allAfrica.com: Gambia: Be True,Unite! (Page 1 of 3)

In a hard-hitting and inspirational speech reminiscent of the late great President Nasser, President Jammeh called on the Muslim Umma attending the IOC gathering in Dakar to be true: true to the teachings of the Holy Koran; and true to the Hadiths of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

In a brief interview at Banjul Airport on his return yesterday, the President underlined the fact that the Muslim Umma has big problems that they should unite and solve. "Why is Gaza a prison camp in which the state of Israel is able to attack the population at will while the Muslim Umma does nothing?" asked the President.

"Why does Israel flaunt UN Resolutions with impunity while other countries face sanctions and even war?" "Why does the population of Palestine depend on European Union donations to pay their civil servants salaries and electricity bill when the Muslim Umma collectively are the richest people on earth?" It is the lack of steadfastness to the tenets of Islam, and the disunity amongst Muslims that has led to the current dismal condition of the Muslim Umma, stated the President:

"We must unite and come together ... to disassociate ourselves and our religion from such terrorist elements if we are to be seen as credible in the eyes of our followers and in defence of our NOBLE RELIGION".

The President's speech in full

"Mr Chairman

Your Majesties

Your Excellencies

Your Highnesses

Distinguished Delegates

I wish to extend my delegation's thanks and appreciation to His Excellency President Abdoulaye Wade, the government and people of the Sister Republic of Senegal, for the warm welcome and excellent hospitality accorded us during our stay in this beautiful city of Dakar, and for the leadership they have demonstrated in hosting this important Summit of our noble organisation, the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC). May I also seize this opportunity to congratulate H.E. Maitre Abdoulaye Wade on his election as Chairman of the 11th Session of the OIC and I wish him and the Senegalese Government success in their endeavours.

Islam as a religion and Muslims as followers or believers of this religion, are sweepingly branded and categorised; Islam as a terrorist religion and its followers simply as terrorists. Do we blame these non-Muslims, especially in the so-called developed world, who see us and our noble religion as synonymous with terrorism? I believe not.

Mr Chairman

Your Majesties

Your Excellencies

Your Highnesses

Distinguished Delegates

I think that we the leaders of the Islamic Ummah are to be blamed squarely for this outrageous perception of Islam and Muslims. The perception is outrageous and diametrically opposed to the true meaning of Islam because Islam is the embodiment of PEACE.

Why have I put the blame on all of us who are gathered here as leaders of the Islamic Ummah, including of course the leadership of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) as well as allied organisations like the Arab League?

The simple reason is that we are not UNITED and our words and deeds do not truly reflect the spirit and letter of Islam. Quite often we allow ourselves to be used by and for the cynical purposes of, the enemies of Islam.

By the way, the enemies of Islam are not just the non-believers or non Muslims but in fact the worst perpetrators are the enemies within. You have in today's world people who claim to be Muslims but who highjack the Islamic faith and rain terror on earth in the name of Islam! They bomb Mosques during Friday prayers killing countless Muslims who are there to worship Allah according to Islam! To me such elements are not Muslims but indeed terrorists.

Those who kill and maim indiscriminately including women and children cannot lay claim on a religion that preaches peace and tolerance. They call themselves Muslims but target only Muslims in their most heinous and outrageous killing sprees.

We as leaders of the Islamic Ummah must come out on a united front not only to fight but to also disassociate ourselves and our religion from such terrorist elements if we are to be seen as credible in the eyes of our followers and in defence of our NOBLE RELIGION. However, such an action alone would not suffice as a panacea to bring respect and dignity to Islam and Muslims around the world.

web allafrica.com	Enter your search terms	Submit search form
OR subscribers use AllAfrica's premium search engine


Use our pull-down menus to find more stories

Today's Most Active Stories