Imam Lee Condemns Wastage of Resources At Nayconf 2001



The Independent (Banjul)

July 2, 2001
Posted to the web July 2, 2001

P.K.jarju
Banjul, the Gambia

The Imam of the Kanifing East Mosque Baba Lee has condemned the resources
wasted on the holding of the National Youth Conference and Festival
(NAYCONF), which recently ended in Basse, Upper River Division.

Speaking during his Hutbah on Friday, Imam Lee said the over D3million spent
during the festival could have been better used in the development of the
socio-economic sector instead of putting all that money on playing football
and other games. He added that it is against the teaching of Islam to waste
money. He quoted a Hadith, which said, "any squanderer of resources is an
evil doer". That he said showed the importance attached to wealth, which he
said has an important role to play in the propagation and protection of
Islam.

Turning to the role of the youths in national development, Imam Lee said as
the leaders of tomorrow, the young people could only achieve that position
if they are prepared to struggle for it. Apart from being the leaders of
tomorrow, he said "the young people are also going to be the prisoners, drug
addicts and thieves of tomorrow, depending on how they comport themselves."
He therefore urged parents to train and inculcate good manners and behaviour
in their children in order to enable them assume the responsibilities as
leaders of tomorrow.

Commenting on Vision 2020, Imam Lee said although it is a noble initiative,
but the Gambian people should be ready to face the challenges in order to
achieve the lofty aims and objectives of the Vision. He highlighted certain
social vices like poverty, which he said, can only be alleviated through
education and the acquiring of relevant knowledge.

Imam Lee expressed concern about the current state of Gambian society, which
he said, is full of quarrels and hypocrisy, which he said is against the
teachings of Islam. He therefore called on his colleagues in the Islamic
fraternity to teach the words of the Almighty Allah to the general public so
that everyone would benefit from His mercy and blessings.


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