Cleric cautions against reprisal as slain Islamic scholar Albani is buried

Sheikh Muhammad Albani

Mr. Albani was killed Saturday night.
An Islamic cleric, Musa Mai-Shawi, has cautioned against reprisal attack following the assassination of a popular Islamic scholar, Muhammad Albani, in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Speaking in Zaria during late Mr. Albani’s funeral prayer, Mr. Mai-Shawi said the plea became necessary in view of the tension caused by the sudden death of the popular cleric.
Mr. Mai-Shawi, who is the chief Imam of Darul Hadith, a school established by the deceased, said although the death of Mr. Albani was painful, everything should be left to God.
“There are no two ways about it, everybody is aggrieved about this sad development. However, I urge you to take heart and leave everything to God. God Almighty be my witness and you people around here be my witnesses, that I have conveyed the message,” he said.
He cautioned against revenge “by any means”.
“Malam is already dead and no action will bring him back. God knows who are behind his brutal killing and He knows how to deal with them,” he said.
The funeral prayer was led by Musa Maikwano-Gusau, while final interment took place at Dambo graveyard, Jos road, in Zaria.
Mr. Albani, a fiery preacher of the Salafi school of thought, which believes in the strict observance of the Quran and Sunnah (way of life of Prophet Muhammad), was killed alongside his wife and their child.
A resident of Zaria, Abdullahi Barau, told PREMIUM TIMES the cleric was shot around the Gaskiya Area of the city, where he has a school, shortly before 10 p.m.
Mr. Barau said the cleric’s wife died on the spot while Sheikh Albani Zaria was rushed to the nearby St. Luke’s Hospital where he was declared dead.
A colleague of the late Mr. Albani Zaria, Abbas Isa, told the Hausa service of the Voice of America that the late cleric’s car was blocked by the assailants who opened fire on the car.
(NAN)