Banjul — As Muslims brace up to observe the feast of Eid -Ul-Adha, commonly known as Tobaski, some private companies in the business sector have been deploying all types of marketing strategies with a view to luring potential customers to buy their products.

People who have been actively watching the national television and listening to the private radio stations as well as reading newspapers, would come across advertisement slots of some household name business entities, urging customers to buy their products so as to be part of a raffle draw that will earn them a ram for the Tobaski. Since the commencement of such initiatives, many more people who subscribed to these companies have won rams through raffle draws.

However, one might be tempted to know whether rams won from these raffles are fit to be slaughtered on the Muslim feast of Tobaski in respect to the Islamic teachings and principles. To explore this, the Daily Observer sounded the views of the top Islamic scholars in the country.

Alhaji Momodou Lamin Touray, the president of the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council who doubles as one ode the deputy Imams of the State House Mosque, said that it is important for people not to participate in the whole show with the intention of getting something. However, he put it that if one buys the product, being it scratch card or fuel without the intention of participating in the raffle draw and luckily won something, then it is the person's luck." "If the credit or the fuel you buy is being used by you and nothing is decreased from it, and you end up winning something dedicated to the Islamic feast, that is luck and a way of luring in customers. I don't think the Shariah should see any problem with that," he said.

He added: "If a customer is not cheated and gets everything as it should be, then whatever he or she benefits from there is not bad, as it is a way of luring the customers and making them happy too". According to the erudite Imam, since nobody loses in this one, then one cannot condemn it as bad, adding that it is not something where one party wins and the other loses. The Supreme Islamic Council president used the opportunity to advise the business community, notably ram dealers, not to consider their individual gains at the detriment of the Muslims. He also urged them to be honest in their business and to have mercy for the Muslims who find it difficult to meet the exorbitant cost of the rams.

Touray further described Islam as a religion of mercy, peace, and blessings. "The religion itself stands on the pillars of mercy, peace and helpfulness to each other," he noted. He expressed great disappointment for the fact that Muslim traders increase the prices of their items only when the religious feast approaches. "Really, it is disheartening that the prices of some rams are more than a bull," he added.

On the other hand, Imam Touray also cautioned the people to avoid unnecessary spending, noting that Tobaski is not about bragging and extravagancy. "We will advise the Muslims to be modest in their expenditure and cause inflation of price. Contributing to the Tobaski ram rafles debate, Oustass Abdoulie Fatty, Imam of State House Mosque, spoke about the need for the people to be mindful of their deeds and sayings.

The Imam noted that what may be considered as bad is where one send text message with the objective of wining the items from the raffle, but maintained that he sees no problem where a customer bought a credit, benefited from additional bonus and at the end won something worthwhile. Imam Fatty spoke about the need for the companies, notably the GSM operators to ensure a viable and effective network system, as well as making services and products affordable to the average citizens. This, he maintained is what the people want.

For Oustass Banding Drammeh, former president of The Gambia Supreme Islamic Council, and a renowned Islamic scholar, a ram that is to be slaughtered for Tobaski should be clean from all unIslamic practices. "In my own view, people should buy rams when they can afford it because it is a strong Sunnah but not compulsory for somebody who cannot afford it. But in a situation where you can't afford it, do not participate in any sort of raffle with the objective of getting a ram for Tobaski," the former SIC boss remarked.