By Yunus S Saliu
A new mosque built at Farato Bojang Kunda in Paradise City, Kombo South District, Farato West Coast Region was on Friday, 9th August 2024 on behalf of the Imam Ratib of Farato Central Mosque inaugurated by Imam Muhammed Lamin Trawally.
The mosque is named Oba Moshood Abolade Central Mosque, Paradise City, and was sponsored by the Ariwajoye 1 of Yoruba Community in The Gambia HRH Oba (RTN) Dr. MoshoodKolawole Abolade (JP). The inauguration ceremony of the mosque was attended by Muslim Ummah from and across Paradise City and other parts of the West Coast Region. The construction of the mosque was supervised by the Paradise City (Estate) Community Association.
Delivering his inaugural sermon, Imam Muhammed Trawallysaid constructing a mosque is one thing, thus it is fundamental for Muslim Ummah to perform the five daily prayers in the mosque on time as stipulated by Allah.
The Imam expatiated on the importance and benefits of the new mosque to the community and everyone praying in it saying it will bring residents of the community closer to each other and also closer to Allah the Almighty, serve as an educational institute, and moral guidance.
“This mosque will help us teach our children about the teaching of the Holy Qur’an and also observe together special Muslim occasions in the community such as weddings, funerals, Islamic holidays, and so on,” ImamTrawally stated in his sermon.
Imam Trawally went on that if you build a mosque for the sake of Allah, Allah the Almighty will build the same house for you in paradise, likewise, someone building a mosque doesn’t mean he owns it, but instead it belongs to the entire Muslim Ummah.
Before the inaugural sermon of the guest Imam, the Imam of California Mosque in Farato Karamba Jatta reminded the congregation of the significance of building a mosque which he said is to spread Islam to the followers of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.).
Returning all thanks and praises to Almighty Allah, the sponsorer of the mosque, HRH Ariwajoye 1 of Yoruba Community in The Gambia HRH Oba (RTN) Dr. MoshoodKolawole Abolade (JP) said the building of the mosque started a few years ago but paused along the line before the completion of phase one inaugurated on Friday.
He said building the mosque is about humanity and Islam “and another way to propagate Islam because the world is here and hereafter. Worshipping in the mosque will bring many people together in the name of Islam to live in peace and harmony within the community and beyond because it is a symbol of unity.”
Oba Moshood Abolade who is also the Royal Father of Nigerians in The Gambia expressed his happiness saying the inauguration of the mosque is a day he has been looking forward to seeing happening while thanking everyone who has been there for him with prayers and moral support both Gambians, Nigerians and other nationalities Muslim and Christians alike.
He noted that the mosque is not yet in its final stage because a storey building will be built behind the mosque with an Islamic library and place of worship for women among other facilities, but “we decided to inaugurate it so that prayers can commence. Before this time next year, we prayed to complete it so that everyone would be invited for a full opening ceremony of the mosque.”
