Shi’ism in Nigeria is indebted to Islamic Revolution
Sadeq Dehqan
Staff writer
The revival of the Islamic culture and the spread of Shi’ism in Nigeria is owed to Imam Khomeini and the Islamic Revolution, said a Nigerian activist in an exclusive interview with Iran Daily.
Muhammad Mukhtar Abdullah described the revolutionary movement of Iranians in 1979 as inspirational to the people of all countries, particularly Nigeria. “Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution triggered the Islamic Awakening in my country and bore great fruits for Nigerians,” he added. Abdullah, who runs Nigeria’s booth in the 30th International Holy Qur’an Exhibition, noted that he comes from the most densely populated country in Africa, where more than 70 percent of its people are Muslims.
Shi’ism had not taken root deeply in Nigeria, he clarified, before the efforts of a Nigerian religious leader named Ibraheem Yaqoub el-Zakzaky.
After meeting with the late Imam Khomeini in Iran, El-Zakzaky returned to his country and familiarized Nigerians with the Shia Imams and the great tragedy of
Ashura.
“El-Zakzaky’s words were so influential in opening the minds of Nigerians to various topics and issues that many of them, even the ones who practiced other religions, embraced Shi’ism, making Nigeria the country with the largest Shia population in Africa,” maintained the activist.
“I myself adopted Shi’ism 27 years ago because of El-Zakzaky’s teachings and have been in Iran for a few years,” he said, adding that he has recently enrolled in a Ph.D. program in the field of Qur’anic hermeneutics.
Describing the International Holy Qur’an Exhibition held in Tehran as one of the biggest Qur’anic exhibitions in the world, Muhammad Mukhtar Abdullah expressed happiness with the opportunity that the exhibition provides for getting in contact with foreign specialists working in the field of the Qur’an.
“I’ve seen scholars and representatives of various countries introduce the Islamic and Qur’anic activities of their respective nations to visitors in the international section of the exhibition.”
Like many other countries, Nigeria’s booth has put on display a number of Qur’ans and prayers masterfully written and illuminated by hand.
The 30th International Holy Qur’an Exhibition opened at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Grand Prayer Grounds (Mosalla) on April 1, 2023, and welcomes visitors through April 15.