Return To Islam, Your Root, Sheikh Zakzaky Tells Nigerian Fulanis
His Eminence, Sheikh Ibraheem Yaqoub Zakzaky says in the face of on-going general onslaught and atrocities against Fulani herdsmen across Nigeria, return to Islam remains the only salvation.
Sheikh Zakzaky who made the statement at a special Maulud organized for the Fulani at Hussainiyyah Baqiyyatullah, Zaria, described Fulani as champions and vanguards of Islam.
He explained that, Fulani brought and spread Islam far and wide across continents, and therefore no tribe can boast of superiority over it. “You cannot compare he who brought light and salvation with the person that received and benefitted from it”.
His Eminence lamented that, the widespread persecution of Fulani across Nigeria was a deliberate attempt to break their unity, scuttle their economic base and distort their exemplary moral conduct to dissuade them from return to their ancestral history.
“They want to push out the Fulani into cities to corrupt their women, youth and children so that they become preoccupied with urban glamour and menace, thereby relegating their religion to the background”, he added.
He attributed the constant theft of Fulani cattle, killing their men and abduction and rape of their women and children as the handiwork of the government, whose agenda was to wipe away the traces of Islam brought by the Fulani.
Sheikh Zakzaky cited example of other countries such as Iran, where development is taken to the people such as herdsmen as they move along routes in remote areas.
“But here in Nigeria, they are being killed at will without any just cause, precisely because the Fulani tribe remains an embodiment of Islam”, he further lamented.
“You should therefore rise up to the challenge by holding firm unto your religion as the only solution. It is this religion that has placed you above other tribes; it is this very religion that has produced a luminary figure that brought light that shaped the society. This religion will surely be the panacea to your problems now”, emphasized Sheikh Zakzaky.
He however all hope was not lost with the current Islamic revival and orientation among Fulani youths and children.
Sheikh Zakzaky called on the children to be of good conduct, obedient and shun all popular culture and vices that is foreign to their culture and religion.
He also advised parents to ensure proper education of their children
While commending the proliferation of Fudiyyah schools in Fulani hamlets, the Leader called for the establishment of Qur’an memorization schools in order to acquaint the children with knowledge and understanding of the Holy Book.
Fulani leaders who spoke at the occasion expressed appreciation with the effort of Sheikh Zakzaky in propagating Islamic teachings to the Fulani folk, which he said has brought them out from darkness.
Highlight of the occasion was parade by Fulani Fudiyyah schools, poems recitation, etc.
Sheikh Zakzaky also presented gifts to schools for outstanding performance, and treated the participants to a special feast as mark of honour at the birthday of the Holy Prophet.
