Christians felicitate Muslims on Koriteh feast in Brikama

On Tuesday, 6th September 2011 two weeks after the holy feast of Koriteh, Rev. Father Edu Gomez and group of parishioners from the Brikama Catholic Church visited the home of the Imam Ratib of Brikama. The visit was a friendly one to felicitate and share the joys of the feast and peaceful co-existence between Muslims and Christians in the locality. The feast of Koriteh marked the end of the Muslim fast during Ramadan.

Imam Sankung Touray, the Imam Ratib of Brikama was happy to receive Father Edu and delegation. They sat together in the home of the Imam in a friendly and human manner. Together with the Imam were members of Muslim elders committee some relations and his sons. The Imam welcomed the delegation and said how pleased he was to receive the Christians who came to felicitate him and the Muslim community. This was not the first time, as the Imam would recall but the third time. The first time such a meeting was convened was last October and the second time was at the Tobaski feast. The Imam intimated that such gestures of visitations are important because they enable both parties to be familiar with one another and so will be free to relate to one another.

After the Imam spoke he allowed two other elders who spoke in the same vein and said that it will be good that such visits be reciprocated at other Christian feasts like Christmas and Easter. The forum unanimously agreed to the idea so that the visits will be mutual.

Rev. Father Edu Gomez in his turn spoke about the joy of being together as a community. He said that since we all belong to the community and country in general, it is good that we relate to one another. The Gambia is a small country, he said and so the reason why we (Muslims and Christians) should be seen in good relationship. Father Edu explained to the group that he was at a public government function where he met Imam Sankung Touray but both of them felt at home with each other because of their previous meetings and getting to know one another. Father Edu Gomez prayed for greater collaboration between Christians and Muslims so that The Gambia will be an example to the whole world.

Mr. Francis Da Sylva also spoke on the sentiments of unity and peace and encouraged everyone to work for unity and peace. He said also that he and the Imam had been good friends because they taught previously in one school.

The gathering lasted for forty-five minutes after which all prayed for one another and for the community and The Gambia as a whole. Such meeting is hailed in Brikama but there are other communities we see the same thing happening. What is of paramount importance is for The Gambia, which is a civil state to which both Muslims and Christians belong be a home of religious tolerance and peaceful mutual co-existence. 

There are many countries in the world today where people of different faiths cannot tolerate one another or live in peace with one another. They live in constant war of words or physical wars which result to lost of lives and properties. We thank God we do not have that in The Gambia and so it is worth while we preserve the peace, tolerance and understanding among all peoples that live in the sovereign and civil state of The Gambia, our beloved home land.  May God Almighty bless and be with The Gambia.  In the Bible, Matt. 5:9 Jesus teaches that “Blessed are the peace makers for they shall be called the children of God”.