*As Sultan specially honours Keke boy, Zamfara pilgrim who returned found monies to owners in Kano, Saudi Arabia
*Event opportunity to renew our allegiance to Sheikh Fodio, to Sultan – Emir of Zazzau
*As Emir of Kaora Namoda, other monarchs storm Sokoto for ancestral Shehu
*Dr Naik tells why Qur’an is global necessity
*Reveals reason behind hindian goat’s issue with him
*We have right to invite any Muslim to Nigeria – Sultan
*Says ‘We are working for Islam and have no apology to anybody’
*We are proud of our Islam and united behind Sultan as our leader – Yayale Ahmed
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
The week-long events of the 10th Sheikh Usman Dan Fodiyo Week 1445 AH (2023) came to a close on Thursday November 2, 2023 with Nigerian Muslims across spectrums of the society rewarded for making Islam and the country proud by their distinctions of services, integrity and good moral behaviours.
The 10th edition of the Week, which is an annual event in memory of late Amir-ul Mu’mineen, Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio, flagged off in with a world press conference held at the Islamic Education Trust (IET), Sokoto and addressed by Chairman of the Planning Committee, Mallam Muhammad Lawal Maidoki, the Sadaukin Sokoto and Executive Chairman of Sokoto State Zakat and Endowment Commission (SOZECOM), on Saturday October 14, 2023.
The grand finale held on Thursday November 2, a fixed date for the annual event which coincided with 17th Anniversary of His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar on the Usmaniyyah Throne of the Sultan of Sokoto.
The DEFENDER reports that grand finale of the 10th Sheikh Usman Dan Fodiyo Week for the year was in reality held at the International Conference, Kasarawa in the Seat of the Caliphate, with the His Royal Highness Ambassador Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli, the Emir of Zazzau, as Chairman of the occasion.
The event, which featured presentation of awards to winners of school quiz competitions earlier conducted during activities in the build-up to the main day, saw very many prominent personalities in attendance including Governors of states of the old Sokoto province namely Dr Ahmed Aliyu (Sokoto), Alhaji Nasir Idris (Kebbi) and Alhaji Dauda Lawal (Zamfara) who were either physically present or were ably represented at the event.
The Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the Niger State Emirate Council, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, and the Emir of Kaura-Namoda, Alhaji Sanusi Muhammad, were conspicuously noticed among traditional rulers who graced the occasion as an indication of respect to the ancestral headquarters that Sokoto Caliphate religiously and traditionally represents.
Renowned international Islamic scholar, Dr. Zakir Naik, was chief guest speaker at this year’s event where he spoke on the topic, “Al Qur’an The Global Necessity.”
Last year, it was America-born Dr. Abdullah Hakim Quick, who flew in from his base in Ontario, Canada, to deliver the Ninth Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio Week grand finale lecture. Asides Dr. Quick, a renowned scholar and PhD holder in ‘Aspects of Islamic Social Intellectual History in 19th Century Hausa Land: Uthman Ibn Fodio’, other scholars who featured in the success of the 1444/2022 edition of the Usman Dan Fodio Week included Professor Mohammad Taofeek Ibrahim, a former Vice Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University, Iloriin, Professor S. O. Raibiu of the Factulty of Law, Usmanu Dan Fadio University, Sokoto, and Professor Chika Umar Aliyu of the Department of Economics Usman Dan Fodio University Sokoto and Dr. Salisu Bakori of the Centre for Islamic Propagation, Katsina State and many more.
In his welcome address on Thursday, Maidoki gave the highlights of what the event for this year entailed noting the virtues of the late commander of the faithful and visionary leader, Sheikh Usman Dan Fodiyo, in whose honour it was organised and made annual.
He stated the role of the leader in the reformist expedition that ushered in the new era of the independent empire whereby he took the then warring Hausa State and some of its neighbours out of their conflict situation and kept them united under umbrella of the Sokoto Caliphate, the largest political entity of the 19th century in sub-Saharan Africa.
“This political stability was achieved through a just and peaceful leadership that was based on the Islamic principle of worshiping Allah sub’anahu watahala the most high alone as taught by the messenger of Allah, peace be unto him, Anabi Muhammad Salallahu wasalam. It has also been established that it was based on tidings to all creatures of Allah sub’anahu watala.
