President Jammeh denounces extremism, says Islam is non-violent As he hands
over Qur’anic competition prizes to winners
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Monday, May 16, 2011
The president of the Republic has once again denounced the use of the noble
Islamic religion by “extremists” as a coat to engage in violent activities
that are catastrophic and done in the name of “so-called jihad” waged on
innocent people, especially Muslims. He denounced these acts as unIslamic,
stressing that the religion is not violent as “there is no compulsion to
Islam”.

His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh was speaking Friday
afternoon at State House grounds in Banjul, while handing over prizes to the
female winners of the Presidential Qur’anic Memorisation Competition, which
he sponsored. Zeinab Muhammed Cham of Madarasa Daara Arham in Sinchu Alagie
emerged as the winner of the female Under-19 category of the competition and
was presented with a cash prize of D1M; whilst Mariam Yahya Darboe of the
Isha Umul Mumineen Memorisation School in Wellingara went home with a cash
prize of D500, 000 as the second winner. The third place was grabbed by
Hassanatou Abdourahman Jallow of Daara Ibrahim Sallah in Wellingara, who
received a consolation prize of D250, 000.

This second phase of the competition came barely more than a month after
similar prizes were awarded to the male winners of the first competition.
Whilst many described this initiative as a great boost to the propagation
Islam in the country, the initiative also provided the opportunity to
showcase the knowledge and excellence of the country's young Islamic
scholars, as well as unearth the unique talents that the nation is endowed
with. Like the male winners, the female winners equally amazed people
present at the event, which also included Her Excellency, the First Lady of
the Republic, Madam Zeineb Yahya Jammeh, Cabinet ministers and other
dignitaries with their unique and melodious recitation of the Holy Qur’an
off-hand.

Speaking at the occasion, the Gambian leader, while maintaining that he has
many reasons for organising the Qur’anic Memorisation Competition,
categorically made it clear that the principal reason of his initiating it
is to “show to the people that no one will come from outside to say that he
will educate Gambians with Qur’an”. This, he noted, is due to the fact that
even some nine-year old kids have now memorised the Holy Book in the country
today. “There are times that we see certain groups that say they came to
educate people on Islam. Look at those people – it is true that where they
come from are called Islamic nations. But look at even their charities
[Zakat] – who do they give it to? Had it been they are giving to those
Muslims that are less privileged or needy ones, today no Muslim will suffer
in this world,” the Gambian leader observed.

President Jammeh, in denouncing the phenomenon of extremism went on to crave
the indulgence of his fellow faithful to be steadfast in upholding the
Islamic Religion, while warning those “so-called jihadists” not to extend
their style of religion to The Gambia as it is a ‘no go area’ for them. He
underscored that The Gambia’s peace and stability is thanks to the fact that
the citizens love and care for each other. He condemned the bombing of
innocent people, especially Muslims, by so-called jihadists, while decrying
that phenomenon as unIslamic. He observed that in some countries today, many
Muslims are skeptical of whether or not they will return safely back home if
they attend a Friday congregational prayers due to the acts of vengeance by
the extremists who place bombs in mosques.

The president noted that today the “most dangerous enemies of Islam” are in
fact within the Muslims themselves, apparently referring to those
“extremists” that tarnish the good image of the religion, and the Holy
Qur’an through their unacceptable activities thereby discouraging even those
that want to embrace or join the faith. He preached that Islam is a religion
that does not promote hatred towards other people including non-Muslims, and
that no one can be forced to join it. He added: “Allah says that if you kill
a human being deliberately, it is just like you have killed the entire human
race. Why didn’t Allah say if you kill a Muslim but a human being? So why
those Muslims that call themselves Jihadists are killing fellow Muslims than
any other one?

