This lecture was delivered by Tanzania’s Mufti Aboubakr Zoubeir Mbwana, under the theme “The symbolism of the Commandery of the Faithful and its presence in the religious thought of the Ulema of East Africa: Tanzania as an example”, inspired by the Qur’anic verse “O you who have believed, obey Allāh and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you.” (Surah an-Nisa)

At the beginning of the lecture, the speaker stressed that by His grace and benevolence, Allah made us Muslims, illuminated our path through the Quran and guided us to the path of obedience to those in command, to ensure the interests of the Ummah, under the wing of the Great Imamate.

”The Commandery of the Faithful ensures the protection of religious ends and the preservation of the provisions of the Islamic Shariah, in accordance with the supreme values of Islam,” he assured, invoking the Quranic verse “O believers! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger and those among you who are in command.

The logical manifestation of this is the consensus of the sages that no human society can be established and no stability can be achieved without Man submitting to an Imam who takes care of his condition, manages his affairs and guarantees his tranquility, the lecturer said, adding that the practical manifestation of this lies in the Commandery of the Faithful, adopted by Omar Ibn Khattab, and perpetuated after him by the caliphs of the Muslims.

He noted that Morocco has not deviated from adherence to the Great Imamat, to which Moroccans have been attached since the second century of the Hegira, during the Idrisid era, and this attachment has continued to be linked to the Alawid Kings, as evidenced by Your presidency of the institution of the Commandery of the Faithful, the preservation of its symbolism, and the care with which You discharge its obligations with sincerity and loyalty. “This is what makes You a unique example in the Muslim world, for it is one of the constants of the nation and a privilege for which God Almighty has distinguished You,” he added.

Regarding the presence of the Great Imamat in the religious thought of African countries, in terms of belief, behavior and loyalty, the Mufti of Tanzania reviewed three axes, including the doctrinal path, the behavioral path and the loyalist path.

“Whoever examines the religious authority of the African scholars, finds that it is based on options in jurisprudence, unanimous affiliation to Acharism, one of the most important subjects of which is the command of the Believers, with which the Most High has honored you. The Great Imamat is at the heart of the doctrinal research of the Acharis and it is supported by evidence and approved by the most brilliant minds.

He also emphasized that the Great Imamate is “present in the religious thought of the ulama of the Sunna and the Jama,” noting that the ulama of Africa, aware of the place of the Great Imamate in Islamic research and its importance in the study of belief, have given it primary importance and considered it a duty to be contemplated in the person of one who has been distinguished by this divine honor.

“It is thus, Your Majesty, that eyes turn to you from all sides, for Imarat Al Mouminine that God has entrusted to you is an application of the Quranic text and a perpetuation of the tradition followed by the enlightened rulers and the Salaf among your glorious ancestors,” he continued.

Given the fact that most of the African ulema belonged to the Acha’ari doctrine, the Commandery of the believers occupied a central place in their religious and theological thinking, explained the lecturer.

In this regard, Professor Abu Bakr Zoubeir Mbuana highlighted the religious, spiritual and civilizational links that bind Morocco to Africa, the Sheikhs of Sufi brotherhoods in different countries of the continent considering Imarat Al Mouminine as an institution to which they are proud to belong and for which they do not cease to raise prayers to the Almighty to fill with His blessings His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who placed Africa at the heart of his concerns.

The majority of Muslims in Africa have links with the institution of Imarat Al Mouminine in Morocco, through scientific travel and through the intermediary of sheikhs of Sunni Sufism, he noted.

He also noted that the Sovereign’s efforts to fulfill His duty towards the African continent are based “on the spiritual ties uniting Morocco and Africa, which are manifested by the strengthening of feelings of affection and loyalty towards the Commander of the Faithful, may God assist Him.”

“Our pride as Africans in the institution of the Commandery of the Faithful and what it represents as a religious symbol in African countries in general, is part of the continuity of the attachment of our ancestors to this institution throughout the history of the Moroccan State”, he insisted, considering that it is a responsibility that has led several sub-Saharan regions and some African countries to perform the duty of allegiance “bayaa” to the Commander of the Faithful in Morocco.

