By Sheharyar In the Islamic calendar, Muharram signifies the commencement of the year and is deeply associated with sorrow and mourning in the Muslim world, commemorating the tragic events that unfolded in the desert plains of Karbala over fourteen centuries ago.
Among Nigerian Muslims, views about this month vary widely. The Shias in Nigeria firmly believe that Muharram is a time to mourn the martyrdom of the grandson of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Nigeria, a nation characterized by its diverse ethnicities and rich cultures, holds a unique and beautiful identity. However, this diversity among Shia Muslims in Nigeria also extends to the ways they observe the mourning for Imam Hussain (AS) and his family.
There are shared practices, such as chest-beating accompanied by slow eulogies or heavy chest-beating with a moderate rhythm, and even vigorous beats with short intervals while moving in circles. Passionate chest-beating with a gentle, uninterrupted rhythm is also performed at various gatherings.
The commemoration of Ashura and Azadari (mourning) in Nigeria typically involves gatherings, Quran recitations, ziyarah (visitation) of Imam Husain (AS), and sermons recounting the events of Karbala. The followers of Ahlulbayt (AS), like their fellow Muslims in other parts of the world, dress in black as a symbol of grief and mourning over the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS) and his family and companions.
The intensity of Muharram observance is notably higher in the northern part of Nigeria, followed by the southern part, owing to the unwavering efforts of the prominent Nigerian Shia cleric and leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ebrahim Zakzaky.
In the southern part of Nigeria, where the Shia population is comparatively smaller, mourning for Imam Hussain (AS) is mostly observed in intimate gatherings of family and friends, which has, in recent years, contributed significantly to raising awareness about Ahlulbayt (AS) and the tragic events of Karbala.
Despite facing various forms of attacks, both violent and non-violent, in recent years, Nigerian Shias have continued to be relentless in their devotion to Shi’ism, Ahlulbayt (AS), and Muharram. They have been subjected to malicious propaganda aimed at suppressing and silencing the minority community, primarily orchestrated by the Takfiri Wahhabi group, inciting violence and hatred against them.
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The government has also frequently resorted to indiscriminate force against Ashura and Arbaeen gatherings and processions. However, this has not deterred the devotees of Ahlulbayt (AS) from carrying forward and preserving the legacy of Imam Hussain’s (AS) movement. For almost a decade or more, Nigerian Shias have faced violence and death during Ashura processions, at the hands of the very forces responsible for protecting the lives and properties of all Nigerian citizens.
The most severe crackdown by the Nigerian government occurred in December 2015 when they opened fire on Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat, resulting in the deaths of thousands of Shia men and women in Zaria, Kaduna state. Shias were pursued and attacked in their homes, while schools owned by the Islamic Movement were ruthlessly destroyed by thugs, backed by the Nigerian police force.
The Nigerian federal government imposed stringent police restrictions and passed laws prohibiting the open commemoration of Ashura and banned religious centers from hosting Muharram events. Nevertheless, these actions have only strengthened the determination of Nigerian Shias to persist in their annual Muharram commemorations and to participate in large numbers.