Our African Muslim brothers ought to rise up against Shia'ism in the townships. The first African Muslim in Islam was Sayyiduna Bilal (radi Allahu anhu) who was not only a brave soldier, but also one who was subject to the harshest persecution for accepting Islam. The greatest amongst the Companions of Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) was Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddique (radi Allahu anhu) who purchased Sayyiduna Bilal (radi Allahu anhu) as a slave and freed him to please Almighty Allah and His Rasool (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). The Shias have branded this great personality an apostate and accursed one. (Allah forbid) The great African Continent is full of Sunni Muslims. The Irani Shias have now embarked on a campaign to bribe the poorer African Muslims to corrupt their beliefs and convert them to Shias. This is the message of Sheik Shazili on the ocassion of Yaum-e-Siddique Akbar. Sheik Shazili who is deeply involved in Islamic Propagation work in the African townships, has pointed out that African townships in the Cape and the Transvaal have been specifically targeted by the Shias as areas for potential converts. The modus operandi of the Shias is to single out the sincere but poor members of the African Muslim Community and bribe them with wealth to bring them into the ugly Kufr fold of Shia'ism. This state of affairs is certainly unacceptable to our Sunni Muslims and it provides a specific challenge to our Dawah workers on the field. In the past, there were no Shias in South Africa. After the Iranian Revolution and the 1994 South African elections, a flurry of activity emerged from the Shia propagation machine to spread this Kufr sect in South Africa. Wealth is outlayed blatantly to attract Sunni Muslims to the Shia fold and we have received unconfirmed reports that certain Sunni Ulema had accepted invitations from the Shias to attend their functions. The new South Africa has certainly allowed many new sects to emerge amongst the Muslims and the Iranian influence is another destructive force that awaits the unsuspecting Muslims in South Africa.It is now imperative for all Muslim Institutes to face the challenges of the Shia onslaught and present openly to the African Muslims the vile and Kufr beliefs of the Shia sect in the townships. Provisions must now be made to organise Siddique-e-Akbar Day and Khulafaa-e-Rashideen Day in the townships on a large scale in an attempt to preserve the Imaan of the people whom the Shias are targeting. Iran's Islamic Revolution was supported with much zest and vigour mainly because it was seen as the opening of the doorway to much needed changes in the world. Sadly, this was not to be. After the dust has settled, realisation dawned that this was merely a dream which had not been fulfilled. Iran's claim to the title of an Islamic Republic was forfeited because it is essentially a Shia Republic. Moreover, the late Dr. Kalim Siddiqui, who was initially a great enthusiast of Iran's Revolution, later comprehended the gloomy reality and admitted to his change of hearts. Most readers and patrons of Dr. Kalim's writings were of the opinion that Dr. Kalim is unequivocally a champion of the Iranian movement. They are not aware of the developments that took place during the last stages of his life. Initially, Dr. Siddiqui devoted all his energy to Iran's struggle as he believed that it would give Islam a strong foothold on the international level. Furthermore, the force of Sunnism will be greatly strengthened. During Imam Khomeini's reign Dr. Kalim was rewarded with the respect and honour that he deserved. However, his recent tour to Teheran became a torturous one. Fanatic Shias who saw Dr. Siddiqui's visit as a campaign to spread Sunnism felt greatly threatened by his presence. They felt that he was there to censure Shia'ism and challenge its teachings. They became extremely defensive and hostile towards him. In his agitation he responded, "I am not a fan of either your culture or your discourse. I am here only because of your alleged claims to be an Islamic Republic. Had I known the truth I would never have come." Milli Times International, Delhi, India (June 1996) Please study this narration: As narrated by Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (radi Allahu anhu): A villager came to Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) and asked, "O Ameer-ul-Mumineen! Is Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) in Paradise?" This question hurt Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) considerably. So he said, "I wish I had never come to the world. This statement has never been made by anyone else before, neither by Rasulullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) nor by any other Muslim after him. Abu Bakr Siddique (radi Allahu anhu) was always with the Messenger of Allah; he was his vizier and counsellor. He succeeded him as the Khalifa after his passing away. He who denies this fact will become a disbeliever. O villager! Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddique (radi Allahu anhu) sent for me towards his passing away. He said to me, 'O my darling brother! I am going to pass away soon. When I die, wash me with those blessed hands of yours with which you washed the Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam)! Wrap me in my shroud and put me in my coffin! Take by corpse to the entrance of Hujra-i-sa'adat! Say unto Rasulullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam): Abu Bakr is at the door. He asks for permission to enter.' "When Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) passed away, I did whatever he had told me to do. When we put his coffin in front of the door of the Hujra-i-sa'adat and I asked for permission, we heard a voice saying, 'Bring the darling near the darling.' Therefore, we buried Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) besides the Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam)." It is stated in a Hadith Shareef that Rasulullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: "Fear Allah as you talk about my Ashaab! Fear Allah lest you should show any disrespect in a conversation about my Ashaab! After me, never have a bad opinion of them. He who loves them does so because he loves me. And he who bears hostility towards them is my enemy." A Dua that was made by Sayyiduna Imam Rabbani (rahmatullahi alaihi): "ILAHI! MAKE OUR DU'A AND SALAAM REACH YOU BELOVED PROPHET (SALLAL LAAHU ALAIHI WASALLAM) AND HIS AHLE BAYT (RADI ALLAHUM AJMA'IN), AND GIVE THEM KHAIR AND BARAKAH IN A MANNER AS YOU LIKE, AS MANY TIMES AS THE NUMBER OF YOUR CREATURES AND AS HEAVY AS YOUR ARSH. AMEEN. MAY HAMD BE TO ALLAH TA'ALA, AND MAY DUAS AND SALAAMS BE TO THE HOLY PROPHET MUHAMMAD (SALLAL LAAHU ALAIHI WASALLAM) TILL THE END OF THE WORLD! AMEEN."