Why It Matters:
The gesture was aimed to make sure that the martyrdom of their parents and loved ones does not cause significant social, emotional, and other challenges to them, and also to ensure that the children remain on the path of resistance which their parents sacrificed their precious lives for.
The Big Picture:
The Islamic Movement in Nigeria under the leadership of Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky for more than 30 years has been honoring families of its members martyred. The program is being done on the eve of the annual Martyrs' Day, popularly known as Yaumu Shuhada on every 25th of Rajab, a date in which Imam Musa Al Kazim, the seventh Shi'a Imam was martyred.
What He Says:
In his lecture to the children, the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria in Abuja said "You must continue what your parents were doing during their lifetime, that's resisting against injustice. They have fulfilled their promises to Allah, and we believe that they are now happy in heaven together with good servants." He however urged the children to continue to remember and always pray for their parents.
During the event, Sheikh Zakzaky apart from lectures and the dinner, also presented gifts to the families of the martyrs and offered special prayers for the repose of their souls.
Go Deeper:
There are thousands of children and families of martyrs in Nigeria, most of them lost their parents and guardians during the 2015 Zaria massacre, when the Nigerian Military under former President Buhari's order raided Hussainiyyah Baqiyyatullah in Zaria city, mosques, residence of Sheikh Zakzaky, killed more than 1000 of unarmed Shi'a Muslims including women and children.
303
