Sheikh Ibrahim Makwarari, leader of the Qadiriyya Sufi order in Nigeria, made the remarks in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of a graduation event in Kano State where hundreds of Shi’a children memorized the Qur’an. He argued that the American and Israeli campaign against Iran should be understood as a declaration of war against Islam, urging Muslims around the world to join the struggle by supporting the Islamic Republic of Iran.
“The war is for everyone,” Makwarari said. “A Muslim or non-Muslim has the right to live in this world. If Zionists under the umbrella of the United States should not allow Muslims to live in this world, this is unacceptable. There is an important call on all Muslim ummah, despite discrepancies and differences—differences that are barely in names—because we are all under the kalimatu-shahada. We see no reason why we shouldn’t support the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
He added: “America and its allies are against Islam—not only Iran. Therefore, we have to unite and fight alongside Iran. America and Zionists are killing our people in Iran, so let us kill them too wherever they are. We are happy that Iran is striking against their formations worldwide. That is a very good thing because Islam allows that. Allah in the Qur’an says that anyone who attacked you, you should retaliate. Muslims should not be afraid of retaliation. So, let us unite and face America and anybody who is against Islam.”
Speaking about the Minab schoolgirls whom he said were martyred by Israel and America, Makwarari said: “We are praying for those school children of Minab who were murdered, they are shuhada. They were murdered innocently, and they’re martyrs. May Allah have mercy upon them. We are appealing to Allah against America and Zionists racists. Also, we are calling the Muslim ummah wherever they are in the world to pray for the success of Iran.”
The Sunni leader also condemned what he called Wahabi takfiri clerics who, he said, promote disunity and hatred among Muslims in Nigeria and beyond. “Those Wahabi takfiris are not pure Muslims,” he claimed, adding that they argue the American and Israeli war on Iran is a political issue. “This is not a political matter. It is a religious matter. So, we are praying diligently against America and its allies, and God will assist us vehemently,” he concluded.
- ahmad shirzadian