“Therefore, this focused and visionary leadership laid by Sheikh Usman Bin Fodio and the overall leader of the Caliphate, his brother Sheikh Abdullah Bin Fodio, the chief ideologist of the Caliphate and his son, Sultan Muhammadu Bello, the master strategist of the Caliphate and other jihad leaders and other lieutenants helped one another to achieve piety and stability in this part of the world.
“There are also flagbearers in different parts of the continent, may Allah sub’anahu watahala be pleased with them and unite us in paradise,” Maidoki noted while also referencing the intellectual development the late Sheikh Dan Fodio had brought to the Sokoto Caliphate, sustained by his eldest son, Sultan Muhammadu Bello as it had continued until the present day Sokoto Caliphate under the leadership of one of his descendants across successive generations, sitting Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.
According the planning committee chairman, this year’s Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio Week featured among other laidout programmes and activities, the preliminaries 1: quiz and essay competitions (Arabi, Hausa and English), which started same day of the press conference at Government Girls College (GGC), Sokoto, on Yaom as-Sabt Rabi’ul Awwal 29, 1445AH equivalent of Saturday October 14, 2023 CE.
The preliminary quiz competition was to test participating students from schools in areas including the lives and contributions of Sheikh Usman Bin Fodio and Mallam Abdullahi Bin Fodio as outlined in the book, “Daular Usmaniyya” volume 1 and 2 by Sheikh (Dr.) Muhammad Isa Talata Mafara.
According to the programme of events, essay topics for the academic area included: “The Jihad of Sheikh Usman Bin Fodio and his reform in Hausa Land”, “Towards a drug free society: The role of youths”, “Utilizing social media for Islamic propagation and personal development”, “Religious and societal reforms brought by the Jihad of Sheikh Usman Bin Fodio”, and the “Safety consciousness and its importance in curbing insecurity”.
Maidoki described the oppression of Palestinians by Israel as unacceptable and therefore called on Muslims and any other person in connection with humanity to condemn it and rise up against Israel In the act.
The Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli, as chairman of the all-important occasion, said the event was a reunion of of the old guards and provided them the opportunity to strengthen their allegiance, which was then made to Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio, to his Khalifa and Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.
“This is how it was 200 years ago with our great grabdfathers rallying around Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio. We are here today to renew our allegiance to the Sheikh, to renew our allegiance to the Sultan of Sokoto,” Sarkin Zazzau said.
He congratulated the Sultan on his achievements so far especially for his publications of books on Sultans of Sokoto and Nana Asma’u.
Lecture
The international preacher, Dr. Zakir Abdul Karim Naik, standing before the filled-to-capacity International Conference Centre, Kasarawa, Sokoto State on Thursday November 2, 2023 had 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 Dan Fodio Week 1445AH/2023, after starting his preaching with a five-minute dedicated touch on 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 and children in the face of United States 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 and say something diffetent should go and have a rethink as, according to him, what he said is clear education of the muslims about what islam is and what Islam is not.
The Sultan said “For the past two weeks we’ve been having so many programmes and we are all educated and education is the best weapon you can give any believer. I would like to thank all those who have been here in one way or the other educating our people.
“And I would like to thank Dr Zakir Naik for coming to this 10th Usman Dan Fodio Week and the third time we are personally here for the award we created to bring together the Muslim Ummah. ”
The Sultan continued by asking, “Why do we invite renowned preachersvfrom outside Nigeria to come to Sokoto for this programme? The answer is simple. Islam is one everywhere across the world. And as Muslims we have thevrights to invite fellow Muslims to come and interact with us, to educate us more, to know more about us and to go back to be our ambassadors and speakers to talk about us where they live.
“I remember last year we brought Dr. Abdul Hakim Quick from Canada and when he went back to Canada, he gave a very, very instructive khutbah wherein he talked about this (week) and its background. If hadn’t come, he wouldn’t have had that knowledge to talk about Sokoto Caliphate and Usman dan Fodio.
