by the household of the Holy Prophet who was 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.
“Our trek on foot here in Nigeria is just another way of saying that had there been a safe passage to Karbala from here, we would have marched to Karbala to pay homage to Imam Husain (AS) on this auspicious day.
“Nobody should be afraid of our Arbaeen trek. Love for Imam Husain (AS) is not exclusive to Muslims only, right from the gruesome attack on the Imam at Karbala, but for all those who love justice and fight against oppression of all ages. That is why we once again welcome our Christian brothers in humanity who have chosen, on their own free will, to trek with us today.
“This is not the first time Christians have identified themselves with Imam Husain (AS); they have done it before, and we thankfully welcome them. No one forced us to embark on the trek; it is out of free will and love for humanity. We pray that Allah thwarts and frustrates the evil plans of the oppressors against us, as he has done it in the past,” the statement read in part.
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