Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at has called for unity among Muslims as Gambians joined the rest of the world’s Muslims to celebrate this year’s Eid-ul Fitr.
Below is the Eid-ul Fitr message Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, The Gambia by Amir Baba F Trawally.
All praise belongs to Allah Almighty Who has blessed us with the Holy Month of Ramadan and has enabled us to come to the end of this year’s Ramadan.
He has prescribed the fasting that we may attain Taqwa (protection from sin), extol Him for guiding us and that we may also be grateful to Him. We also invoke His boundless blessings upon the Holy Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (SAW) the best exemplar and mercy for the whole humanity.
Every year by the grace of Allah Almighty, we observe the blessed Month of Ramadan and upon its completion, we come together as a family, as a society and as a Nation to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr (Koriteh). This day is not just special because families come together, but it is a day that we return our thanks and sincere gratitude to our Creator, Allah the Almighty for blessing us to witness yet another blessed Month of Ramadan.
During the Month of Ramadan, we pray together in our Mosques, we offer the Taraweeh prayers together and during the last Ten Days, some people prayed together in various mosques tried their best to get the pleasure and nearness of Allah Almighty.
It is indeed evident that this year, the Month of Ramadan was observed all over the world including our beloved country, The Gambia in a way that we have not observed it before. But this was due to a crisis, a crisis that the world is still facing and trying to fight, see a solution and defeat. A crisis that has affected every aspect of our living and has crippled economies and has cost loss of lives throughout the world.
That crisis is the Covid-19 Pandemic. We have seen that because of Covid-19, governments all over the world, for the protection of citizens and residents of their countries came up with precautionary measures, measures which in normal circumstances will never be taken or imposed.
As a Nation, we should stand united in the face of these challenges and help each other and continue to pray to Allah Almighty to protect us and bless the world and set it free from this deadly virus. It is our duty as citizens and residents of our great Nation that we obey the guidelines put in place by our government and also health experts. Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran:
O ye who believe! Obey Allah and His Messenger and those who are in authority among you. And if you differ in anything refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if you are believers in Allah and the Last Day. That is best and most commendable in the end. (Sura Al-Nisa: Verse 60)
The Spiritual and Supreme and worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at during his Friday Sermon of August 27th, 2004 delivered in Hamburg, Germany, after reciting this verse said:
“The standard and speed of progress of a people is linked to the level of obedience of those people. Whenever the level of obedience declines, so does the speed of progress.
In the case of divinely established communities, there is also a reduction in the spiritual growth. That is why Allah has laid great stress on the subject of obedience in the Holy Quran…it is also essential that we should obey the laws of the land where we live…we should be steadfast in the face of trials, tribulations and maintain our standard of obedience. This will be beneficial at the individual level and make the community stronger as a whole.”
Indeed, these are challenging times, a time whereby we cannot do what we love to do most including going to the mosque and offering our five daily prayers, visiting our families and loved ones as usual, carryout our businesses as normal, but in the face of all these, we have seen very beautiful things as well. We have shown the world that during such times, we will stick together and help one another and stay united with a positive spirit.
During these days we have seen that families, who maybe in years have not prayed together at home, offering if not all the five daily prayers but most at home with their loved ones. We have seen as witnessed by all, the amount of charity and food supply distributed throughout the whole country by individuals, religious bodies, organizations and the government as well. We have seen the level of sanitization has increased more than ever before and we have seen that we give more time and love to each other than before.
As we bid farewell to the Blessed Holy Month of Ramadan, we should continue with the beautiful qualities which we have learned and we should stay united as a nation today more than ever before and together in unison we can fight and defeat Covid-19. We should continue to help the poor and the needy amongst us and we should always think of their welfare. May Allah Almighty enable us to do so and make it easy upon us, Ameen.
I am hereby extending to you the warmest salaam, love, prayers and EID MUBARAK of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (May Allah be his Helper), the Spiritual and Supreme Head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad. On behalf of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at The Gambia, I humbly wish you all EID MUBARAK.
May Allah Almighty accept all the humble devotions and sacrifices that we have made during the Holy Month of Ramadan. May He continue protecting and blessing our beloved and dear motherland, The Gambia and her people and shower peace, security, prosperity and stability on us all. Ameen.
Please do continue to follow all the precautionary measures put in place by the Government and health experts. Thank you all.
STAY SAFE
Wassalam
Yours sincerely,
Baba F Trawally
Amir