Pupils' performance at Ziraruni place in Itsandra Mdjini
The new Islamic year is officially celebrated in Comoros for
the first time. The idea of celebrating the Islamic year was launched by Prince
Said Ibrahim, says Said Toihir Said Ahmed Maulana, the Mufti of the Republic
during a ceremony held at the Place of Independence that Tuesday night of 11 September
2018. Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar which is divided in
12 months. And Dhul-Hidja is the last month of the Islamic year.
According to
the Mufti, it’s the prophet of Islam himself who decreed that Muharram should
be the first month of the Islamic year. It was in 622 A.D. when the prophet
Muhammad(peace upon him)-persecuted by his enemies- decided with his companions
to leave his native city of Mecca to go to another city called Yathrib which is
located far away from Mecca. The first day of Muharram started with that event.
The First of Muharram is celebrated in Comoros as a holyday. It is marked by public enjoyment, religious and cultural ceremonies. Many
Islamic schools celebrate that day with many festivals and parades. Soulaimana Ahmed Sadiq
is a teacher of a Koranic school in Itsandra Mdjini. He teaches Arabic, the
Koran and the history of Islam. His pupils celebrate that day in the afternoon
at the mythic and traditional place of Ziraruni in the city of Itsandra Mdjini.
They read and cite the Koran and hadiths of the prophet in small groups.
‘‘As he had many enemies in Mecca, the prophet and his
companions went to Medina (a new name given to Yathrib) for three
purposes. He built the first mosque in
order to establish a headquarter of the Islamic religion. Second, he needed
followers and got many of them in the city. Third, he created the first Islamic
state for the Muslims and non-Muslims,’’ said Ahmed Rachid, an Islamic scholar
from Itsandra Mdjini.
In his speech at the Place of Independence, Said Harouna,
a rambunctious preacher from Salimani Itsandra slammed those who may criticize
or insult Abu-Bakr, Omar and Othman the first prophet’s companions. ‘‘They are
not Muslims for sure!’’ He said.
Ahmed Rachid giving his speech
‘‘The celebration of that first day of Muharram at the Place
of Independence is a solemn moment in our nation’s history. I promise to do
celebrate that day every year and at the same time to assess the political and
economic situation of the country,’’ said Azali Assoumani, the President of the
Union of Comoros in his closing speech.
Itsandra Mdjini, 13 September 2018
Chami Mouzawar
Contributing writer
