Muslim Hands, the Gambia office recently distributed three hundred Mosquito Nets to the Community of Kotu Quarry at the Kotu Quarry Central mosque.

In an interview with Health Matters shortly after the end of their first phase of the long lasting Net distribution Ousman Bojang Senior project Manager Muslim Hands describe the first phase of the distribution as impressive noting that Ebo-Town, Manjai-Kunda and Kotu Quarry has benefited from the distribution adding that the targeted groups were pregnant women and child under five years.

Mr Bojang said in one month time they are expecting another consignment of mosquito nets.

He stated that for the second phase of distribution they will also lend support to the communities that have not benefited.

He also seize the opportunity to thanked the various communities for their active participation during the course of the exercise adding that Muslim Hands is ready to compliment government efforts in thefight against malaria.

It could be recalled that recently Muslims Hands has sensitized Imams and communities on the mode of fighting malaria in the various and also urged imams to used their sermons in the mosque to sensitize people about malaria.

As the Muslim feast of Koriteh draws nearer, the governor of Western Region, Lamin Sanneh has urged market vendors to desist from overpricing their commodities.

In an interview with the Daily Observer  at his office in Brikama, Governor Sanneh said it is un-Islamic to levy exorbitant prices on commodities just because it is Koriteh time.

He asserted that vendors should be cautioned on the dangers associated with cheating. He added that such acts are forbidden by Allah .

He concluded that if any one is found wanting, appropriate measures would be taken against the individual.

Baba F Trawally, the Amir of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at in The Gambia has said that Eid-ul-Fitr is a reflection on the purpose of the blessed month of Ramadan that has just ended.

 According to him to the objective of Ramadan is the attainment of Taqwa (righteousness). Below we produce the full text of his Eid-ul-Fitr message.

We have by the grace of Allah Almighty come to the end of this year’s blessed month of Ramadan.  All praise belongs to Allah Almighty for blessing the Muslim Ummah with such a blessed month.  In it, the Noble Qu’ran was revealed as the guidance for mankind until the day of judgement. We cannot find words to express our gratitude to him for not only blessing us with the Ramadan but also enabling us to fast it to conclusion.  Alhamdulillah (All praise is His).

As we celebrate another Eid-ul-Fitr, we should reflect on the purpose of the blessed month of Ramadan that has just ended.  According to the Holy Qu’ran, the objective of the Ramadan is the attainment of Taqwa (righteousness).  Allah Almighty told the Holy Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (saw) that all the deeds of man are for himself but the fast is for Allah Almighty himself and he shall reward it. In other words, he will be the reward of the fast.  

A strong relationship is established between a servant and Allah Almighty when the servant sincerely fasts for the whole month for the sake of Allah Almighty alone.  All his previous sins are forgiven and he is granted the nearness of Allah Almighty.  Therefore, we should all continue striving throughout our lives to maintain that strong relationship that is established between us and our Creator.

Let us all remember that Taqwa (righteousness) should not be a stranger in our lives; it should not just visit us in the month of Ramadan and abandon us thereafter.  The true Taqwa (righteousness) is that which guides every action and thought of man.  It is permanently resident in the heart and beautifully embellishes the actions of the righteous. It is this Taqwa that the Ramadan has come to instill in us.  

That is why the Holy Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (saw) said that Ramadan is a shield.  It shields us from all undesirable and unrighteous behaviors and strengthens us in carrying out the commandments of Allah Almighty.  The Holy Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (saw) has described that as the closure of the gates of hell, the opening of the gates of Paradise and the fettering of Satan.  Let us strive hard to continue closing the gates of Hell, opening the gates of Paradise and fettering Satan.

The month of Ramadan also teaches us love for humanity and devotion to their service. This is further manifested in the giving of the Sadaqatul Fitr, a charity that is given in order to be distributed among the poor and the needy so that they can also happily join in the celebration of the feast.  This commitment to the service of humanity should also continue after Ramadan.  If that is done, the food crises that face the poor countries will be solved.  Ramadan is therefore an institution aimed at bringing us closer to Allah Almighty and also installing true love for his creatures in our hearts.

May the lessons learnt from this blessed month be the guiding principles of our lives in our day to day activities in all walks of life and may Allah Almighty accept and reward our humble sacrifices.  Ameen.

We are hereby once again rendering our sincere gratitude to Allah Almighty for His special grace on us in enabling us to witness and fast this blessed month.  We continue praying to him to strengthen us on the paths of his pleasure and protect us from all evil thoughts and deeds.

I wish every Gambian, and Muslim in particular, in the country and the sub-region Eid Mubarak.  I am also conveying to you the warmest Eid Mubarak greetings and prayers of His Holiness, Hadrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V (ATBA), the Supreme Head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at who is always praying for the country’s peace and success.

May Allah Almighty protect our dear motherland, the Gambia and her people.  May he grant us peace, tranquility, prosperity and stability.  May he bestow on us good health and long life with firm faith so that we can witness next year’s month of Ramadan and many more.  May he establish mutual love among humanity, peace, harmony and security. Ameen.