“Today, alhamdulillahi, we have world renowned Dr. Zakir Naik whom we have known for the past 11 years ago. We also met in Makkah during Umrah and we go up there, he came to see me and we disccmussed. That was 11 years ago. He came Nigeria 10 years ago but today, he is our guest in Sokoto,” the Sultan cleared the doubts anyone about him being the sole person who invited Naik, adding that Sokoto is happy to receive him and will want to do same again and again.
Noticeably, the address of the Leader of the over 100 Muslims of Nigeria sounded unusual pointing to a bold step against activities of certain mischief makers who would always raise objection anytime a prominent Muslim personally international reputation wants or plans to enter Nigeria to interact with his fellow Muslims.
The Sultan’s comments combined with those of Naik, earlier, answered any of the questions the elements in the country “mischievously” raised in the Nigerian media painting a bad picture that Dr. Zakir Naik as a man wanted by Indian counterterrorism agency for counterterrorism, money laundering and other related offences, arrived Nigeria on Sultan’s invitation.
Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar, himself a world class personality, said, “We are Muslims and alhamdulillahi we are very proud to be Muslims and being with fellow Muslims from various parts of the world. And there is nothing that can change our view about Islam. We are working for Islam, we are not working for anybody.
“That is why whenever we meet as Muslim leaders we must tell ourselves the truth. We are Muslims by Allah’s divine way and nobody change it. We are very happy and proud to be,” he said.
The co-President of World Religion for Peace New York continued, “Dr. Naik has spoken to us according to his own understanding of Islamic dawah. So, those who are thinking that be going to day something diffetent should go and have a rethink and what he said is educating Muslims.
“So we believe in Almighty Allah, the one we worship and we would continue to praise him and worship him and him alone….Alhamdulillahi for this day. We want to thank all of you for coming.
“But we have no apology to anybody that we invited one of our own as a Muslim, as a Muslim preacher to come and talk to us about Islam and the Qur’an, ” the Suktan said.
The Leader of the Muslim Ummah of Nigeria described Naik as a renowned Islamic scholar known all over the world and who heads of countries identify with and hold in high esteem. The DEFENDER’s fact-check had reported Wednesday that Naik only has issue with coudian government and it was a fact not unknown that his travail was because of his Islam.
Recall that Naik, in his lecture, had cleared the doubts of the doubting thomases when he said even the three ministers that staged the tag of terrorism and money laundering against him he sued and court awarded them fines running up to 5.5 million rupees (N165 million) in his favour and which he donated as humanitarian contribution for the care of Palestinian peoplebeing oppressed by west-backed Israel.
Awards
The Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Religion, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar also conferred awards to some people who distinguished themselves in their service to humanity.
The Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio Prize for Exemplary Leadership 1445/2023 went posthumously to Khalifa Sheikh Isiaka Rabiu; Sheikh Abdullahi Fodio Exemplary Prize for Knowledge and Scholarship 1445/2023 was won by Sheikh Dr. Muhammad Isah Talata Mafara; Sultan Muhammadu Bello Exemplary Prize for Governance 1445/2023 went to HRH Algaji Yahaya Abubakar, CFR, the Etsu Nupe; Nana Asma’u Exemplary Prize in Social Development 1445/2023 went to Professor Hadiza Nuhu, OON; Sultan Abubakar III Exemplary Prize in Public Service 1445/2023 went to Mr. Stabiliser! Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, CFR, and Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Exemplary Prize in Peace Building 1445/2023 was won by Professor Is-haq Oloyede, CON.
Also, the Sultan honoured a Kano State-based commercial tricyclist, Mallam Auwalu Salisu who for making both the Muslim and Nigeria proud by his exept returned missing N18 million and the Zamfara State woman who found some hard currency and returned it to the officials of the state’s Pilgrims Welfare Agency during the last Hajj exercise.
In his remarks, Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar said the two were chosen for the award because of their positive contributions to the development of their societies and the country at large.
Speaking on behalf of the recipients, Alhaji Mahmoud Yayale Ahmed expressed gratitude to the Sultan.
The former SGF also called on Muslims to always identify with the tenets of Islam.
“We must always be proud of our religion. If we are shying from identifying with our religion, we are doing a great disservice to our nation”,
“We must identify with the tenets of Islam and never compromise the teaching of the religion,” he said.
