On Saturday, 26th April 2025 (28th Shawwal 1446 AH), the autobiography of the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, titled "Rayuwata", was officially launched in Abuja.
In his speech at the event, Sheikh Zakzaky explained that the book emerged from deep reflections he had while in detention following the incident popularly known as the "Buhari Incident." He said, “This book is a result of the thoughts we had while in detention after what they call the Buhari Incident. We realised Allah spared our lives even though the aim was to kill us. Just as Allah saved Moses (AS) from Pharaoh, He also protected us.”
He further explained that the book originated from oral narrations he gave while in detention, which were recorded by his wife in English under the title *"A Brief History of the Islamic Movement."* “I was narrating orally, and she was documenting it. It was almost like a conversation between us — she would ask questions and I would respond. However, in the book, the questions were omitted, and it was compiled into a single narrative,” Sheikh Zakzaky noted.
He pointed out that the account contained in "Rayuwata" was summarized due to time constraints, noting that each aspect of his life could have been expanded into an independent book. “If I were to narrate just my experience of Zaure education, it would be a whole book. The same goes for my Nizamiyya schooling and my experiences in various prisons,” he said.
The Sheikh also identified minor errors in the transcription from the audio recordings, such as the misuse of certain expressions and the misspelling of people's names, and expressed hope that these would be corrected in subsequent editions.
During the event, Sheikh Zakzaky highlighted lessons drawn from his life story and the various trials the Islamic Movement had faced, including internal challenges instigated by adversaries. He recounted incidents like the crisis he encountered after his first release from Port Harcourt prison, and the infiltration attempts through groups like the Zuhudu and Tawayiyya movements.
He stated, “The enemies have never ceased; if they could not attack from outside, they tried from within. Many of the challenges we faced were not new; they had occurred before, and thus we became familiar with their patterns. Whenever any new trial arises, we recognise it immediately because it had happened before.”
Due to the large turnout, the programme was divided into morning and afternoon sessions, with Sheikh Zakzaky delivering brief remarks at each. He concluded by admonishing members of the Movement to always act sincerely for the sake of Allah alone. He said, “Even if there is murmuring, even if people seem to favour one over the other, it doesn’t matter. What matters is to continue working sincerely for Allah; success will surely come, Insha Allah.”
He warned against expecting a perfect world before working for change, saying, “If you expect everything to be perfect before you act, you are seeking the impossible. Just continue working and success will come, by Allah’s permission.”
Earlier, Dr Hussaini Hassan presented a review of the book before Sheikh Zakzaky’s speech. Afterwards, members of the Islamic Movement were invited to purchase copies of the book. According to the launch committee, further launches will take place across various chapters of the Movement nationwide in the coming week.
