By Yunus S Saliu
On a noteworthy visit to the Smiling Coast of Africa under the auspice of the Masjidur-Rahman in The Gambia, Alhaji Dr AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef last week visited the Gambia for a West Africa Dawah Tour before departed to Nigeria on Friday, 24th May 2024 with his entourage also visited the Oba of Yoruba in The Gambia, HRH Oba (RTN) Dr. MoshoodKolawole Abolade (JP), the Ariwajoye 1 in his palace at Paradise City, Farato West Coast Region.
The classical Islamic Scholar who was received at the Banjul International Airport was in The Gambia under the invitation of the Masjidur-Rahman for a Dawah Tour held in different places across the Banjul City, Greater Banjul Area, radio stations, and others.
However, Alhaji Dr. AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef first lecture was delivered at the Masjid Rahman in Allen Street, Banjul with the topic – The fruits of Takbeer. He held lectures in other places including Nema Nassir Mosque, and Masjid Uthman Bin Affan Fajikunda Bajonkoto with the topic – the Beauty of Islam. As part of his Dawah, he visited different radio stations including Taxi FM Radio Station, and Senn FM Radio Station for live talk-show programs which allowed the audience to phone in for questions and answers. On Friday, he delivered the khutbah at the Masjid-Rahman Mosque in Allen Street Banjul.
On his Dawah Tour, the renowned preacher also visited the Nigerian High Commission in The Gambia to appreciate the acting High Commissioner Mrs. Olayinka Temidayo Balogun, and her team, he also paid a courtesy visit to the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council (GSIC), the Chief Imam of Banjul, the Chief Imam of Masjid Rahman and finally before departed to Nigeria, he visited the palace of Oba of Yoruba in The Gambia, HRH Alhaji Oba (RTN) Dr. Moshood Kolawole Abolade (JP), the Ariwajoye 1 where he met some of the Yorubas living in The Gambia for a brief Dawah and prayer sections.
At the palace, he appreciated the Oba of Yoruba in Gambia for his leadership position and efforts to bring together the Yorubasliving in The Gambia. Delivering a sermon, he said, “We are nothing but only Allah is something.”
According to him in his sermon, human beings were inconsequential before they were born and when born, they are transiting to where they will become nothing again.
Alhaji Dr. AbdulLateef, therefore, implored the Yorubas to come together and make themselves one and always remember that human beings are nothing and will definitely become nothing again when they die.
He used the opportunity to pray for a better life for all Nigerians residing in the Gambia and also for a continuity of peace in the Gambia saying “It is a peaceful and lovely country but Nigeria too is beautiful.”
Appreciating his visit to the palace with his words of kindness, HRH Alhaji Oba (RTN) Dr. Moshood Kolawole Abolade (JP), the Ariwajoye 1 thanked the visiting Islamic Scholar and prayed for his safe return to Nigeria including his entourage.
He disclosed that Alhaji Dr. AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef was invited for Dawah in the Gambia by the Aku Marabos of the Masjid Rahaman and during the period he had preached in different places in the country.
He thanked the sponsor for inviting him to The Gambia, saying “He has delivered wonderful lectures in different places that I believe all of us benefited from. May Almighty Allah give us the wherewithal to practice all that he preaches to us.” Also, he thanked all those who accompanied him and those who were able to make it to the palace to listen to his dawah.