The family of the late renowned preacher and international scholar, his Eminence, Sheikh Mustapha Sanusi Zuglool, has threatened court action against the Mudeer of Markaz Agege, Sheikh Habeeb Adam Al-Ilory, over the video that went viral in which Habeeb claimed that the book “Sa Ya’ud-ul-Arab ila Filastin” (The Arabs Shall Return to Palestine) was not the intellectual property of Sheikh Zuglool, adding that the book contains the ideas and productions of his father, the late Sheikh Adam Al-Ilory.
Zuglool stated that apart from the fact that the contents of the said video clip posted online by Sheikh Habeebullah are far from the truth, the family noted it is equally scandalous, derogatory, and defamatory of not only the late sage but also his estate.
The book, which was written and published in Arabic and titled “Sa Ya’ud-ul-Arab ila Filastin” (The Arabs shall return to Palestine) in the year 1965 was a Sheikh Zuglool message to the world on the Israel and Palestine war.
Long before the death of the known author in 2017, there had never been any real or imagined controversy over the ownership of intellectual property.
A recent video by Sheikh Habeebullah trending on Youtube has sparked controversy, pitting both Arabic schools and their students against each other.
In a letter signed by Barrister Abdul Wahab Yahaya, the lead legal practitioner of Abdul Wahab & Co. Legal Practitioners on behalf of the Zuglool family, and addressed to Sheikh Habeebullah Adam Al-Iloriy, the lawyer demanded immediate retraction of the statement in respect of the Arabic literature “SA Ya’ud-Ul-Arab Ila Filastin,” written by His Eminence, the Late Shaykh Mustapha Zuglool Sanusi.
The letter reads, in part, that in a recent video clip done by you and posted on line about the current situation in the Middle East, you stated therein that the book “Sa Ya’ud-ul-Arab ila Filastin”( The Arabs Shall Return to Palestine) was not the intellectual property of His Eminence, Late Shaykh Mustapha Zuglool Sanusi, but that the book contained the ideas and productions of His Eminence, Late Shaykh Adam Abdullah Al-Iloriy.
“That before the death of His Eminence, Late Shaykh Adam Abdullah Al-Iloriy, in 1992, there was never a time he challenged the authorship of the book “Sa Ya’ud-ul-Arab ila Filastin”( The Arabs Shall Return to Palestine) by His Eminence, Late Shaykh Mustapha Zuglool Sanusi, nor ever stated that the contents therein were not the ideas or work of His Eminence, Late Shaykh Mustapha Zuglool Sanusi.
“Take notice that apart from the fact that the contents of the said video clip posted on line by you are far from the truth, the same is equally scandalous, derogatory, and defamatory of not only His Eminence, the Late Shaykh Mustapha Zuglool Sanusi, but also his estate.
Our clients are exercising restraint on this matter because of the respect they have for the house of His Eminence, the late Shaykh Adam Abdullah Al-Iloriy.
“Be that as it may, we have our client instructions to demand, and we hereby demand the retraction of your statement in the video clip and, at the same time, a tender apology to the Estate of His Eminence, Late Shaykh Mustapha Zuglool Sanusi.”
“Take further notice that failure to comply with our demand within the stipulated period will leave us with no alternative other than to seek redress in the law court on behalf of our client. A stitch in time saves nine,” the letter stated.
