By Amadou Jadama
The Amir of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at in The Gambia, Baba Trawally, called on Muslims, especially the rich, to assist people with physical disabilities and beggars.
He said the vulnerable members of our society should not be discriminated against and that their rights should be protected.
Amir made this remark on Tuesday while presenting food items and cash to 27 disaster victim families and the Organisation for Social Development and Inclusion for Persons with Disabilities (OSDIVI) at a ceremony at the Jama’at’s head office in Tallinding.
He stated: “Islam is the religion of peace. Assisting poor and the needy is not a privilege but it is the right of those people especially in this holy month of Ramadan.
The poor and needy should be assisted throughout the year, most especially during this period when we know that the eid is coming.
“We should pay our attention to the disabled and the beggars in the streets and in our homes.
When we see beggars in the streets and at our homes, let us pay attention and assist them.
The poor and the needy people are our brothers and therefore, we should always be ready to assist anybody as far as Islam is concerned.
” Islam means peace and justice. So let us try and establish that between us and our neighbours, other Muslims, Christians… Let us try to help and say good words to each other.”
He reminded that all the days of Ramadan are important, but the last ten days are of special significance as it was within the period that the Holy Qur’an started to be revealed to the founder of Islam, Holy Prophet Muhammad(pbuh).
Karamo Ceesay, councillor of Tallinding ward, thanked the Jama’at for the gesture reminding that it was not the first time the Jama’at extended help to the poor and the needy.
“This is an ongoing thing and we pray that God continues to protect the Jama’at.”, he exhorted.
Ebrima Colley, the nominated council member representing persons with physical disability applauded the Jama’at for coming to their aid.
The items donated included 40 bags of rice, 10 bags of onion, 20 five-litre drums of oil, 5 bags of sugar and D5,000 cash.
