Hawzah News Agency- Speaking Saturday, October 17, 2026, at the closing ceremony of the international conference "Youth and the Future of the Islamic Movement" in Abuja, Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky outlined young people's responsibilities in advancing the Islamic movement and clarified the concept of establishing religion. The event was organized by the Jaish Shahid Ahmad Zakzaky (JASAZ) group.
Emphasizing the importance of youth in a person's life, he urged young people to seize the opportunity for worthy activities and worship. "Youth is not merely a few years of one's life; it is a period of capability and endeavor," he said.
The Nigerian Islamic Movement leader went on to criticize views that establishing religion is impossible due to a lack of resources and power or because not everyone in society is Muslim, saying such an understanding misreads the concept of realizing religion.
Distinguishing between establishing religion and converting everyone to Islam, Sheikh Zakzaky said: "Our movement is not a call to Shia Islam; it is a call to establish religion."
Explaining this view, he said establishing religion means the rule of divine laws and preventing the enactment of legislation that conflicts with God's commands. An Islamic system must be built on divine laws and must not contradict them.
To illustrate the point, Sheikh Zakzaky cited the experience of Sheikh Uthman Dan Fodio and the Islamic Republic of Iran, noting that followers of other religions, including Jews, live in Iran. On this basis, he stressed that everyone becoming Muslim is not a precondition for realizing an Islamic system.
In another part of his remarks, the Nigerian Islamic Movement leader addressed enemies' efforts to suppress the Islamic movement, saying these attempts will fail and that victory will belong to the movement and the path of truth.
He concluded by stressing the need to stand firm in support of truth and justice, urging people not to remain spectators but to take a stance and participate actively in the path toward realizing divine religion.
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