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.

The committee of the Independence Drive Mosque, under the leadership of Alhagi Babou Sowe, last Friday joined the Muslim Ummah in the celebration of Lailatul Qadr (the Night of Power).

The congregation started the commemoration with the reading of the Holy Qu’ran and prayers for the country, the Gambian leader, President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, and his cabinet.

Imam Alhagi Tafsir Gaye spoke on the topic  “What Lailatul Qadr is all about, why it was given to Prophet Mouhammed and why it was celebrated”.  He advised the congregation to worship Allah continuously and not just during the month of Ramadan and to avoid being evil because Islam calls for unity and oneness. According to Imam Gaye, the prophet said: “Love for one’s country is the love for Allah”.

Imam Gaye praised the youths and encourage them to work hard as future leaders of The Gambia.  He also advised wealthy people to continue to help the needy and not only during Ramadan.

In his closing remarks, Imam Gaye thanked President Jammeh for his generosity to the Muslim  community during this holy month.  

Imam Alhagi Senghore lead the reading of the Holy Qu’ran.  Amongst the speakers were Alhagi Pa Mamadi Sowe and Alhagi Sam Debois.  Alhagi Malick Sisay, Alhagi Mouhammed Sisay, and  Alhagi Gora Nyang attended on behalf of the elders and Daira Ahlul Badr attended with their president, Pa Ceesay.  The men and women of the mosque committee also were present.

For obvious reasons, most Moslems are much more familiar with the history of the five daily prayers than the history of the most sacred of months on the Moslem calendar.

Who amongst us does not know that these five daily prayers were originally fifty but subsequently reduced to only five after a series of  tough negotiations by our Holy Prophet (pbuh) at the end of his seminal trip to the seventh heaven at the Sidratul Muntaha, the virtual head office of the Divine himself ?

The History of Ramadan is no less important though. For it was in Ramadan that the Holy Prophet was first informed of his prophethood; and it was in Ramadan that the holiest of scriptures, the Qu’ran, the primary source of law in Islam was first revealed to the Holy Prophet; and it was in Ramadan that the first formal military confrontation took place between the idol worshipers of Mecca and the Moslems in Medina; and, last but not the least, it is only in Ramadan that you could find the most powerful night of the Moslem year, the Night of Power, a night more important than one thousand other nights combined. All of the above make it all the more compelling for the average Moslem to understand the historical development of this most important month in Islam.

The word Ramadan comes from the Arabic root Ar-ramad which means extreme heat or dryness. But over the years the word came to signify a burning desire to drink water or consume food. That is at the physical level. But at the spiritual level, it’s the process of burning away ones sins by being hungry and thirsty for the sake of God, or that observing the fast of this month with absolute faith and unpolluted intentions will confer remittance of all the earlier sins of the faithful. Fasting is also, according to some prophetic traditions, a powerful tool of defeating Satan’s schemes of tempting the believers to sin.

 Before the Hegira (flight to medina) and throughout the Meccan period, there was no such thing as Ramadan. The only kind of fasting that the Holy Prophet and his Meccan companions performed during that period was the ancient form of fasting that had been enjoined upon all the prophets that had come before him namely, to fast three days in each of the twelve months of the year. Says the Qu’ran (2:183):( ….Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those who came before you that you may learn self-restraint).

And immediately after the Hegira and settlement in Medina, the Holy Prophet added Ashura (Tamharit), the 10th day of Muharram, the equivalent of January on the Moslem calendar, to the list of days that Moslems must fast in the course of the year. The significance of this day is that it was the day the prophet, Moses (pbuh), and his people were delivered by God from their tormentors, the Egyptian pharoah and his military henchmen.

Ramadan proper, however, was formally prescribed as a pillar of Islam in the Qu’ran during the second year of Hegira, thus rendering all the other forms of fasting that preceded it optional. And like all lifestyle changing legislations in the Quran, Ramadan passed through a number of stages before it became absolutely obligatory on every able bodied Moslem adult. Most doctors of Islam agree that the monthly three days fasting done by the prophet and his companions throughout the Meccan period and in the first year of the Medinan period is considered as the introductory phase of Ramadan for the Moslems.

