THE NATIONAL ANNUAL CONVENTIONS (ANNUAL
IJTEMAS) OF ELDERS, WOMEN AND CHILDREN CONCLUDED SUCCESSFULLY AT THE BAITUS
SALAM MOSQUE TALLINDING
By the grace of Allah Almighty the 10th
National Annual Convention of Majlis Ansarullah, The Gambia the elderly men
wing of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat started on Saturday 18th February 2017, it
was the very day that The Gambia celebrated her 52nd Independence anniversary
and concluded on Monday 20th February 2017. The elders were requested to pray
for the peace, stability, progress and harmony of the country.
Delivery his closing remarks on Monday 20th
February 2017, the Amir Baba F. Trawally addressed the elders reminded them
about the importance of Salat, which is the very fundamental teaching of Islam,
the very reason for our creation and what best way can we worship Allah
Almighty than Salat which also happens to be the second pillar of Islam. Allah
Almighty says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2:22
O ye men, worship your Lord Who created you
and those who were before you, that you may become righteous. Then in other parts of the Holy Quran, He
told us how to worship Him. In Chap 2:44 Allah Almighty says: And observe
Prayer and pay the Zakat, and bow down with those who bow.
Allah Almighty has commanded that the very
best way we should worship Him is through prayers which is the bedrock and
foundation of every other type and manner of the worship of Allah. Hence He
emphasises the observance of prayers in many parts of the Holy Quran. So as
true servants of the Almighty Allah, we should always be regular and punctual in
our Salat. As elders of the Jamaat we should set the standard and be exemplary
to the younger ones. Prayer purifies our souls and cleanses us from all sins
and dirt, makes us righteous, gives us peace of mind, comfort of the heart and
through it we can attain the nearness of Allah Almighty and be winners of His
pleasure.
Regarding this we find in a Hadith in Sahih
Bukhari that the Holy Prophet Muhammad(saw) was reported to have once asked his
Companions that “If there was a river at someone’s door and he took a bath in
it five times a day, would you notice any dirt on him?” They said, “Not a trace
of dirt would be left.” The Holy Prophet Muhammad(SAW) said, “That is the
parable of the five prayers by which Allah removes sins.”
The Amir quoting the Promised Messiah and
Imam Mahdias regarding the subject said: The Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi
(on whom be peace) said that “Salat alone is the virtue that dispels satanic
weaknesses and that Satan wishes man to stay away from Salat because he knows
it is Salat that would purify man. Fasting [during Ramadan] comes once every
year and Zakat is for the well-off to observe, however, Salat is for everyone
and should be observed, seeking Allah’s bounties for the treasures of Allah are
always brim-full all that is needed is the certainty that one is standing
before an All-hearing, All-Seeing Being Who can provide in a spilt second if He
so wishes. Just as a soldier would never surrender his best weapon in a
battlefield Salat is the most excellent weapon for a believer and a believer
should safeguard it at all costs”.
Speaking earlier at the opening session of
the Convention, the National President of Majlis Ansarullah The Gambia, Brother
Boido Kandeh welcomed the participants at the Ijtema and told them that as
elders, they should be strong and actively participate in all Jamaat activities
and also show great examples to others. He also gave them a brief report on the
activities of Majlis Ansarullah The Gambia throughout the year.
Other speakers at the event included Bro.
Musa Sanneh, Bro. Demba S. Bah, on the topics, The Holy Quran as a Divine
Revelation and Its Protection Against Corruption, The Holy Prophet Muhammadsaw
as a Statesman and as a Mercy for the Universe, Institution of Khilafat: Types
and Blessings of Khilafat and Hazrat Imam Mahdias: Resemblance with Hadhrat
Issaas and Signs of Advent respectively. Heads of the Senegalese and Guinea
Bissau delegates also gave statements. The Ijtema was attended by almost 200
Ansar from all over the country, and delegations from Senegal and Guinea
Bissau.
The 12th National Annual Ijtema of Lajna
Imaillah The Gambia on Friday 24th and Saturday 25TH February 2017 at Baitus
Salam Mosque, Talinding
Delivering his closing address on Saturday
25th February 2017, the Amir Baba F. Trawally, stating the role of women in
National development and that of their communities said:
As women, you have a very important role to
play in both national development and that of your communities.
Men and women are equal in the sight of
Allah Almighty what matters is righteousness but in the view of the differences
in their nature, they have been assigned different roles for the smooth
function of the human society. Women in particular have a crucial role to play
in our society as they have the unique ability to bear children and nurture
them which when done perfectly, lays the foundation stone to a great nation
with high moral standards, kindness and respect to humanity. Women are one
segment of humanity and can occupy three positions in the society.
First as a daughter, her importance is such
that the Holy Prophet Muhammadsaw tells us that “He who brings up his daughters
well, and makes no distinction between them and his sons will be close to me in
paradise”
Secondly, a woman can be a wife and play a
great role in the establishment of a man’s character in society so much so that
it is said by the Holy Prophet Muhammadsaw that “the best among you is one who
behaves best to his wife”
Thirdly, in her role as a mother, Islam has
placed women at a higher status than men as “Paradise is under the feet of the
mother”. Islam is not a religion that seizes the rights of women but rather a
religion that recognizes the right of women to the fullest and also the great
role that women have in in the upbringing of children and the future of mankind
depends on women.
