On Islamic Council’s rejection of Ahmadis being issued TV licence
Dear editor,
Following the letter written by the Supreme Islamic Council to PURA showing their rejection of the Ahmadiyya Jama’at being issued a TV licence, I write to express my dissatisfaction. I am disappointed that the leadership of the Council still thinks that Gambian Muslims need to be spoonfed even on the most basic Islamic matters or opinions. I wonder whether the Council knows what their responsibility is.
If they do, is this outlined in a document so that they can refer to it when necessary? Or is it that their power (if at all they have legal power) is dynamic so that they can use it against whomsoever they please? Do they know that even prophets have limits? God said to the prophet, CH 42 V 49 and if they turn away, we did not send you as a guardian over them, your responsibility is only to deliever ( the message)
Again in CH4 V81
“Whoever obeys the messenger, obeys Allah and whoever turns his back, we did not send you as a guardian over them”
The Supreme Islamic Council seems not to have limits. They can interfere in any matter. They are not even bounded by democracy.
The Council argues that honouring a TV application by the Jama’at will prove a Powerful Propaganda tool to adulterate the minds of the Ummah. What a lame justification!
At this point, I believe that the council does not know what they owe to Gambian Muslims. In fact, it’s my opinion that their support for Islam failed to compel them to adopt the limits of the Quran. They claim that the Islamic Ummah unanimously agree that Ahmadiyya is outside the pale of Islam. If this is true, then their responsibility is to do their best to communicate that (so-called agreement) to the Islamic Ummah. Period. As opposed to politics, in religion, it is the message you convey to the people that has influence over them not your opposition to other sects. Messengers won by influence not opposition. Listen to the narration of the great acceptors of Islam. Was it fierce opposition or the appealing quality and majesty of the message that consumed their disbelief? Khalid Bin Walid, Talhah, Siddique (RA) etc.
Face the Muslims and tell them about how Hadhrat Omar Ibn Alkhattab accepted Islam when he actually took off to end Islam. What consumed his disbelief were only a few verses of the Holy Quran. Holy is Allah!
Why Show opposition and enmity when you have beauty to present? Kuntum Khair Ummah
Iblis is an open enemy to mankind yet begged Allah to be given respite. Doesn’t Allah know that He will adulterate the minds of believers? And yet Iblis pledged to stand in Allah’s own way. Supreme Islamic Council, God has taught you in His own way and you failed to take heed.
Religion is for God and not the Council. Take some few minutes to refer to the Quran and that’s exactly what you owe to the people. What is the OIC? When was it established? Are they a pseudo God?
You have consistently said Ahmadis Kalima is different from the mainstream Muslims.
You have persistently echoed that Ahmadis say filthy words about Allah. You have throughout maintained that Ahmadis do not believe in Khataman Nabiyyen. If these are not allegations but facts, then the establishment of Ahmadiyya TV has come to save you and your associates from more talks.
If on the other hand these were propaganda tools to adulterate the minds of Muslims, then prepare for shame. Cowards you are; and you shall be defeated.
Do you know how many un-Islamic channels are watched by people in their houses, in their phones, laptops, desktops? Do campaign against that. Islamic council does not come to active play except when Ahmadiyya is on the arena or Ramadan is to begin. What are you doing on service to the needy? Or are they in fact on your agenda?
You have left the worst records so far. A record of dissention, political alliance, support for dictatorship. The regime has changed and looking at your association with the former regime, your innocence is not guaranteed. Better spend the nights in prayers and during the day you seek forgiveness. For Janneh Commission is still not over
Finally, your show of rejection of this license and the consequent action of PURA will prove a measure of how much democracy we have attained within one year of New Gambia. The Gambians want to know whether minorities have a share of democracy in the New Gambia or not.
Hafiz Muhammad Sowe
Bansang
Transportation
Dear editor,
Among the challenges of the new Gambia is the inconvenience of transportation. This is deeply rooted from two reasons: inadequate roads and transport fare instability.
To commence with the former, the inadequacy of roads has been a roadblock to the easement of people going to their various destinations. This has caused traffic congestion which is a great havoc. Such an encumbrance has made people to trek on foot for long distances or at times, up to their respective homes. Aside from that, the instability as to the transport fares has brought about confusion and chaos between drivers and customers. This fracas has resulted in many drivers to be reluctant to work or even drive off customers to their normal destinations. But what they will do is to drop people at junctions which are far from the normal destinations of customers. A classical example is: Drivers now call out Latrikunda instead of Tabokoto which are apparently not too far. And once they are at Latrikunda they will call out for Tabokoto in order to get more evil profits and discomfort to the customers. This wickedness and greed is doing more harm than good in our country.
Furthermore, it is paramount that the Barrow administration takes a step which will be a panacea to this gargantuan quagmire. Simple because the previous government with all the fundamental human rights violations and embezzlement they are painted with, took rigorous measures to ensure that transportation is comfortably provided for everyone. They promulgated this measure by providing buses that would transport people from Banjul to Brikama and other numerous places. Not only that, but they also enhance the construction of legions of roads which have aided in the development of the nation.
Therefore, the big challenge lies on the new government to raise the bar higher which will aid in alleviating the disheartening conditions of Gambians. These can be done by putting in place the following:
1. Firstly, they should construct more road networks that will facilitate in freeing up the traffic and will expedite the means of transportation.
2. Secondly, they should provide more buses or any mean of transportation for the masses which will take them to their various destinations comfortably.
3. Thirdly, there must be cordial and stable relationship between government and drivers as to the stability of fares. Since an inconvenience on drivers by the Ministry of Transportation will be unpacked on customers.
Undoubtedly, if these three solutions are effected, we will have a convenience in our transportation and a great betterment for every person living in The Gambia.
Muhamed Lamin Ceesay
University of The Gambia