And still a season of weeping and mourning for the parishioners of St Mary’s Cathedral, Banjul! Andrew Bah, our faithful church worker for 30 years, has passed away.  Did his closing eyes search for a priest or Christian friend by his bedside at the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital on Tuesday night, 16 September 2008?

Alas! Andrew’s Muslim family carried him away the next day and buried him in his village of Nema Kunku! Only on Thursday evening, 18 September 08, did they send us that heart-breaking message of his death! The psalmist reassures us that- “....weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5) We are praying for that joy to come from the Lord.

St.Mary’s schoolboy
Ahmadou Bah, an intelligent Fula boy, lived with his uncle on the grounds of Government House (now State House) and walked across McCarthy Square to attend St.Mary’s School.  There he was nurtured by the late teacher, Modu Coker, and others, learning Christian hymns and prayers at the Daily Assembly.  Unfortunately Ahmadu’s education was interrupted by a serious attack of polio, which kept him in hospital for many months and left him partially paralysed.


Ahmadu becomes Andrew
As a young man, Ahmadu found employment as a messenger and cleaner in the St.Mary’s Pro-Cathedral Parish under the late Archdeacon Matthias George, and was given accommodation in the basement of the parsonage. By his diligence and pleasant nature, he soon endeared himself to the Church members, old and young; and proved to his employers he was capable of greater responsibility Indeed it was the arrival of the new Bishop - The Rt. Rev. Timothy Olufosoye, in 1966 - that was a turning point in Ahmadu’s life.  He was baptized Andrew, and later confirmed and admitted as a full member of the Anglican Church.  That he remained steadfast in the Christian faith even after the tragic and sudden death of his mentor, Father Matthias, in 1974, was cause to give thanks to God.


Andrew - Sacristan and Church clerk
Now a married man (he married his Fula cousin) and raising a young family in the Kombos, Andrew’s loyalty to the church remained.  He was now elevated to the demanding ministry of ‘Sacristan’ of the church.  He was responsible for the preparations of the altar for the mass, for the sacred vessels and the vestments worn by the priests.  His knowledge of the festivals of the church was phenomenal; and so was his commitment to the elaborate preparations for such Holy Feast Days.

Retirement
After 30 years service in the Anglican Church, Andrew retired to his home in Nema Kunku with a gratuity and modest pension and the prayers of the wide circle of Christian friends.  He continued to worship at St Mary’s Cathedral; and was ever willing to train and supervise successive Sacristans.  He sometimes returned to his old job when the Sacristan was on leave.

Andrew worshiped with us at St. Mary’s this past Easter, 2008!
May the good Lord forgive Andrew’s sins and receive him into His eternal kingdom!
May his soul rest in peace!

It is said that anything one intends to do under this sun God needs to be consulted, otherwise man, with regardless of his intelligence, will hardly progress; be it in business or anything. Against this background, Comium, one of the GSM operators in The Gambia, last Wednesday, organized an open Iftar (breaking of fast),  at West Field.

According to Ustass Muhammed Basiru Ceesay of Bakau, who led the prayers, God appreciates those who feed the needy, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan. He said that Comium has shown that their business is in line with the will of God, praying that Almighty Allah blesses the company and its entire staff.

As part of the occasion, the company also distributed T-shirts and bags to almost every one who passed by West Field at the time of the Iftar; many people hipped praises on Comium for organizing the event, praying that Allah would continue to pour his blessing on the company. Some said that the fact that the Iftar was organized at West Field suggest that the company was not selective in its effort to help needy people.

Fatou Njie, one of the participants, told this paper that Comium was exceptional in its organization, considering the location of this occasion, which she said allowed them to invite everybody. She called on the general public to join Comium, and prayed that the Almight Allah showered the blessing of the Holy Month of Ramadan on Comium, “for feeding the Muslim Ummah.”
Three winners of their weekly raffle draw were presented with three new bicycles, each, at the ceremony.

In our last two editions of the popular Lovelines, we discussed the ‘…search of life partner,’ and then ‘love and marriage…’ To balance the equation, it is important that we take a step or two further to explore the essentials of marriage. If you are still either a bachelor or spinster, it is close to obligation that you know these, as probably might be planning to get married soon. This period (the Holy Month of Ramadan) could be perfect time for us to sit and talk about love in an Islamic point of view, as preferred by the Almighty Allah.

Marriage is a gift; a special bond between a man and a woman (husband and wife).  Much has been written about how we should behave towards our spouses after marriage, but no teaching is more appropriate than the teachings of the Qur’an and the Sunnah. A spouse has been described as "a partner, companion and best friend." The closeness between spouses is unlike any other relationship.

So let’s start with faith. The most important thing about a Muslim marriage is the common faith that binds the couple. It is when a marriage lacks this faith that distrust prevails, and one is bound to say, "I don’t trust my wife, or ‘I don’t trust my husband.’

Since Islam is a complete way of life, not just a religion confined to periodical worshiping, faithfulness becomes an integral part of a Muslim’s life. That frame of reference shared by the couple eases communication and sharing of values that are not possible in interfaith marriages. Therefore, note that faith plays a crucial role in the development of a loving relationship.