The Holy Prophet Muhammadsaw went further
to say that Seeking for knowledge is obligatory upon both Muslim men and women.
So looking at all these noble sayings of
the Holy Prophet Muhammad, we come to understand the great role women have to
play in the development of our nation and society. For those going to school,
always aim for the highest in your studies, don’t be satisfied just by
completing grade 12, but aim higher for University education because that is
very important as the saying goes “educate a man and you have educated one
person but educate a woman and you have educated the whole world”.
You should always remain just, modest, and
respectful people of the society, because no nation can be developed without
the positive contribution of women.
Later speaking on the importance of Salat,
Amir Sahib told the gathering that our beloved Hudhur His Holiness Hadhrat
Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V(ATBA) in his recent Friday Sermons of
20th and 27th January 2017 has stressed the importance of Salat citing that
children should be shown great examples by their parents in this regard. So as
parents, especially mothers and elders of the Jama’at, you should always show
great examples to our children and guide them on the right path.
Speaking earlier during the opening session
on Friday 24th February 2017, the Sadr (National President) of Lajna Imaillah
(Women Wing) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat The Gambia, sister Musukebba Jarjue
advised the participant especially the mothers on how to bring up their
children in the proper Islamic way. She later stressed to the younger ones to
always be respectful and know how to approach the elders. She went further to
advised them to always be mindful of what type of dresses they wear and how
they behave in society.
She advised the gathering that as women of
the Jamaat they have a project to build a mosque in the country, citing that
they should try their best to contribute towards the building of the said
mosque even it will be paying one dalasi each. It will InshaAllah be the first
mosque in the country to be built by women.
Advising the children, she told them to
always be sympathetic to their fellows and always share with their friends,
telling them that if you take enough money for school lunch and you have a
friend who is less fortunate, call her aside and in secret give her something.
Other speakers at the event included Sister
Fatoumata A. Bah, Sist. Sadia Sajid, Sist. Shafia Zaheer and Sist. Qanita
Kinteh, on the topics, The Importance of Salat, Importance of Purdah (veil),
The Essence of Modesty respectively.
About 500 women and girls attended the
Ijtema from all over the country and a delegation from Guinea Bissau as well.
The 6th National Annual Waqf-e-Nau Ijtema
The Gambia on Sunday 24th February 2017 at Baitus Salam Mosque,
Talinding
The Waqf-e-Nau Ijtema (children devoted for
the propagation of Islam) The Gambia was successfully held on Sunday 26th
February 2017 which also coincided with the same type of event held by the
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat UK which was addressed by the Khalifa.
In his closing address, the Amir Ahmadiyya
Muslim Jamaat Respected Baba F. Trawally advising the children told them that
as Waqf-e-Nau, (children devoted for the propagation of Isam) they are very
special children and should always be exemplary and set the highest standard of
moral qualities. He went on to tell them that:
“You should always be very respective to
your parents and teachers, listen to your elders, and participate keenly in
your studies at both school and daara. You should always be praying for
yourselves, the Khalifa, your parents and friends as well. One very important
quality of a Waqf-e-Nau should be that he/she should always speak the truth and
also advise his friends to always speak the truth. You should also be very
regular in your Salat as well”.
Advising the parents of the children who
were in attendance, Amir Sahib said, “the advice to we the parents is that
after devoting the lives of our children, we should play a great deal in both
their moral and spiritual developments. We should make sure that these children
receive the best education and also that they are doing well at their Daara as
well. These children are special and should be looked after with care, love and
compassion. We should always make sure that they are studying the Waqf-e-Nau
Syllabus accordingly”.
In conclusion, the Amir advised the
children to always write letters to the Khalifa of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat
His Holiness Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V(ATBA) through
which he said they will develop a personal bond and love with the Khalifa.
Other speakers at the event included,
Ustaz. Syed Saeedul Hassan Shah, Ustaz Abdourahman Cham and Brother Bilal Jawo
who gave the annual report. The Ijtema was attended by 261 participants.
Academic competitions and sports were held
at all three events Ijtemas (conventions).
Amir Sahib in his closing remarks at all
three events conveyed the salam and special prayers of His Holiness Hadhrat
Khalifatul Masih’s V(ATBA) to all
participants and the entire country and
stated that His Holiness is continuously praying for our dear and
beloved country The Gambia.
He also went further to request
participants to continue to pray for the Khalifa of the time, the Jama’at, our
dear and beloved country and the whole world at large and that may Allah
Almighty always establish and maintain peace, security, tranquillity, harmony,
success and progress in our great country The Gambia and be with us at all times.
Finally he prayed for their safe return home. Ameen
Wassalam
Yours Sincerely
Ibrahima Jam Jawo
National Secretary Publications