This initial stage, whilst not mentioned in the Qu’ran, is evidenced by prophetic  practice and example. And even when fasting was first prescribed in the Qu’ran (2:183), it was obligatory upon only those who thought they  were physically and mentally strong enough to do it.

Says the Quran (2:184): (……..For those who cannot do it, it is a ransom,the feeding of someone who is indigent). And this, the doctors agree, was clearly the second stage in the Ramadan legislation. This phase also included permission for the aged, the traveller and expecting women and women with tiny babies not to keep fast until their situations change. The situation of the aged, of course, will never change, so they will always have to feed the indigent in lieu of eating during Ramadan. As for the women and the traveller, they will pay the number of days they eat at a later date.

The third stage came when the Qu’ran made fasting obligatory upon any Moslem adult who has seen the crescent at the end of Shaaban, the month that comes before Ramadan. Says the Qu’ran (2:185):(… .So everyone of you who is present in his home during that month should spend it in fasting).

It was from this day on that fasting in the month of Ramadan transitioned from being an optional pillar of Islam, just like the Hajj, to being obligatory on all able-bodied Moslems. The permissions granted to the aged, excepting women and travelers still stand, however. The Qu’ranic verse that was sent down to finalise legislation on Ramadan came to correct a specific problem that many of the Companions of the Prophet found especially difficult to deal with, namely the amount of time available for eating and enjoyment between breaking your fast for the day that has just ended and beginning your fasting of the next day.

This may sound strange today, but it is a fact that during the initial Ramadan, fasting began everyday immediately after the last prayer at night, the Ashaa prayer. And this means not only that people had less than three hours to eat and replenish the energies they had lost in the course of the day, but also that people went to bed fasting.

 And understandably, there were countless instances in which some of the companions accidentally slept with their wives or that some would collapse as a result of dehydration the following day simply because they had not had enough time to replenish the liquids they had lost the previous day. Says the Qu’ran (2:187) : (Permitted to you, on nights of fasts, is the approach of your wives.

They are your garments and you are their garments. Allah knoweth what ye used to do secretly amongst yourselves; but He turned to you and forgave you; so now associate with them and seek what Allah hath ordained for you; and eat and drink until the white thread of dawn appear to you distinct from its black thread; then complete your fast until the night appears…). And with this verse came the culmination of not only of Quranic legislative process on fasting in Islam, but also of a unique fasting format now known universally as Ramadan.

So, in a nutshell, just like the prohibition of alcohol went through a number of progressive stages before it was completely prohibited to all Moslems, fasting the month of Ramadan also went through a series of stages, four to be specific, before it became an obligatory pillar of Islam on all able-bodied Moslems. All the doctors of Islam agree that it is a sign of Allah's infinite mercy on this Ummah that anytime He legislates on complex lifestyle issues that would be difficult to change or abandon, He does it gradually and incrementally until the vast majority of the believers have gotten used to the changes, then He would finalise it, and that was precisely what happened to the history of Ramadan in Islam.

Bassirou Drammeh
Deputy Imam
Latri Kunda German

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.

Ramadan, the Holy Month (cont’d)

Last week our discussion was centered on the supplementary prayers after sighting of the moon. It is followed by saying the intention of the fast. The next step is the taking of the early morning meal before day break.  This early morning meal is taken near to the Fajr, (early morning) prayers.  This meal is allowed in Islam so that the one fasting for the whole day will have at least something to keep him up during the day.

 Islam is concerned about working to earn a living  Since people go to work for the maintenance of their families\ and for the fact that when fasting you feel very lazy.  Islam has given us permission to eat early in the morning so that we will be able to work properly.

The prophet Mouhammed(PBUH) said “there is blessing in the early morning meal so it is good to have it.

Islam does not allow the one who is fasting to just spend his time sleeping. He has to help in the development of his country by working.  A sahaba called Zaidun Ibnu Sabit narrated that they once had their early morning meal during the month of Ramadan with prophet Mouhamed and after the meal, they went to the mosque for Fajr prayers.  After praying, Zaidun asked the prophet “how many minutes is it between the time that we had our early morning meal and the Fajr prayers? The prophet replied “the time should be about the time you take to recite 50 verses from the holy Quran’ when they checked it, the 50 verses corresponded to sura Wal Mursalat, which is the 77th sura of the holy quran.

