I was disappointed,
upset, disenchanted, provoked, annoyed as per “Imam” Bakawsu Fofana’s recent
sermon in which he took upon himself to lambast, attack, stick a knife into the
noble Jola tribe beyond all human endeavor. People who live with the Jola’s
will attest to the fact that they are peace loving tribe.
In another development
he Bakawsu has the guts to inculcate the sleeping tribalist dog which is a
threat to The Gambia’s Peace. Bakawsu I don’t have a problem with you as a
being, but I have a problem with your extremist views. Please for God in heaven
sake I will advise you to either be an Imam or a Politician in a professional
manner.
When Sister Binta
Goudiaby lambast the Noble Mandinka tribe, I condemned her nasty, fitly, stinky
behavior forth with, which can be accessed via (http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/opinion-open-letter-to-sister-binta-goudiaby).
Therefore I will not waste any time to condemn such an unethical tribalist behavior
from any one which can sake the peace we are enjoying in The Gambia under the
leadership of President Adama Barrow.
We cannot live happily,
gleefully and contentedly without the
absent of peace therefore if you have problem with Yahya Jammeh kindly direct
your grievance straight to him and stop including the whole Jola tribe. The
Jola’s are innocent as Jammeh was not representing them neither was sent by the
Jola’s to do so.
It is arguable that the
negative effects of tribalism permeate all African countries. Millions have
been killed, maimed or displaced in civil wars in sub-Sahara Africa over the
past 50 years, mostly because of tribal agitation. Most of us are living
witnesses to the carnage that occurred in Rwanda and is still going on in
Somalia. These countries have fallen into the abyss mainly because of
tribalism. (The Point, 2010).
How would Oustass Bun
Jeng feel if he were to arise and hear your tribalist sermons against Jolas?
How would Sheikh Gibril
Kujabi feel if he is to arise and see his own student he taught preaching
tribalism in the smilling coast of Africa?
Tribal sermons can
bring conflict if not properly managed especially if mathematically calculated
wrongly. Tribalists think and preach that the men and women of their tribe or
ethnic group are superior to others, and that as a result the others should
serve and obey them. They try to impose the hegemony, the predominance of their
tribes. Tribalist ideas and feeling are used most often to create a clientele
who can help them to satisfy their selfish interests and ambitions.
You as a “Imam” you
could have play a significant role in ensuring peace and stability in our dear
mother land on the reconciliation processes.
One has to understand
that Gambian’s are intermarried and we are all one that no one has control over.
Like in my case My Mum is a Mandink while My Dad is a Jola. I don’t consider
myself based on tribe but as a Gambian. Therefore one has to preach peace always!!
The word “Islam” is
derived from the word meaning “peace” in Arabic. Islam is a religion revealed
to mankind with the intention of presenting a peaceful life where the infinite
compassion and mercy of God manifests on earth. God calls all people to live by
the moral values He sets so that compassion, mercy, peace and love can be
experienced all over the world.
“O You who believe!
Enter absolutely into peace (Islam). Do not follow in the footsteps of satan.
He is an outright enemy to you.” (Holy Quran: 2, 208)
The Quran provides an
environment where people can fully enjoy freedom of thought and freedom of
religion and allows people to live by the faith and values they believe in.
According to Islam, everyone has the right to live freely by his beliefs,
whatever they may be. Anyone who wants to support a church, a synagogue or a
mosque must be free to do so. In this sense, freedom of religion, or freedom of
belief, is one of the basic tenets of Islam. There is always freedom of
religion wherever the moral values of the Qur’an prevail.
That is why Muslims also
treat Jews and Christians, described in the Qur’an as “the People of the Book,”
with great justice, love and compassion. God says in the Qur’an:
“God does not forbid
you from being good to those who have not fought you in the religion or driven
you from your homes, or from being just towards them. God loves those who are
just.” (Surat al-Mumtahana, 8).
The Holy bible also
mentioned about peace too in many pages.
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will
burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their
hands. (Isaiah 55:12)
Peace I leave with you;
my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your
hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)
Consider the blameless,
observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace. (Psalm 37:37)
Let us therefore make
every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. (Romans 14:19)
While all religions
call for love, peace, tolerance, freedom of belief and mutual understanding,
some extremists commit acts of violence in the name of religion and consider
themselves religious. They commit a gross sin by, saying, “we found our parents
doing this, and God has commanded us to do it.” God never advocates sin.
“People who sow seeds of discord by preaching tribalism,
racism and religious misunderstanding should find another place to go.” They
don’t deserve to live with us at all and they are a threat to peace”.
By. Saidina Alieu
Jarjou
Blogger/ Activist
No comments:
Post a Comment