Iran Press/ Africa: Sheikh Ahmad Yusuf, a senior member of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and also the representative of Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky made the remarks in an exclusive interview with Iran Press in Bauchi.
The Nigerian Islamic scholar started from the historical background of the Arbaeen march when Sayyeda Zainab led the families of Karbala martyrs returning back to Madina but on their way stopped at Karbala and marked the first Arbaeen.
He emphasized that even non-Muslims like the first president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela were inspired by Imam Husain's resistance in his struggle for the freedom of South Africa.
"Now, we can say that the importance of Arbaeen processions can not be overemphasized. First place we can say that the Arbaeen commemorations keep the struggle of Imam Hussain alive and it went further to inculcate the sense of resistance in the hearts and minds of every freedom fighter in the world and the resistance forces," Sheikh Ahmad Yusuf said.
He further cited an example of when the late Mandela was given a treaty to sign in favor of colonialists for his release from prison. "The treaty was brought to him and if he agreed to sign it, he would be released from prison, but Nelson Mandela said when he was about to sign the treaty, he remembered the resistance of Imam Hussain, and he then said no! He would rather die in prison than sign the treaty in favor of the apartheid government."
"Therefore, we can say that the Arbaeen march and Imam Hussain's resistance and movement put an inspiration in the hearts and minds of every freedom fighter in the world," said Sheikh Ahmad Yusuf, the representative of Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky in the North Eastern state.
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