This is to explain that since this sura has 50 verses, the time it takes to recite the whole sura is the time between eating the early morning meal and praying for the Fajr.  It is about 10 minutes.  Islam does all this to facilitate your fasting for the day.  If you eat a few minutes before the early morning prayers, then you will not be hungry during the day.

These are some people who have the intention to fast but because of illness, they cannot.
Old age and the feeble.  Human beings reaching a stage in their age are not permitted to fast.  The prophet Mouhammed said: “the life span of my people is between 60 and 70 years, anything beyond that is additional.  Although there are some old aged who are strong and can fast.

The sick: those with disease that are incurable, like diabetes who cannot stay for the whole day without food are exempted from fasting.

The old age and the one with incurable disease have to give the amount of food they should have eaten, if they were fasting to the needy, everyday, during the whole mouth of Ramadan.

Expectant mothers who fear harm on them, or the expectant child in her womb.  Pregnant women are regarded as sick.

A woman who is sucking her baby and is afraid that fasting would be detrimental to her or her baby, or both her and the child.
However the Malickias uphold that if babies could be fed by women, other than their mothers, those mothers must fast.

According to Ibnu Umar and Ibnu Abass, the pregnant women and sucking mothers who are unable to fast are to feed the needy everyday of Ramadan and pay for missing dates.  Abu Hanifata and Abu Ubaida stated that the women mentioned above are to repay the missing dates but need not feed the needy.

According to Imam Shaafiyu, such women are to feed the needy and fast the missing dates when they regain their normal health.  On such women some scholars stated that the suckling mother must pay back days missed and feed the needy, but the pregnant shall pay but shall  not feed the needy.  These are differences by some various scholars.
This sacred month must be honoured by even those who are not fasting and are exempted from fasting.  No muslim is allowed to eat or drink openly.  Fasting women must not be tormented or forced to do things beyond their means by husbands or any body else.

 Those travelling on mini buses and vans and cars must avoid smoking passengers in their vehicles.  Please avoid spitting in mosques, in the rooms and other places.  We remind you that swallowing saliva does not nullify fasting.

Fasting is not to keep yourself thirsty and hungry only.  It is here to discipline the human being.  The one who is fasting must avoid anything that can spoil his fast.  His hands must fast, meaning he should not take with his hands anything that is not his own.  His feet should also fast by not going to any place for enjoyment while fasting.  The one fasting should avoid sitting and discussing about people.  As stated in sura Nahl V.125: “ Invite all to the way of the Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching.  And argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious.  For thy Lord Knowth best.
Who have strayed from his path, and who receive guidance.”

He should not speak of any evil while fasting.  It is stated in the Holy Quran in Sura Nisai V.148 “Allah loveth not the shouting of evil words in public speech, except by one who has been wronged for Allah is He who heareth and knowth all things” Even backbiting and laughing at your fellow muslim brothers is not allowed in Islam, especially during Ramadan.  Sura Hujarat V.11 states: “O ye who believe! Let not some men among you laugh at others.  It may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): Nor let some women laugh at others.  It may be that, the (latter) are better than the former, nor defame not be sarcastic to each other.  Nor call each other by(offensive) nicknames: Ill-seeming is a name connoting wickedness, (to be used of one).  After he has believed; And those who do not desist are indeed doing-wrong.”

He should not look down on others and should not feel superior to others as stated in sura Nahl V.23: “Undoubtedly Allah doth know what they conceal.  And what they reveal, verily he loveth not the arrogant.”

The Prophet Mouhammed said: “when fasting and talking bad things behind others, then you are just making yourself hungry and thirsty because your fasting will not be accepted by Allah the Almighty.”  To avoid all these habits, you have to  recite the holy Quran or  engage yourself in other prayers that you know of at home or in the office.  It will keep you busy during the fasting period.

