By Ukasha Sani Idris
The ongoing debate regarding whether the founder of the mosque and the IZALA group should be held accountable for the controversy surrounding the “New Sahaba Mosque” is currently attracting increasing attention both online and offline in Kano, Nigeria’s most populous state.
Recall that on 8 March 2024, a prominent business tycoon, Alhaji A. Y. Maikifi, inaugurated a new mosque named “New Sahaba Mosque”— an extension of the existing Sahaba Mosque located less than a kilometre away.
Initially, having seen the signboard for the new mosque titled “Proposed Sahaba Mosque” and having heard of the discussions and meetings that the founder invited the Chief Imam of Sahaba Mosque to, the community and beyond congratulated Imam Sheikh Bn Othman on this historic upgrade.
Considering Sheikh Bn Othman’s impressive profile, articulate nature, international exposure, fluency in multiple languages, and reputation for avoiding partisan debates and conflicts involving various sects, political groups, and religions, the community was excited to witness him lead the state’s most expensive and well-decorated mosque.
Subsequently, the Chief Imam made a public announcement from his pulpit, informing his followers of plans to discontinue Friday prayers at the old mosque in preparation for the relocation to the new one. The congregation enthusiastically accepted the idea despite the old mosque’s rich history spanning over twenty years.
However, in a surprising turn of events, the founder later informed the Chief Imam of his plan to employ new Imams,noting that his role would undergo a significant change. Rather than leading prayers as before, each Imam would now be responsible for leading two consecutive Friday prayers on a rotational basis.
To illustrate this situation more clearly, let me use a football analogy that many of us can relate to: imagine a scenario in which a wealthy individual builds a football field next to you and names it after the local club you have been coaching. He promises you a key role in the new setup and allows you to announce the plans to abandon the existing field in anticipation of relocating to the new one. However, in a surprising twist, the founder informs you that you will be demoted to assistant coach, and your trusted players will be replaced by new ones over whom you will have little control. Just imagine yourself in this situation.
The attendance of numerous prominent Sheikhs at the grand opening highlighted its connection to the Izala sect. However, the sect’s leadership has remained noticeably silent regarding the controversy surrounding the mosque. My question is: what efforts are the Izala leaders making to resolve this conflict? Or are they preoccupied with other events, such as the recent Qur’an festival or Qur’an convention?
Ukasha Sani Idris wrote via ukasha_sani@yahoo.com.