The Closing of the Zazzau Palace Mosque: Historical Facts

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 The Closing of the Zazzau Palace Mosque: Historical Facts

This mosque was first established as Juma'a mosque in the year 1836, in a neighborhood that was famous for teaching Islam called Unguwar Jumatun before the jihad of Shehu Usman Dan Fodiyo.

The prominent historian and Emir of Zazzau, Malam (Barista) Muhammad Abbas Fagachi spoke to our reporter about the history of this mosque where he said that the construction of this mosque began in the mentioned year in Juma neighborhood mentioned during the era of the Emir of Zazzau. Mr. Musa.

"After the jihad of Shehu Dan Fodiyo, Malam Musa, the Sarkin of Zazzau at that time, asked permission from the Shehu to restore the Juma'a Mosque of Zazzau in Unguwar Juma, as mentioned before, and Shehu Dan Fodiyo agreed to him. God in his power, the King of Zazzau Malam Musa was not able to fulfill his dream of building the mosque at the Gate of Zazzau Palace, so God took his life. The one who became the Emir of Zazzau after Malam Musa is Malam Abdulkarimu, when he ascended the throne of Zazzau, he started to try to implement the decision of the late king that he inherited that is Malam Musa.

As for where the mosque is today, Malam Abbas Fagachi, the Emir of Zazzau, told our correspondent that some buildings made by the rulers of Zazzau to house the historical items related to the Zazzau emirate were taken away and the foundations of the mosque were laid.

"When His Highness the Emir of Zazzau Abdulkarimi decided to start building the mosque that Shehu Dan Fodiyo approved, suddenly he was informed of a famous builder in a neighborhood in Zaria city, the builder named Muhammadu Durugu, immediately the king ordered called him, without delay he started the construction of the mosque at the Gate of Zazzau Palace where the mosque is today.

"Let's hear the tongue-in-cheek words that explained how this servant of God, the builder, implemented the request of the Emir of Zazzau, Malam Abdulkarimi, that is, as many people threw mud at him at the same time without a single mud or brick returning to the ground."

This builder in those years, according to the Emir of Zazzau Works Malam Abbas Fagachi, was living in this neighborhood that is now known as Babgan Gwani Neighborhood. And after the completion of the construction of the mosque due to the satisfaction of the King of Zazzau Malam Abdulkarimi for the way this builder implemented the request of the King, he was appointed the King of the Builders of Zazzau, where until today the descendants of Muhammadu Durugu rule as the King of the Builders in Zazzau.

The Emir of Zazzau also told our correspondent that even after the Emir of Zazzau, Malam Abdulkarimi, from the Emir of Zazzau, Malam Jafar Dan Isiyaku, to Emir Shehu Idris, in the era of each Emir, some parts of the mosque had to be repaired, especially in During the reign of King Muhammad Aminu, the mosque was repaired and cemented, and during the reign of King Shehu Idris, many repairs were made.

When His Highness the Emir of Zazzau Malam Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli ascended the throne of Zazzau, according to the Emir of Zazzau, he expressed the possibility of making improvements in this mosque, because of what he saw of the type of land in the mosque. When he started renovations in the Zazzau Palace, he decided to repair all the mosque buildings that were made of earth. But God in His power, this problem of the collapse of the roof of the mosque happened, where eight people died and many others were seriously injured.

One day after this problem happened, His Highness the King of Zazzau, gave the order to close the mosque, until it is fixed, prayers will continue inside.

Another thing that was visible when the problem of sealing the building happened, he explained to our correspondent that the incident happened when the king went to open the Juma'a mosque in Soba local government, "he was coming back and saw the community in his palace, he asked and was told what happened, he took off his cloak and ran into the mosque, and he was looking for those who were covered by the ground, and some bodies were taken out, and some were seriously injured.

"And His Highness the King of Zazzau sent money to the families of those who lost their lives, to organize their funerals, and asked to bring the corpses to the Palace of Zazzau, to pray for them, even before the start of the prayer, it was raining heavily. It was done until the end of the prayer, the corpses were watered without putting a lema on His Highness the King.

"Regarding the issues that some problems caused the mosque to fall on those who were praying, it is all rumours, but the country where the mosque has been closed for more than two hundred years is dead, and God has exercised his authority. on this day when the roof fell on the people who were praying afternoon." said the witness.