We are happy that many offices now have places where people can say their prayers.  So we advise especially women to put on dresses that cover their bodies in the office especially when praying. They should double their efforts in worshipping Allah during this fasting period, so that Allah will answer their prayers.  Since there is freedom of religion in our country, muslims can pray easily without any disturbance.
May Allah the Almighty give us guidance throughout this fasting period.

Mariama Saho & family of 8 Lancaster Street, Mr & Mrs Alagi Boy Saho & family of Brusubi, the Forster & Saho family of Banjul regret to announce the death of,
 
Miss Margaret Fanny Forster
(Commonly known as Aunty Amber Forster)

formally of 8 Lancaster Street, which occurred on Tuesday 16th September 2008.
Prayers will be held on Friday 19th September 2008 at Brusubi Housing Estate along the Gam Juice street from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.

Funeral will take place on Saturday 20th September 2008 at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Hagan Street at 4:00pm.
Interment at the banjul Cemetery.

May her soul rest in perfect peace

Editor,

The time has come for our individual and collective prayers, as we are about to face high prices on basic commodities.

Let us all in our very little ways engage in farming, in order to feed ourselves. Let everybody, Gambians and non-Gambians over the age of 21 years, sow six kilos of rice, millet, maize, groundnut, and beans, then there will be enough feeding for all, year in, year out. The department of agriculture and NARI should be at hand to provide us with farming equipment, fertilisers and chemicals, if only we show readiness and interest in order to achieve our nation’s goal.

Let us pray for enough rain, energy, strength, long life, with abundant quality. Let’s show the world that we can feed ourselves. Let’s show the President Alh Yahya Jammeh, that we (the men) can farm, and we will farm come rain come dry.

Happy moment: let’s praise Allah.

Difficult moment: let’s seek Allah.

Quiet moment: let’s worship Allah.

Every moment: let’s thank Allah.

With the advice of our agricultural experts, and with the help of Allah, we will achieve our goals.

It’s all about development, loving, caring, sharing and, above all, peace.


Mohammed A.L.Frazer

Nema-Sukuta

The Imam Ratib of Banjul, Alhagie Cherno Kah and other Imams and Muslim elders in Banjul, last Sunday, conducted  special prayers at the Independence Drive Mosque ahead of the July 22nd celebration and the rainy season.  

The aim of the worship (Ibadat) was to invoke Allah’s blessings on President Yahya Jammeh and the nation for successful observation of the 14th anniversary celebration and a blessed rainy season.

Speaking at the gathering, Alieu Mboge, committee leader of Banjul Muslim Elders said, "we are here today to pray for the commemoration of July 22 celebration and the 14 years of revolution.  The importance of this prayer is to ask Allah to bless President Jammeh and his government for maintaining peace in this country”.

For his part Dr. Ebou Samba, vice chairman of Banjul Muslim Elders said "what we are doing here is to pray for President Jammeh and his government, because the peace we are enjoying here is not prevailing in most other countries in the world". He said that they will continue to pray for peace to remain in The Gambia for ever.

Present at the meeting where hundreds of Muslims in Banjul, including Abdoulie Taal, chairman of Banjul Muslim Committee.

Editor,

Please, kindly allow me space in your widely read newspaper to voice out such a lucid and pertinent national issue concerning KMC?  I wish I can have a better way of making out a more tangible definition of how delighted and impressed I am about this sacred move of erecting such a religious structure, a Mosque, at the Jeswang cemetery.

This is like a blessing in disguise for worshippers who seldom converge during burials!  During the rainy season, Muslims are now assured of performing their prayers free from the burden of having to put up with the discomfort of the rains, like it was during the burial of the late Afang Yaya Marong and one Lamin Jaiteh.  May their souls rest in perfect peace. Amen!  

Development, according to Walter Rodney, is a many-sided process.  In this vein, as we are steering towards the realisation of the Silicon Valley and Vision 2020 goals, our already cherished national heritage of peace, underpinned by Islamic values of ‘Duah Jaboh’ must be nurtured and preserved relentlessly. Thanks to the leadership of this country, under our visionary leader, we are not at all suprised.

Sheikh Omar Bampha Jaiteh

Bundung.