I want to start by bearing witness that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad (PBUH) is a servant and messenger of Allah. I want to address a common problem that the Ummah nowadays faces. It is called disunity. But the Muslim ummah is besieged with increasing problems. And this predicament is not unconnected with the way it ignores the honourable message brought by the holy prophet especially as it relates to unity. This no doubt is the root cause of all humiliations it experiences in different parts of the world such as Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, Pakistan, Somalia, Central African Republic and a host of others.
Generally speaking, unity is an unavoidable measure for the attainment of one’s needs. It is on the basis of unity the United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), African Union (AU) and lots of others were established. Then why should the Muslims divide? No doubt, all persecutions, humiliations, disgrace and extreme poverty befalling the Ummah are nothing but resultant effects of its division.
Unity is the central focus of maulud with greater emphasis on the need for all Muslims to be united and shun all trivial issues that tend to divide them. Despite its numeric strength and bountiful resources, the Ummah has become the laughing stock of its detractors due to divisions and enmity spread by its detractors and their stooges from within! Allah says: “Whatever misfortune happens to you, is because of the things your hands have wrought, and for many of them He grants forgiveness,” Qur’an: 26:31. In a hadith, the messenger of Allah has said “no community differed after (the demise of) their prophet except that the people of their falsehood gained mastery over the people of their truth”. The growing disunity is therefore detested and it is important for the ummah to address this most lingering problem. On the need for the Ummah to remain unconditionally united, Allah has clearly warned: “Be not like those who are divided amongst themselves and fall into disputations after receiving clear signs; for them is a clear chastisement”, Ali Imran: 3:105 All Muslims should make it their point of duty to heed such exhortation.
Muhammad Tunkara,
Tallinding
In defence of Hillary Clinton
Dear editor,
I want to use your medium to congratulate Hillary Clinton on her recent announcement to run for president of the United States of America. This is historic and it marked the end of two years of speculation and coy denials. She said in a two minute video on Sunday: “I’m running for president. Everyday Americans need a champion. And I want to be that champion. So I’m hitting the road to earn your vote — because it’s your time. And I hope you’ll join me on this journey.” This says a lot about a country that has advanced far down the democracy road as other nations reel. Hillary Clinton is clearly an ambitious woman who has etched her name in contemporary American society. Her words depict her Americanness and as President Obama rightly said, she will make an excellent president. Politicians are bound to make mistakes which points to their being human. Hillary Clinton is one of those politicians who have never shied away from shaping public opinion. She is a strong woman and very likeable. She has something to offer her country if she is given the chance. I will also say that this development says a lot about gender both in the United States and elsewhere. It fills women with so much hope especially those in third world countries like The Gambia. I wish her all the best on the campaign trail.
Fatima Manneh,
Serrekunda
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