By Mama A. Touray
Imams and members of Majmouatu Rawdatul Majaalis have vowed never to give up in their religious struggle, as they re-elected Sheikh Alhaji Sheriff Muhammad Sanusi Nano Hydara as president of the Majaalis for the next three years.
Giving his acceptance speech shortly after the election on Friday, Sheikh Sanusi Nano Hydara first among other things expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the entire people of the Gambia and the heads of Majliskundaalu in particular for standing by Rawdat in its noble struggle to jealously preserve the Islamic heritage of Sufism and the Maliki school of jurisprudence in The Gambia. Noting in his speech that “the battle is been fought at a time of trials and tribulations.”
In detail he said, “Rawdatul chose to endure hardship and make sacrifices in the face of attempts and conspiracies to undermine our invaluable religious heritage, Rawdatul elected to be the vanguard of the movement that has long desired to bring to the pent-up feelings of the overwhelming majority of Muslims in The Gambia.
“The fight that we started would be an unending and a long-haul one, the future generations would live to witness and narrate its outcome. We therefore urge all those who are of the firm conviction that the virtues of Sufism must be guarded against any misguided philosophy and movement like Wahhabism to be in solidarity with Rawdatul.
“Who in The Gambia in particular and in the entire world in general during moments of despair would not wish to seek the benedictions and prayers of a person believed to be the God fearing and a saint,” he questioned.
He continued that “I reckon, we all do, if yes, help Rawdatul in its peaceful and laudable efforts to protect this century old heritage bequeathed to us by our fathers and forefathers, who in turn inherited it through a chain of transmission up to the prophet (SAW),” President elect Hydara stated.
He therefore thanked ex-president of Majmouatu Rawdatul Majaalis Baba Drammeh for championing the noble cause of this organization.
“I hope that Gambians would understand the way you understand the dangers of Wahhabism and stand with Rawdat to eradicate this growing malignant cancer in our society, May Allah bless you with many more years of good health and a fulfilling family life, May Allah grease your elbow to continue your lofty struggle in any other form you deem fit,” he prayed for him.