According to Prophet Muhammad (pbh), when a husband feeds his wife, he gets a reward for the act, and Allah increases the bond of love between them. This means that if we love each other for the sake of Allah, we surely increase our faith.

One of the good attributes of a happy marriage is that the spouses should be able to forget and forgive; they shouldn’t hold grudges or act judgementally towards each other. It is expected that sometimes when we live with someone, situations may arise when we end up saying or doing things that hurt them. We should not lay blame but to move past it. Do we know how this can happen? Only if we are not too proud to ask for forgiveness; so do not be stingy in forgiveness.

One of the most useful tools to have in managing a healthy lifestyle is forbearance. Being patient and forbearing will put us in proactive frame of mind. This will bring one closer to Allah. So many couples make themselves unnecessarily miserable because they are unwilling to bend a little. One thing, we shouldn’t allow our spouses to be our subjects. They have their own personalities, likes and dislikes.

Other essential attribute of marriage is friendship. This part has three components, according to some marriage counsellors. First and foremost, develop a friendship with your spouses, because a relationship that is based on friendship is more likely to withstand outside pressures (from friends, relations and others). Accept, trust, honour and care for your friend, in spite of your differences. These are the aspect of friendship we should bring to our marriages.

The second part of friendship is to have good relations with the in-laws. This is an aspect that causes most relationships to crumble. When couples compete as to whose parents are more important, it becomes a constant source of grief.

Fair, usually when we are angry or displeased the tendency is to be unfair. We try to convince ourselves that since we have been wronged it is okay to be unjust in our behaviour and our statements. To use words such as "never" and "always" when describing the behaviour of the partner is unfair and puts the other on the defensive.

Finance – money is one of the most common points of contention in marriages. Experts tell us that 80 percent of marital conflicts are about money.

Feelings, the Prophet of Allah, Muhammad, stated that Allah forgives all sins if we repent but not those we have committed against others; i.e. hurt their feelings unless the person we have hurt forgives us first. Couples are sometimes very careless when it comes to their spouse's feelings; they take them for granted and assume that the other knows what they mean.

Freedom; religiously, marriage is a partnership and not a source of bondage or slavery. To consider the wife as one's property is alien to the religion of Islam; especially so considering the Islamic concept of husband and wife.

Flirtation: A sure way to keep romance in marriage is to flirt with your spouse. Many successful marriages have maintained a youthful demeanour in their marriages by adopting special pet names for each other and secret communication styles…etc.

You have to be frank. A misunderstanding happens when couples are not honest with each other. Marital relationship is where the partners must feel safe to speak their mind with due consideration to the other's feeling, without compromising their own views. When the communication is not frank it hinders the development of closeness and deep understanding of each other's inner self.

Facilitator: When choosing our life partner, we must, as the Prophet advised, look for a pious Muslim. The reason is that the first and foremost goal is the pleasure of Allah. This commitment to Allah makes them an excellent facilitator for enhancing their partner's spiritual development. In essence, the couple facilitates their family's commitment to Allah and His religion.

To be all one can be to one's spouse is a very fulfilling and rewarding experience. To be in love means to give one's all. The heart does not put conditions or make stipulations. It gives without expecting anything in return, but such selfless giving is always rewarded abundantly. It often happens that our expectations sometimes are so high that we lose focus of the fact that we are fallible beings. When couples start to nitpick and demand the impossible they must remind themselves that only Allah is perfect.

So many times couples fail to work on developing fond for each other by failing to see their spouses as people through the eyes of their respective friends. And last but not the least is future. Smart couples plan for their future together. They work on their financial and retirement plans, make wills and discuss these plans with their children. This provides peace of mind and secures the relationship.

Lamin Sanneh, governor of Western Region and Sunkari Badjie, chairman of the Brikama Area Council have praised President Yahya Jammeh’s benevolent gesture of giving three thousand bags of sugar to the people of Western Region as his 2008 Ramadan gift.

The two described the gift as a sign of the president’s continued concern for the well-being of The Gambia’s Muslim Umah.

Governor Sanneh described the gift as timely, coming at a time when there is a high cost of living globally. "The price of sugar has risen to an excessive rate," he said.

He then expressed appreciation for the gift, saying that it was distributed among the nine districts in the region and were given according to the sizes of the districts.

Chairman Badjie of the Brikama Area Council said "As an individual, I warmly appreciate the gesture and I am sure the people of Western Region will all join me in thanking President Jammeh for the gesture".

He called on Gambian people, especially the wealthy, to emulate the president’s goodwill gesture.

Chairman Badjie further used the opportunity to thank President Jammeh on behalf of the people of Western region and called on his people to rally behind him for prosperity.

Editor,

I am a Scottish woman living in Edinburgh and work as a letting agent.

I have never been to The Gambia but I am so in love with The Gambia that I want to send my special Ramadan wishes to the entire Muslim Ummah in The Gambia, with all respect and wishes to the hard working, dedicated President, Yahya Jammeh.
May the Almighty Allah grant us all blessing and power to live right. ALLAH BLESS GAMBIA AND ALL GAMBIANS.

Jane Aitken 
Edinburgh, Scotland