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Current Feed ContentPresident Jammeh’s journey on UmraMonday, October 06, 2008 President Yahya Jammeh wrapped up activities marking his journey on Umra in Medina, where he had access to worship and visit the Holy sites historically glorified by Muslims the world over. Wearing Ihram, a white cloth wrapped around the bodies of pilgrims, the presidential entourage started supplications on a flight bound for Jeddah. From the airport, the delegation rode through a 75km stretch to Mecca, where the president was installed at the Safa Guest Palace, in readiness for the commencement of the Umrah. The president was to join tens of thousands of Muslims later that evening to circumambulate the Kaabah, which was already teeming up with people, hours leading to that ritual. A coveted place of worship reportedly built by Prophet Ebrahim and his son, Ismael, the Kaabah gloriously manifests holiness to worshippers who travel far and wide to perform the Umrah. The First Family and delegation were escorted to formally perform the rites of the Umrah at the Holy Kaabah late Thursday evening. On arrival, President Jammeh had his security pave the way through for him and members of the First Family to kiss "Ajuratul Aswad" otherwise called the Black Stone, which lay in pebbles in its protected hole. The Prophet of Islam had reportedly kissed this Black Stone. Then the president and the First Lady, Madam Zaineb Jammeh, and their daughter, Mariam Jammeh, with the rest of the delegation, circumambulated round the Holy Structure whose foundation, according to history, had been laid by Angels under the command of the Creator, before it was raised by Prophet Ebrahim and his son. The protected house, as it is fondly call, is part of Islam’s three holiest shrines to which Muslims set out on journeys as a religious devotion, along with the Prophet’s mosque in Medina and the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Baitul Magdis in Palestine. The sacred house has been kept safe from transgression throughout history, and when Abraha had set out to demolish it, he and his soldiers were crushed by birds armed with stones. The circumambulation of the worshippers lasted barely an hour before the delegation proceeded to perform the run between Safa and Marwa. The site bears the history of the struggle of a woman, the mother of Ismael, Hajaru, and her eventual rescue by God. Under command from his Lord, Prophet Ebrahim delivered his wife and baby at the site. The family ran out of water, compelling Hajura to run between the two hills seven times before the Zam Zam well burst beneath the feet of Ismael. President Jammeh and members of the First Family trekked the 81,000 sq meter extension, once trekked by Hajura without the comfort and facilities available at the site presently. Its waters still flow; and the president was at the end of the formality served with jugs of the Holy Water. Imam Abdoulie Fatty, who was with the delegation, told GRTS that every one of the formalities bear some significance in the completion of the rituals associated with Umrah. Shaving of the hair, according to the Imam, was one of last formalities the delegation had to perform to successfully complete the prayers at the Holy Land. He said that prayers at the Kaabah, the Prophet’s mosque and the Al-Aqsa Mosque were equal to one hundred thousand, one thousand and five hundred times respectively, to prayers elsewhere. The Kaabah in particular has a religious history dating back to Prophet Mohammad, who was said to have cirumambulated round the Holy Stone upon his return from Medina wearing the Ihram. The First Family performed Friday prayers at the Haram, directly opposite the Kaaba. They were joined by Lala Azma, a sister to King Mohammad VI of Morocco, who sought to benefit from the special treatment accorded to President Jammeh. The delegation also prayed at the Haram, courtesy of the Gambian leader, and their escort back to the hotel was equally difficult. President Jammeh met prominent personalities who were also in Mecca for the Umrah. HE Ali Hassan Mwinyi, the retired president of the United Republic of Tanzania, was one of them. The 27th day of Ramadan, described as the Night of Power, was celebrated in Mecca, Friday evening. With hours of prayers extending to early Saturday morning, the second part led by Imam Abdouraham Sudaisi, the worshippers sought forgiveness and mercy from their Creator. An estimated 3 million worshippers or more attended supplications in the two Holy Mosques in Medina and Mecca in the Night of Lailatul Qadr. Imam Abdoulie Fatty deliberated on the importance of the night, noting that it was equivalent to 1000 months of prayers. Members of the delegation had their tawaf at the Kaabah before departing for Jeddah to board their flight home. But this was not until they had gathered to pray for the Gambian leader who had facilitated their trip; a gesture that ensured what the delegation described as a life time experience. It was the only available reward given back to President Jammeh and his family, with profound intent and devotion, manifesting their gratitude. The preference of prayers on the Holy Land is a testimony to the sublime blessing and glory that Mecca prides Itself on, from generations down to the last prophet of Islam. And President Jammeh, like other worshippers around the world, travelled to the Holy Land to seek blessings on a six-day trip of extensive and devoted prayers. Author: DO Sheikh Omar Fouitiyou Taal Foundation in the Gambia Saturday, March 15, 2008
Alhaji Ebou Momar TAAL Source: The Point Many Expected in Gunjur for Sheikh Omar Foutiyou ZiyaraFriday, February 29, 2008 All roads lead to the historical, coastal village of Gunjur this Sunday where a multitude of people will converge for the annual Ziyareh-Sheikh Omar Foutiyou Taal. To be held at the holy pilgrimage site by the sea and on the beaches of Gunjur, the event, organized by Sheikh Omar Foutiyou Foundation, is expected to draw admirers of Sheikh Omar Foutiyou Taal from Gambia and beyond. His Excellency, the President, Alhaji Dr. Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh, is being invited to the spiritual gathering as the Chief Patron. The President is also honoured to lay the foundation stone of the Sheikh Omar Foutiyou Taal mosque and Islamic Centre that the foundation plans to build on the holy site. “ A record number of thousands of pilgrims from Gambia and the sub-region are expected to attend this year’s Ziyara,” The Point has gathered. Meanwhile, this year’s Ziyara is organized under the spiritual leadership and guidance of Thierno Habib Tall, Khalifa General of Sheikh Omar Foutiyou. Source: The Point Saudi Grants Gambia Foreign Operator Certificate Friday, September 28, 2007 First among African Countries The Point has gathered from unimpeachable sources that The Gambia on Wednesday, 26th September 2007, became the first African country to be granted Foreign Operator Certificate by the Saudi authorities. This certificate is a mandatory requirement to uplift pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The acquisition of the invaluable certificate, granted following a long and rigorous audit process conducted by the Saudi authorities, is believed to be a giant and timely leap in The Gambia’s 2007 Hajj operation bid. Our sources further intimated that a whopping sum of US$1.5 million required as a guarantee for the charter of the appropriate aircraft for this year’s hajj has already been paid by Gambia International Airlines (GIA) on behalf of The Gambia. Our sources added that this achievement is attributable to the relentless efforts of the GIA Management under the leadership of the Management Contractor, Jacques Zghinou. Author: By Pap Saine Source: The Point 2007/08 Hajj Package Pegged at D84,250 Friday, September 07, 2007 According to news monitored over GRTS yesterday evening, the Department of State for Youth Sports and Religious Affairs in collaboration with the National Hajj Commission informed the general public, particularly intending pilgrims, that the Hajj package for 2007/8 has been pegged at D84, 250. 00. The State Department further informed intending pilgrims to contact the following travel agencies in preparation for the 2007/8 Hajj- Gambia International Airlines Ltd., Banjul Travels Ltd. The Department of State further urged intending pilgrims to start working on their vaccination at RVTH, Hajj passports at the Immigration Department and other important logistical arrangements in collaboration with the above mentioned travel agencies. The dead line for all payments, the release continued, is 1st November 2007. “Therefore, on behalf of the government of the Gambia and all stakeholders we pray for a successful Hajj 2007/8,” the release concluded. Source: The Point |
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