International preacher, Dr. Zakir Naik, standing before the filled-to-capacity International Conference Centre, Kasarawa, Sokoto State yesterday 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”, during the closing ceremony of week-long 10th Sheikh Usmanu Bn Fodiyo Week 1445AH (2023), after starting his preaching with 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 and children in the hands of United of America-backed Israel.
Dr. Zakir Naik wondered that US-led West and those who believe in them would call the 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 arch-oppressors, Israel, are not terrorists.
He seized the opportunity of lecture to explain why he is called a terrorist by elements, either in the West or in Nigeria, stating that it is because people embraced Islam after listening to his preaching.
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 him is because he took them 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 was 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 51 verse 56.
In his remarks, the Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, said those who thought the visiting lecturer would come to the podium and saying what they have been telling their listeners should now see they failed and 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.
“As Muslim leaders, we have the right to invite anybody from all over 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.
- Guardian Nigeria
