By Yunus S Saliu
For conservation, preservation and accessibility, the family of Imam Samba Cham, the founder of Halwar Fouta Torro, Friday, presented 125-year-old handwritten Holy Qur’an to the National Center for Arts and Culture (NCAC) for display at the National Museum where others can have access to view it.
The writing of the aged handwritten Holy Qur’an written by Imam Samba Cham was completed in the year 1894 and subjected for review as its authenticity was confirmed. The presentation of the Holy Qur’an was witnessed by some Islamic Scholars from across the Senegambia which among them were the Sering Mouchie Ahamad Iyare Cham, president Supreme Islamic Council, Senegal, Amirul Haj Alhagie Ousman Jah, Imam Ratib of Banjul Cherno Kah, Sheik Muhamad Nasir Nyiass.
Commenting on the presentation of the Holy Qur’an, Hassoum Ceesay, acting Director General of the National Center for Arts and Culture commended the family of Imam Samba Cham of Dobson Street Banjul led by Isatou Cham Graham – Halwar Fouta Torro for their foresight and ability to keep the handwritten Holy Qur’an in their house till this day presented for preservation and display in the National Museum.
Hassoum described and classified Imam Samba Cham as one of the Islamic Scholars to have studied outside the Senegambia. “He studied Islamic Study in Sudan and when he came back he decided to embark on project of writing the Holy Qur’an by hand and luckily those copies had survived.”
He therefore thanked the family of Imam Samba Cham for able to keep it from one generation to the other till date they thought of keeping it at home is not enough but to have it display in The Gambia National Museum where thousands of people can as well have access to see their ancestors contribution to the development of Islam in Senegambia and in West Africa in general.
DG Hassoum confirmed that the handwritten Holy Qur’an by Imam Samba Cham is 125 years old completed in 1894 and subjected to review “because in those days if you write the Holy Qur’an it has to be subjected to review that’s why so many people had signed at the back cover of it to ascertain and vindicate that it is indeed a completed copy and this was done in 1894, so it is very authentic.”
Among the significant of the donated handwritten Holy Qur’an is that it will add to the attraction of the museum, school children and scholars, researchers, tourists, among others will have access to it. Also, it will show the whole world that Islam has a very strong foundation in this part of West Africa and also that knowledge in Arabic and that literacy in Arabic have been here for a very long time even before the advent of the British school systems.
The acting Director General urged those that have useful materials at home to bring them to museum for preservation, conservation and display as there are well trained people to take good care of them in the museum.
Isatou Halwar Graham gave a deep history of Imam Samba Cham, their ancestors and lineage as well as Halwar Fouta Torro.
Others scholars including Imam Ratib of Banjul, President Supreme Islamic Council Senegal, Amir UlHajj Alhaji Ousman Jah among others made remarks during the presentation.
