President Jammeh pledged to have all death row inmates executed by mid-September. Photo | BBC | |
Fellow
Gambians
Distinguished
viewers
I thank the Almighty Allah for favouring us with His
mercies and blessings, especially for the gift of witnessing the end of the
Holy Month of Ramadan in peace and good health. It is particularly an honour
and joy for me to mark the end of such a blessed month with this annual EID
address to the nation.
Fellow
Gambians
And
Muslims the world over
On the advent of Eid El-Fitr, it is my singular
honour to congratulate the entire Muslim community on this blessed occasion and
to wish all of us a very blessed and memorable feast. However, I trust and pray
that the Day will not be observed characteristically for mere celebrations and
merry making, but will provide a somber platform for solemn reflection on our
deeds and our relations with the Almighty Allah on the one hand, and our
interpersonal relations between and amongst us as family, friends and
neighbours, on the other.
Ramadan, or fasting in general, is renowned for its
propensity to shape behaviour and alter the lot and destinies of believers in
very positive ways, and this sublime precept is applicable in both Islam and
Christianity. IN fact, religious scholars, argue that one of the hallmarks of
the acceptance of religious deeds in the Holy Month of Ramadan is positive
attitudinal change and a tendency for pious deeds and fear of Allah. Therefore,
the questions we need to ask ourselves, among others, are: Have we emerged from
Ramadan cleansed and purified by ridding ourselves of all sinful habits of the
past to lead better and righteous lives acceptable in the sight of the Almighty
Allah? Are we committed or re-devoted to leading our lives within the
prescriptions of the Holy Quran, which commands us to lead decent lives? The
responses to such questions within our inner being will give each one of us an
indication of how sincere and faithful to Allah we are; how repentant we are;
and how inclined we are to changing for the better.
Fellow
Gambians and
Muslims
the world over
Distinguished
viewers
The lesson to draw is that faith in the Almighty
Allah and religious commitment are characterized by self discipline; discipline
that emanates consciously from the inner being and not driven by fear of some
secular force. This is the true shade of discipline that is lacking in society,
both in The Gambia and elsewhere. To comment on indiscipline, Gambians have
witnessed in recent times an undesirable and unwarranted escalation of such
dreadful crimes as murder, armed robber, burglary and, alarmingly, kidnapping,
to cite a few examples. These are crimes that were hitherto unknown in The
Gambia, but they have found their way into the Gambian society. While we admit
that most of these acts are perpetrated by non-Gambians, Gambians have either
been accomplices or have also engaged in these dreadful crimes. There are
increasing episodes of infanticide, as well as homicide committed by husbands
against their wives and children against their parents! These are heinous
crimes and wholly unacceptable, especially in a nation where over 90% of the
population claim to be practicing Muslims; believers in Allah.
My government will never condone acts that endanger
the fabric of our society or thwart the people’s development efforts. Our
objective is to create a peaceful, happy and crime-free nation where the
standard of living will be excellent for every citizen. Thus, banditry, drug
trafficking or its illicit use, homosexuality, murder, terrorism and other
subversive activities against either the State or the people will not be
tolerated, and Government will take whatever legal action is necessary to
expunge these deadly and heinous acts from the country.
Critically, though, the people have to rally behind
Government and support the relevant State apparatuses. It is only genuine
patriotism, which is embedded in the real fear of Allah and love for the
nation; as well as true passion for the people and what they stand for, that
will salvage us together. Hence, together, we must ensure that we do not only
abide by the laws of the Land, but also compel the criminals in our midst to
retract permanently or amend their ways. There is no other option!
The security forces and the judicial system will
continue to be empowered to enforce the law, where applicable. All those guilty
of serious crimes and are condemned will face the full force of the law. All punishments
prescribed by law will be maintained in the country to ensure that criminals
get what they deserve: that is, that those who kill are killed, and those who
deserve to be put away from society are put away according to the dictates of
the law. By the middle of next month, all the death sentences would have been
carried out to the letter.
Fellow
Gambians
Distinguished
viewers
We need not look far into history to be forewarned
of the consequences of anarchy. The breakdown of law and order and the resultant
atrocities in Mali, Syria, Somalia and other countries, as examples, provide
sufficient instruction to remind us that crimes begets chaos, destruction and
destitution, and, in consequence, should be nipped in the bud wherever it
emerges. Gambians should look into the future with optimism, encouraged by the
rapid rate of development and the tremendous achievements made in less than two
decades. We ought to be optimistic of the feasibility of The Gambia’s
transformation into an economic super power and, therefore, commit ourselves to
attaining the development vision and objectives set for such transformation.
Let us cruise towards our destiny undeterred, and leave no room for
retrogressive vermins to clog the wheel of rapid progress. We as a State will
stand by our sacred duties of making sure that every law-abiding human being in
this nation of ours lives in absolute peace, security and freedom.
On reflection, one is compelled to observe that we
claim and pride ourselves of being Muslims and Christians; but, how devoted are
we as Muslims and Christians? How many Gambians live by the noble teachings of
the Holy Books? We are taught to love our neighbours as we love ourselves, just
as we are taught that love for one’s country is an element of piety. Do we
manifest these teachings in our day-to-day lives? Have we not been admonished
to repel hate and injustice, but how many Gambians are willing to expose the
criminals in our midst to put an end to the insecurity, injustice and mayhem
that those criminals perpetrate against innocent people?