In the same vein, the Mufti of Tanzania welcomed the initiatives launched by HM King Mohammed VI, through the institution of the Commandery of the Faithful, including the call to “correct the image of Islam in world public opinion, and the great interest that the Sovereign takes in the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Asharif Agency to provide aid and support to the Palestinian population in the Holy City, as well as the creation of the Mohammed VI Center for the Dialogue of Civilizations in Chile in 2004, as a link for civilizational communication between Morocco and Latin America.

On the other hand, the speaker focused on the foundations of Islamic thought present in Tanzania, through the efforts of eminent leaders and ulema who work to promote religious thought in its doctrinal aspects, jurisprudence and behavior, recalling in this sense the initiative of HM the King to create the Mohammed VI Foundation for African Ulema, which works to unify and coordinate the efforts of Muslim ulema, in Morocco and in the rest of African countries, to publicize, disseminate and enshrine the values of Islam tolerant.

The Mufti of Tanzania stressed that the Foundation has unified the efforts of the African ulema in general to serve Islam and Muslims under the banner of the Commandery of believers, citing the various activities carried out by this institution, including the implementation by its sections in African countries of their annual programs of scientific activities, including organizing a contest of memorization, declamation and chanting of the Holy Quran, whose final stages were held in Tanzania at the Mosque Mohammed VI in Dar Es-Salam.

The speaker welcomed, by the same occasion, the tradition of building mosques in different African countries, perpetuated by HM King Mohammed VI.

He expressed the pride of Africans to belong to this institution, imploring the Almighty to give glory to HM the King and to support His efforts in defending and preserving the foundations of Islam.

The Mufti of Tanzania said that the components of the religious system in Morocco are considered “the model and the beacon to follow, thanks to the honor conferred on You by Almighty God to assume the Great Imamate that You represent in the name of the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace.

God Almighty has placed You in a sublime position to be a source of pride for the Moroccans, a pillar for the Orientals and a destination for the Africans. Your generous achievements are present in various fields, including the creation of the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Edition of the Holy Quran, which has benefited all African countries, and the creation of the Mohammed VI Institute for the Training of Imams, Mourchidine and Mourchidate which has contributed to the training of African students,” he added.

He also praised the initiative of His Majesty the King represented in “the construction of a great religious monument in Dar Es-Salam, in this case the Mohammed VI Mosque, which is a beacon of religion and knowledge in East Africa, and which has become, since its inauguration, a destination for the faithful … May God reward Your Majesty for the construction of this imposing Islamic edifice which constitutes a gift from Your Kingdom to East Africa, and a symbol of the promotion of the word of Islam in these regions”.

The Mufti of Tanzania prayed to the Almighty to grant glory to Amir Al Mouminine, the protector of faith and religion, to protect Him, and to make the Sovereign the refuge of scholars from all Muslim countries, and to preserve HRH Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, HRH Prince Moulay Rachid and all members of the illustrious royal family.

The speaker also raised prayers to the Almighty to surround with His holy mercy the late HM Mohammed V, hero of the struggle for independence, and the late HM Hassan II, the builder, and all Muslims.

At the end of this fifth talk of the holy month of Ramadan, HM the King, Amir Al Mouminine, was greeted by Yahya Istaquf, President of the Ulema Revival Association in Indonesia, Abdelhakim Al Anis, Chief Researcher at the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Action in Dubai, Mohamed Moussaoui, President of the Union of Mosques of France and Abdelaziz Al Karoui, Libyan Alem.

HM the King was also greeted by Ismail Lutfi Jafakia, president of Fatoni University in Thailand, Aziz Hassou Fitch, president of the Mashaikha Islamia in Croatia, Arif Abdallah Sakrad, president of the Muslim community in Timur, Omarou Camara Abou Bakr, president of the section of the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulema in Liberia, Mahmoud Mal Bakary, president of the section of the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulema in Cameroon, and Abderahim Chiit, president of the section of the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulema in Benin.