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Late Omar Bunjeng Ziyarah and Islamic Conference Slated for Sunday

Friday, June 27, 2008

The annual Ziyareh and the Islamic conference of the late Islamic scholar Omar Bunjeng is slate to take place this Sunday the 29th of June at his school in Gunjur in Kombo South Western Region.

The annual event attracts Muslims from across The Gambia and beyond. The first part of the event will witness the recitation of the Holy Quran by talibes and other Muslims residing in Gunjur and surrounding villages.

The second part of the event will witness the Islamic conference in which Islamic preachers will preach to Muslims about how to convince others to come to Islam.

In this regard the organising committee is calling on all people residing in The Gambia and the sub region to attend the event.

Author: By Lamin Darboe

GAMBIA GETS A NEW ISLAMIC CENTER

Friday, April 25, 2008

A center for the harmonization of school of thought and its website will be lunched Sunday the 27^th April 2008 at latri Kunda town of Serekunda the Gambia. First of its kind of a new initiative, aiming to bring different schools of thought within the Islamic ummah together. This was contained in a press release signed by founder and Secretary General of the Center Alhagie Ousman Jah.

The center will complement government efforts in making peace, tolerance and social harmony among all groups living in the country, said Jah. He said the establishment of the Center is in line with the call emphasizing the need for Muslim followers of other religions to continue the dialogue for the sake of national peace and stability.

He went on to say these views are strongly advocated by the Supreme Islamic Council which is the umbrella body for all Islamic Organizations in the country. He said the ultimate aim of the Center is to encourage tolerance and dialogue among scholars, groups or sects and to eventually eliminate unnecessary differences, misunderstandings, and conflicts among Muslims in the Gambia and beyond.

In a brochure prepared by Jah, explain that the unity of Muslims entails understanding tolerance and co-operation among the adherent, of the different school of thoughts is something to be nurtured.

He said his Center will put in place collective efforts and strategies in order to achieve the lofty ideas and goals of Islam for the progress and prosperity of the Muslim ummah and to stand united in confronting the enemies of unity, peace and understanding.

The Center Jah, said in order to achieve the goals and objectives has already designed an action plan that entails organizing Islamic conferences, symposium and forums for exchange of culture and dialogue.

The center also plans to be holding round table and phone –in television and radio programmes. He said other means of achieving the goals is encouraging Islamic Scholars of different school of thought and roots into research, with the aim of creating an atmosphere of understanding each others stand point and beliefs. Another means of achieving the goals is by setting up a library of very good Islamic books that will encourage reading where by improve peoples understanding of their religion.

Alahagie Ousman Jah himself an Islamic Scholar and have been engaged in educating the masses through a school system and mass media is the one behind the center.

Web www.islamic-harmonization.org

Author: Staff Reporter

Source: Press release

Wahtani Ajuma

Friday, February 29, 2008

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Mawlidi Nabi

Mawlidi Nabi means birth of the Prophet Mouhammed (SAWS). The scholars who discussed about the life of Prophet Mouhammed said that he was born on the 12th day of the month of Rai Al Awal on a Monday. Mahmud Basha, an astronaut, said that the Prophet’s birthday corresponds to 20 April 571 AD.

It was during the time that the elephants entered the Kaaba to destroy it with Abraha as explained in Sura AL Fil.

Our topic is the celebration of the birth of Prophet Mouhammed (SAWS). When the Prophet celebrated his birthday, he used to fast on Mondays. When asked why, he used to fast on Monday’s.

When asked why, he said it was the day he was born and the Holy Quran was given to him. He used to fast to thank Allah, for what He did for him. A learned scholar called Al-haafisu Abul Hayki Asahawee said the celebration of Mawlidi Nabi was not taken from the sahabas about three centuries. It was not celebrated as we used to do now. After that then the celebration started. All the Islamic communities throughout the world celebrates the birth of the Prophet Mouhammed (SAWS).

The prepared lots of food, gave out charity to the poor and needy and made them happy.

Muslims also narrated the life history of Prophet Mouhammed (SAWS).

First Royal celebration

The first king to celebrate the birth of the Prophet Mouhammed was called Abu said in the city of Irbil in Irak. He used to make it a big ceremony. The King used to kill thousands of cows, sheep, goats, hens and every animal that is eaten by Muslims.

He used to make the poor very happy.

He used to give out clothes of different kinds. He was a brave king and humble. King Abu said used to give out a lot of money to the invited scholars who used to narrate to the people about the history of Prophet Mouhamed.

This King also built a big compound for the guests to come to his occasion. The amount that he used to give out wa not limited which was different from the amount he gave out secretly.

One day King Abu Salid was wearing clothes which were very ordinary.

Then his wife told him that the clothes he wore were not of his class. Then the King replied”. It is better for me to feed the people than to wear expensive clothes and leave the poor to die of hunger”.

The Idel Approach

Al-Imam Naseeru Deen Al Mubarak said that during the celebration of the Mawlud Nabi after feeding the people, giving them clothes and money after narrating the history of Prophet Mouhammed (SAWS), the Prophet will be very happy about it and Allah will reward you for that.

All this is good. What is forbidden is gathering people, asking them for money or after cooking a lot of food, you call rich people and leave out the poor.

Once Imam Sahaafiu said that there are two types of innovations. The one that is invented and is not taken neither from the Quran or hadith. It can carry you astray; the other innovation is invented for a good thing.

Everyone agreed that it is good, Allah will reward you for that.

Omar Ibnu Hatab said “Nafila during Ramadan is an innovation, but a good one. It is an innovation because the Prophet Mouhammed (SAWS) used to do it, but stopped it afterwards.

Then the Sahaba started doing it after some time. Al-Imam saadu Deen; Mawhobb said the “Mawlud Nabi “is a good innovation, if it is not joined with something that is not allowed in it. If so then we should leave it. A man called Imam Taajudeen Fakhaani Al Maaliki wrote and said that he did not support Mawlud Nabi because it is an innovation and the things involved that is not part of it. If so then we should leave the celebration.

Imam Taajudeen also said that those celebrating this way are lazy people who want to meet one another, eat and drink and enjoy themselves. It is forbidden to do what is against Allah’s rules, especially when done in a place where the birthday of the Prophet Mouhammed is celebrated. Instead of gaining something from the place, you will end up with nothing because where men and women are mixed together enjoying themselves, they will not think of Allah. That is why he condemns it.

This particular scholar does not condemn the celebration of the Prophet Mouhammed’s (SAWS) birthday but the way it is done.

Honoring the Day

We are reminding Muslims who celebrate this big day to honour the day because of Prophet Mouhammed (SAWS).

The day should not be considered as doing business with others, because nowadays it is celebrated by sending invitations to Muslims and expecting them to bring donations of money. Although the Mawlud does not ask them for money, one can bring money of his own free will. This asking for donation during Mawlud prevents people from attending these celebrations.

So we should try our best to honour the Prophet Mouhammed as Allah honoured him. The place where the Mawlud is celebrated should also be respected. Allah honoured the Prophet Mouhammed (SAWS) so much that he named him after the 47th Sura of the Holy Quran called Sura Mouhammed.

Allah is always there to forgive us our sins as stated in Sura Anfal V.32:

“But Allah was not going to send them a chastisement whilst thou was among them; nor was he going to send it whilst they could ask for pardon”.

We are wishing every Muslim a peaceful celebration of the birth of the prophet.

Author: DO