By BASHIR ADEFAKA
International preacher, Dr. Zakir Naik, standing before the filled-to-capacity International Conference Centre, Kasarawa, Sokoto State on Thursday November 2, 2023 and declared his profound joy that he finally made it meeting the Leader of over 100 million Muslims of Nigeria and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.
“I am happy to meet the Leader of more than 100 million Muslims of Nigeria, Sultan of Sokoto”, Dr. Naik said in his lecture titled, “Al Qur’an – The Global Necessity”, durung the closing ceremony of week-long 10th Sheikh Usmanu Bn Fodiyo Week 1445AH (2023), after starting his preaching with a a five-minute dedicated touch on the plight of the Palestinian people.
The Mumbai, India-born world class Islamic scholar gave an emotion laden account of the oppression, persecution and massacre being faced by Palestinian people including women abd children in the face of United of America-backed Israel.
Dr. Zakir Naik wondered that US-led West and those who believe in them would call late former President of South Africa, Mr. Nelson Mandela, a freedom fighter, which he believes is correct, but, in the case of resident fighters of Palestine, they are called terrorists.
He said the people fighting in Palestine in ensuring freedom of Palestinians from their ageing oppressors, Israel, are not terrorists.
He seized the opportunity of microphone to mention why he is called terrorist by elements, either in the West or in Nigeria, stating that it is because people embraced Islam after listening to his preachings.
The tag of him a terrorist has, however, not been left without challenging it legally in court as he said part of the reason they are not saying good things about himis because he took them up up in court and he won and fines were awarded against them by court.
He said money he got from the court fines they paid to him he donated to the course of the oppressed people of Palestine.
On the topic of his lecture, the Malaysia-based Naik gave many reasons the Qur’an is a global necessity among which he said was because it is the last revelation.
“Since the Qur’an is the last revelation of Allah, then it is a message of Allah that is meant for the whole of mankind.”
He said because the Qur’an is the most positive book in the world, the Qur’an is the global necessity and he said the purpose of creation was stated in the Qur’an chapter 57 verse 76.
Speaking next to Dr. Zakir Naik was the Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, who stood up from his seat and, mounting the podium, he said those who thought the visiting lecturer would come to the podium abd saying what they have been telling their listerbe4s should now see they failed abd that they should have a rethink.
The Sultan said “We are not working for anybody but we are working for Islam and we are proud about that.”
The Sultan, “As Muslim leaders, we have the right to invite anybody from anywhere in the world to come into Nigeria and talk to us about our Islamic religion and we will do it again and again,” the Sultan said.
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