Fellow
Gambians and
Muslims
the world over
Distinguished
viewers
As we mark the end of Ramadan, this should be a
moment of reflection and rededication to the principles and values propagated
by Islam and, similarly, by Christianity. True believers stand steadfast in
enjoining and doing good, while prohibiting and refraining from evil. I implore
you all to stand firm in defence of our communities against crime. Let me
re-echo the need for community Watch Groups to complement Operation Bulldozer.
It is long overdue for all of us to mobilize our resources, muster our energies
and innovate to build a progressive, secured and peaceful nation for all. In
the thick of this, we recognize and applaud the sincere patriots who continue
to support Government and dedicate themselves to the welfare of the people. We
encourage them to continue to be the pace-setters of progress and development
but more importantly, for a crime free Gambia.
Fellow
Gambians and
Muslims
the world over
Distinguished
viewers
I congratulate the venerable Imams and other
religious leaders who led prayers during the Holy Month and delivered sermons
to strengthen the faith and correct the behaviour of their congregations in
particular and the people in general. This is a never-ending Jihad, and I
encourage you all to continue with such noble works and devote your sermons
relentlessly to invoking good among the citizenry. In addition, together, let
us pray for the sick and in the spirit of Islam, care for them and support
them. Let us continually pray for the nation, but reinforce those prayers with
positive action. Let us guide the young, give them the education and upbringing
they require to grow into good Muslims and become useful law-abiding citizens
of this great Nation. Remember that as true Muslims we should work together;
for each other and not against each other. We are supposed to work together as
one Family because that is what all Muslims are.
In conclusion, the occasion presents the opportunity
to mention regrettably the division among Muslim communities, both nationally
and internationally. It is due to the artificial divides among Muslims that
Islam is projected negatively n the non-Muslim world. It is for the same reason
that Muslims are weakened to the extent that their rights are trampled upon,
and their wealth and property plundered. It is a dilemma and a source of
concern that Muslims cannot rally behind their leaders and obey them. Sadly,
every year, we begin fasting on different days and observe Eid El-Fitr on
different days yet Allah is the One True God we worship; the Quran is the
source of our faith; the Prophet’s message (PBUH) is universal and conclusive;
and the earth is associated with only one moon, unlike other planets.
Therefore, there is no justification for unnecessary divisions within the
Islamic world. On the occasion of this holy feast, I urge all religious leaders
to set aside their differences and act in unison as members of one religious
body. The Quran warns against division; hence, we should pay heed. By
extension, as one nation, our salvation as Gambians lies in literally
constructing the nation we wish for ourselves and our progeny, and working
selflessly in harmony in the best interest of every one- the recompense for which
can only come from the Almighty Allah.
Fellow
Gambians and
Muslims
the world over
It is very shameful and un Islamic that human
vermins disguised as Muslims use the advent of the Holy Month of Ramadan, when
all true believers are fasting and repenting for their sins and seek Allah’s
mercy, to carry our heinous crimes of mass murder by bombing crowded market
places, mosques etc. During this Holy Month of Ramadan alone, thousands of
innocent men, women and children have lost their lives to these insane sadists
across the Islamic Ummah. Our religion is seriously threatened more by enemies
within our ranks than from enemies of the non-Muslim world.
On a daily basis, more Muslims die at the hands of
such satanic sons of hell disguised as Muslims than at the hands of true
infidels.
The Bombings in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and the
carnage in Syria all stand testimony to this very un-Islamic episode that the
Muslim Ummah now faces. True Islam is only one indivisible religion as
enshrined in the one and Only Holy Quran and as practiced and taught by the
Seal of all Prophets, Prophet Muhammad, Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon
Him. We true Muslims must fight against these satanic forces within our ranks
as they are responsible for all these atrocious conflicts now raging on this
planet earth, by all means necessary and whatever it takes.
Let us stop pretending that the Islmaic Ummah is
unified, peaceful and prosperous today and conduct business as usual. The
reality is that our Ummah is the most dangerous, for true and real Muslims;
most divided and most conflict-ridden today than at any other time in our
Islamic History.
I hereby appeal to all of my Colleagues in the
Islamic Ummah, the religious leaders and scholars to come together to save our
noble religion and our Glorious Quran. This is the true Jihad that our Noble
Prophet fought for and won. We should practice love and care for humanity in
general and fellow Muslims in particular and not hate and bomb them in their
thousands at will.
I call on the OIC to convene as soon as possible an
Islamic Reunification and Reconciliation Summit aimed at ending the carnage and
strengthening the Ummah. As leaders, we owe it to our people and our children;
but more importantly, we will be judged by the Almighty Allah one day without
fail. We should defend our noble religion and we must succeed – as failure is
not an option. Let us work together as one great Islamic family and rid
ourselves of these dangerous criminals from within.
Fellow
Gambians and
Muslims
the world over
Distinguished
viewers
On this note, let me conclude by assuring you that
the Good shall always prevail over the Evil, as the Almighty Allah is always on
the side of the righteous.
Fellow
Brothers and Sisters in Islam
Fellow
Gambians
Distinguished
viewers
While we pray that Allah, the Sovereign Guardian
Lord rewards us for all our good deeds, may He continue to be our protector,
guide and helper perpetually as we seek to climb the success ladder
individually and collectively as admonished by the Almighty Himself. IN our
quest for success both individually and collectively, let us be guided by the
principal tenets of Islam of righteousness and the fear of Allah.
Eid
Mubarak.
I
thank you all for your kind attention.
Wassalamou
Allaikum Wa Rahmatu Ilah Wa Barakatuhu
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