Understanding the Shiite question (Opinion)

By Iorliam’Amo SHIJA

Yesterday, a group of Shiites protesters entered the streets of Abuja and as they marched and singing, a clash happened between them and the security authorities resulting into many deaths , including that of a 23 years old corps serving with Channels TV.

Those who have been following this Shiite question closely, will discover that in recent times , especially since 2005, members of this group have been killed in a peculiar manner almost every week.

More so, those who are older or have followed the Shiite movement for longer time, will discover that, since the 1980s, the Shiites have been killed by authorities, yet the group rather waxes stronger.

So, before I go further, I wish to establish the fact that what is happening today has historical grounds and those who do not grasp this important angle, might not appreciate or understand what is actually happening, and of course , its implications. So let’s look at the summary of this Shiites issue.

The founder of Islam, Prophet Muhammad, died in 632 AD without leaving behind clear guidelines on how his succesor should emerge.While the leader of the group from 610 AD to 632AD, Muhammad, had converted many people from Christianity, Judaism and Paganism, which were dominant in the Middle East at the time, and so at his death, he left behind sizeable Islamic community that faced a leadership crisis. Why alive, Muhammad was not just the religious leader of the people , but also their political leader. So who perfomed these duties?

The question was that, now that he had died , who suceeded him? Who takes over his leadership roles and govern this community that was expanding massively , was at the base of thr split of Islam into two major sects, The Sunnis and The Shiites?

Some members of the group , especially, the later entrants who had not performed the Hijjira with the prophet when he ran from Mecca to Medina , but were in the majority, favoured any elightened disciple of the prophet to succeed him, and not necessary a relative. These were the Sunnis.

Others , especially the earliest followers and family members of the prophet, argued that succession to his throne should be by blood line. That the leader must be a relative of the prophet. At that time, it was a daughter , Fatima and her husband Ali who were favoured to take over. These were the Shiites.

Since they were more in number , the Sunnis won the day and as such, the first three Caliphs , as the successors of Muhammad were called, were Sunnis . These were Abu, Umar and Usman. It was after the death of Usman that Ali became the fourth Caliph and actually the first Imam of Shiites as the latter call their leaders .

It is important to observe here that, apart from the Holy Koran which guides Moslems in their practice, Islamic religion also recognises the sayings of holy men and caliphs , which are collected and “canonised” as Hadiths. While, the Sunnis respect the Hadiths of the first three Caliphs, the Shiites collectors do not regard them as Hadiths, rather they regard those of Ali and other Imams after him in Shiites tradition.

Today, the Shiites are concentrated in Iran, southern Iraq and southern Lebanon. But there are significant Shiite communities in Saudi Arabia and Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India as well. Sunnis on their part, are the more dominant form of Islam – at least 80 per cent of Muslims worldwide are Sunnis. Some Sunni dominated countries include Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey and Syria.

In the 11th century, during the Trans Saharan Trade , the Sunni version of the Islamic religion found itself in the Hausa States . There were the Original Seven and the Banza Seven, making the total as 14 Hausa States. For many years, Islamic religion practiced in the Hausa states lived side by side with traditional beliefs. That made a Fulani Scholar, Uthman Dan Fodio to cause a Jihad to reposition the religion in the 19th Century , it was at same time this Jihad was going on that the colonialists came in. They helped greatly in stopping the spread of the Jihad down south .

So, for most part of Islamic religion existence in Nigeria , it has been the Sunni version that was practiced . A radical university undergraduate was to change this in 1979.Ibrahim Yaqoub El Zakzaky, a student of ABU Zaria, who was obviously inspired by the Iranian Revolution, began preaching the Shiite version and with time, leading processions to mark prominent Shiites festivals. As a convinced and outspoken person whose personality has attracted many followers , his introducton of Shiitism in a Sunni stronghold, has irked the Sunnis who are more in numbers and very important in all aspects of life in Nigeria. Note that even in the last presidential election in Nigeria , the two leading candidates were Sunnis .

The opposition to El Zakzaky and his group has been ongoing for decades . He was attacked by the milliary regimes too . In the past, the the military also sent him to prison a couple of times . He lost almost all family members , but his group has not waned. They believe in him. El Zakzaky was arrested in 2015 by this regime and has not been tried in any court since them. A court granted him bail but, FG refused to honour it.

Pulse reading this article here , go up once again and see the countries I mentioned as belonging to Sunnis and Shiites faith.

Continue reading now: those are the countries , I think that, are sponsoring what is happening on the streets of Abuja today.

This Sunni/ Shiite dichotomy is also happening in Yemen, Iraq, Aghanistan, Syria and the likes with as heavy casualties as there are.

Now, don’t expect USA and Britain or the West generally to speak up in support of the minority Shiites . There seem to be an unwritten pact between the West and Sunnis who they consider as moderates . Do you remember what the Saudis did to the journalist, Jamal Khashoggi in an Instabul Embassy ? What did USA do? Do you know that Trump is planning to sell arms to Saudi Arabia government as I write here ? The West has a soft spot for Sunnism.

Yes, Saudi Arabia. Do you see the heroic welcome Buhari got in that Saudi Arabia recently? Are you still guessing why? I hope this helps someone to understand better the Shiite question.

As a patriotic Nigerian, I think the right thing to do now is to try Ibrahim Yaqoub El Zakzaky in a court for crimes which his has committed that warranted his arrest , or grant him bail as ruled by the courts or release him and pay him damages .

I don’t think shooting the shiites on the streets of Abuja daily and in the process , also killing other innocent Nigerians like Precious Awolobi, will deter the Shiites. That has not worked anywhere . It creates more complications in the Shiites questions. I believe it is part of Shiites: beliefs to die for worthy causes and I strongly believe the shittes are ready to do anything for their leader now.

23rd July, 2019