Greetings all, I wanted to abstain from contributing due to reasons I
explained earlier, however, I cannot resist the urge to jump in this debate
that I think serves to rip the fabric that bound us as Africans in general
and Gambians in particular.  What happens to our extended family system?
Who among us has relatives/friends that are just Muslims?  How many people
among us were raised by relatives that do not share the same religion with
us?  This is what we know as Africans.  Since when do we see each other as
believers or non-believers?  That I am a non-believer in someone's eyes, so
what?  That all non-believers will go to hell in someone's eyes, I say, so
what?   Who amongst us has gone anywhere to know what's on the other side,
if there is even another side?  Remember others can bring their books and
preach infinitum just like its going on now with some of us.  When that
happens, we gain nothing but extenuate the superficial divisions we create
in our minds.  When it comes to matters of religion, folks should take care
of their's and let others do the same, thus the separation between
Church/Mosque and State, because of the Holier Than Thou Syndrome that can
poison our minds.  A lot of what's talked about here has to deal with
other's cultural values.  I will be damned if I shall adopt someone else's
cultural values over mine, especially when it can separate brothers or
sisters apart.  The same right you have to prop your belief system as numero
uno, rests with myself and others too.  To those who believe that all
non-believers will sizzle many fold, I say to you, pray for your ancestors,
for they were mainly "Tchedors".  That is the beauty of The Gambia - the
cross cultural and religious exchanges,  Nanmburu, Yapi Haar, Watch Night,
Gaamo, Talabone, Kitim, etc.  Also, the reason why we have the "Kaal System"
- to diffuse the tension and extenuate the positive among our diverse
peoples.  Be an extremist (whatever that means), but what we have going for
us none can dismantle.  Some of you sound as if the rest of humanity is
begging to eat, befriend, or relate to you.  Don't eat my food, visit me,
speak to me, or what have you, because I am a non-believer, and see if I
will loose sleep over that.  To me your move will translate as less headache
for me and more time to spend with the moderate and tolerant many.  Thank
God the rest of humaninity is moving on.  What religion will look donw on a
people that are among the most peace loving on this earth.  Your views about
coexistance will have an audience in the Middle East, but not in Sub-Sahara
Africa.  If Islam stands for tolerance, who are you to highlight otherwise?

With all the problems our nation is enduring, why on earth would some of us
come here to bombard us with unnecessary talk about believers and
non-believers.  While we sit here and sow the seed of discord, some of your
friends and relatives are being fed, housed, and have life long friendships
with those you term as believers and non-believers alike.  So, go on with
the preaching and see if the overwhelming majority of our peoples give a
hoot how you view them.  This is rediculous.

Chi Jaama

Joe Sambou


>From: koto Faal <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Celebrating Holidays of the Disbelievers/Ginny
>Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2002 20:45:13 +0000
>
>To all interested subscribers in this ongoing debate about
>disbelievers,people of the book, and the polytheist in the Sura Al bayinatu
>where references are made concerning the above mentioned groups, the Quran
>as we know it needs a very careful translation of both the text and
>commentaries, both can be misleading depending on the Individual
>researching
>and the source of the text.These groups in question has been talk about
>several times in different chapters in the Holy Quran but at all times for
>different reason.In this particular instances this sura was serve as an
>ultimatum to all non muslims and warning to them of the consequencies they
>faced in the hereafter but this doesn't go to the extend of attacking their
>moral behavior in society cause their are good people among them, they do
>good things for society but that is not what ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY wants from
>them,THE AHSHADA IS THE MAIN PROBLEM.One should really try and return to
>the
>beginning of all things (THE SOURCE) to really understand the problems of
>RELIGIOUS FAITHS. We have learned in the Hadith,THE HOLY PROPHET MUHAMMAD
>(Pbuh) saying  to his followers that I am going to send you to ABBYSINNIA,
>present day Ethopia to a Christian King to apply for Assylum,He is a king
>that do no wrong to his people, he is a man of great justice, HE knew then
>morality was not an issue but Submission to ALLAH'S WILL,will always be the
>biggest pitfall along the way back to ALLAh's Eternal Bliss.The text of the
>above sura is not my word nor the word of any human being, our duty is to
>try and recites it or translate it atleast near it is written, this
>particular verse says "Inna lasinna kafaru min akhlil kitabi wal
>moushrikinna fe narre jahanam hali deena fe ha awla eka hum sharul
>bariyati"
>(meaning to you the disbelievers and the people WE gave books ie christians
>and jews and the polytheist are all going jahanam,which is the literal
>meaning but it goes beyond this,why several reason but the principal one is
>the AHSHADA,where you submit to ALLAH'S Will and Proclaim and comfirm that
>Muhammad is a Prophet and Messenger of ALLAH(SWT),they refute that which
>brought us to the precedent shaitan set long ago when he was asked to
>prostrate for Adam, If we know why he was detrone then we will not be
>having
>this conversation on line, but it is the same principles or Judgement that
>will be befall anyone who has the remoteness of chances without not taking
>this Oath, even the law of this earth ask for Oath e.g President of the
>United States, if you are not sworn in , you won't take Office and you
>think
>if you don't take with ALLAH (swt) you will take Office, everything you see
>here is a manifestation of ALLAH'S Kingdom.This  subscribtion is in
>response
>to all those people whom needed clarification whether the people of the
>book
>are referred to in this particular sura especially modou camara whose
>response to sister jabo contribution. These people choosed not to believe
>the Prophet (Pbuh)and thus condemned themselves to Jahanam. I am very sorry
>if this offended anyone I am just trying to help with the text of the Holy
>Quran, I hope this contribution will help a long way to our enlightenment
>of
>the Quran and its commentaries. May ALLAH forgive me for any misleadings
>this contribution may cause.I am praying to ALLAH the ALMIGHTY to bestowed
>upon us all Wisdom and Guidance. Rabbana atayna fe dunya hasanatan wa fil
>ahkira hasanatan wakhina hasabana, subhana rabihesati amayasifun wa salamu
>alal murrsalin walhamdu lila AMEN.
>>From: Momodou Camara <[log in to unmask]>
>>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
>><[log in to unmask]>
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: Re: Celebrating Holidays of the Disbelievers/Ginny
>>Date: Tue, 8 Jan 2002 19:38:25 +0100
>>
>>On 7 Jan 2002, at 23:42, Jabou Joh wrote:
>>
>> > When people have forwarded anything that says non-muslims are non
>>believers, it
>> > is not something that was coined deliberately to make anyone feel bad.
>>It is the
>> > exact words that the Qur'an uses.
>>
>>Sister Jabou,
>>The Quran is referring to some people as "The people of the book" (Jews)
>>and
>>"The Christians". Are these people also in the above category?
>>
>>I think the quran differentiates "Kafirun" from The People of the book and
>>the
>>Christians. The God that Muslims believe is the same God that the Jews and
>>christians believe in.
>>
>>
>>regards,
>>Momodou Camara
>>
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