Dear brothers and sisters,

Thank you Bamba Laye for shring these verses from the Qur'aan. I subscribe to every word of them. I have problems with using the Qur'aan and Ramadan or other Islamic paraphernalia either out of context, contextually slanted, or without understanding of the tenets.

I am sure Bamba you have known these verses or were aware of them long ago when it was not Ramadan, Christmas, Lent, Hijaaz, or Rodincrantz. Lies, atrocities including the murder of innocent Gambians, wrongful imprisonment, genocide etc have been occurring at those times but I did not see the same passion for the words of the Qur'aan or the Bible. That is why I was led to believe that you either just came upon these verses or you found them more appropriate now.

Wa laa kinna Allahu Bas aalam.

I happen to be a religious student of the Qur'aan, and I take comfort in Knowing that it has value for all occasions so I promised to be a muslim 24hours a day, 7days a week, 365days a year, and I share communion with with my christian brothers and sisters. I teach the Bible and Qur'aan for the lessons and guidelines and the legal edicts contained in them.

The two books are powerful instruments for life. Used honestly without prejudice, they can be valuable in guiding the faithful through their life trials and can open their minds up to Global circumstance. The entire suras and their translation will have done more justice. Due to constraints of time and space here, one may opt for equal treatment of lifted verses.

Wa man azlam min man iftaraa ala llahul kathiba wa huwa yud'aa ila lislam wa llahu la yahdil kawma thaalimiin. Li utfi u nuura llah bi afwaa hi him wa llahu mutimmun nuurahu wa law karihal mushrikuun. courtesy Haaruun Rashid.

So Ramadan or no Ramadan, we will stay muslims, keep focused, and endeavour to represent truthful Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Confuscianism, Bantabaaism, and magicianism.

Evil can rear its ugly head in various manifestation. False piety and unGodly truths are what the Qur'aan terms collectively as Hypocrisies. I know the verses and their rote enunciation can be pleasing to the faithful ear but the trick is in context and understanding.

Maa a Salaam. Laa hawla wa laa khuwwata illa billah li aliyyul atheem.

>From: Bamba Laye <[log in to unmask]>

>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list <[log in to unmask]>

>To: [log in to unmask]

>Subject: [log in to unmask]>>: Words like "Jammehs' Prostitutes", "APRC Clowns" - A Ramadan Appeal

>Date: Sat, 17 Nov 2001 10:52:03 -0500

>Dear Sister,

>4:142 "The Hypocrites - they think they are over-reaching Allah, but He

>will over- reach them: When they stand up to prayer, they stand without

>earnestness, to be seen of men, but little do they hold Allah in

>remembrance;" (Sura - Al-Nisa)

>9:67 "The Hypocrites, men and women, (have an understanding) with each

>other: They enjoin evil, and forbid what is just, and are close with their

>hands. They have forgotten Allah. so He hath forgotten them. Verily the

>Hypocrites are rebellious and perverse." (Sura At - Tauba)

>29:11 "And Allah most certainly knows those who believe, and as certainly

>those who are Hypocrites." (Al' - Ankabut)

>----------------------------------------------------------------------------

>Here! Take this to your boss:

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>pros·ti·tute (prst-tt, -tyt)

>n.

>One who solicits and accepts payment for sex acts.

>One who sells one's abilities, talent, or name for an unworthy purpose.

>tr.v. pros·ti·tut·ed, pros·ti·tut·ing, pros·ti·tutes

>To offer (oneself or another) for sexual hire.

>To sell (oneself or one's talent, for example) for an unworthy purpose.

>----------------------------------------------------------------------------

>[Latin prstitta, from feminine past participle of prstituere, to

>prostitute : pr-, in front; see pro-1 + statuere, to cause to stand; see

>st- in Indo-European Roots.]

>----------------------------------------------------------------------------

>prosti·tutor n.

>----------------------------------------------------------------------------

>Pronunciation Key

>Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth

>Edition

>----------------------------------------------------------------------------

>prostitute \Pros"ti*tute\, n. [L. prostituta.] 1. A woman giver to

>indiscriminate lewdness; a strumpet; a harlot.

>2. A base hireling; a mercenary; one who offers himself to infamous

>employments for hire.

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