Who can raise his hand to say that the Prophet of Islam, Muhammed [PBUH] has
led any jihad where he sits at home and asks people to go to the frontline
and do the jihad? So why those that call themselves Islamic jihadists have
this belief that if you explode yourself in a mosque and kill people you
will go to Heaven?” The Gambian leader further observed: “In fact they don’t
allow their children to commit suicide but other people’s children. So what
type of jihad are we talking about? If they are following the footsteps of
Prophet Muhammed [PBUH] they will not sit at home and ask other people’s
children to commit suicide and kill others. In fact God condemns suicide.
How can you commit suicide and expect to go to Heaven because to kill
yourself is itself condemned by God. What type of Heaven are you
anticipating to go?”

President Jammeh reiterated the need for people to be extra-careful, while
lamenting on the threat these extremist “so-called jihadists” pose to the
continent. He observed that the extremists have now also targeted the
continent, taking advantage of its poor financial status to influence people
through their wealth to carry out their “evil” activities. He warned that
such will not be possible in The Gambia. “Those who befriended the West
yesterday and had a problem with them are today fighting with the former and
devastating Muslims. So we have to be very mindful about money. Those people
who wrapped themselves with Islam place bombs in places of worships such as
mosques are not Muslims,” he further stated.

The Gambian leader then went on to task the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council
(GSIC) to be vigilant about such people, declaring that they are not welcome
in this country He continued: “Anybody who welcomes them you will be ashamed
because we will know and if we caught you we are going to arrest both of
you. ‘Fitna’ (violence) is condemned and not mentioned by God in the Holy
Qur’an. So why today those that call themselves jihadists are killing
Muslims everyday. Such incidences are even higher during the Holy Month of
Ramadan. You call yourself a Muslim and you place a bomb to where people
worship the Almighty Allah during the Month of Ramadan; or detonate bomb in
a market where people will buy food for fast breaking during the Holy
Month.

“Let’s ask ourselves what kind of Muslims are those people? Shariah [Islamic
law] itself stated that if the law caught someone that is to be killed, if
Ramadan comes that person should not be killed. But those people said God is
mistaken and that they should kill more people in the Holy Month of Ramadan.
“What is even more painful is that if they [so-called jihadists] detonate
bomb, they yell “Allahu Akbar” [Allah is great]. That kind of religion will
never be accepted in this country as far as I am the president because the
Holy Qur’an has made things clear that there is no compulsion to religion.
Just do your religion and let others do theirs.” Commenting on the female
category of competition, the president thanked all the female participants,
assuring them that they are not losers despite the fact that they did not
emerge victorious. He equally challenged them to redouble their efforts. He
also commended all those who participated in the successful implementation
of the competition.

Speaking earlier, the minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and
Technology, Dr Mariam Sarr-Ceesay, described the day as one of thanksgiving,
while using the opportunity to implore Muslims to be steadfast in upholding
their religion. The Higher Education minister, while commenting on the
importance of women in the religion, enjoined Muslims to be grateful that
they are the faithful of the Islamic religion, that they have Qur’an as
their Holy Book and that they have Prophet Muhammed [PBUH] as their
messenger from Allah. She also hailed President Jammeh for the noble
initiative.

The members of the GSIC expressed gratitude to the Gambian leader for the
initiative, which they said would go a long way in the propagation of Islam
in the country. GSIC prexy, Imam Momodou Lamin Touray; its secretary
general, Dr Mbaye Kah; Imam Abdoulie Fatty and Ebrahim Jarju all heaped
praises on President Jammeh for championing such a noble and rewarding
initiative. They assured him of the Council’s commitment and resolve to live
up to its core responsibilities of safeguarding and managing the affairs of
the Islamic religion in the country.

Mariam Yahya Darboe, the second winner who delivered her vote of thanks in
Arabic and translated into the local language, hailed President Jammeh for
being a sympathetic and caring leader. She commended him on behalf of her
fellow contestants for the initiative, further describing him as a leader
who is ambitious and always thinks of a good future.
Author: *by Hatab Fadera*

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*
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GOD BLESS THE GAMBIA.
LET US JOIN HANDS AND SUPPORT SHEIKH PROFESSOR DR. ALH YAHYA JAMMEH (NASIRU
DEEN) TO BUILD OUR COUNTRY. *


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