Fellow Gambians,As the count down to the most consequential election in the history of the Gambia narrows amidst mixed feelings of confidence and fear for a better Gambia, I thought of entreating myself and one and all to intensify our vigilance and determination to free ourselves and generations unborn from the slavery of Jammeh and his evil system. This election is indeed the difference between freedom and continued slavery and thus no room for complacency.
In Surah Ra’d verse 11 an excerpt, Allah says; “Verily, Allah will not change the (good) condition of a people as long as they do not change their state (of goodness) themselves (by committing sins and being ungrateful and disobedient to Allah)”. For some of my brethren and so called elites who believe election (politics) is ungodly and dirty (a school of thought I championed until recently) and as such taking part in such a system is tantamount to disbelief and disobedience of the Creator. However, it is interesting to note all the Khulafah (Leaders of the believers after the Prophet) were chosen in different ways. Abu-Bakr (RA) was nominated by Umar followed by the statement of allegiance (bai’ah) from the remaining companions while Umar constituted a committee (shura) of six prominent companions to choose the leader after him just to name a few. Any of these ways is a legitimate way of chosen a leader, and election is no exception if it is the only peaceful way of deciding who leads. Furthermore the emigration of the Muslims to Abyssinia from Makkah, gave rise to a serious in fight between the then Christian King (Najasi) and his opponents which literally resulted to a failed coup de tat so to say. However, it is narrated that these Muslims emigrants spent the whole night crying and supplicating for Allah to strengthen the King against his enemies because he was sympathetic to their cause and would not allow anyone to perpetrate injustice against them irrespective of their difference in faith. Therefore, I deduce from this that if these Muslims felt the need to devote themselves to prayers the whole night in support of the King, what would have stopped them from fighting in his army if they were citizens? Thus if we remain nonchalant about the future of our governance and who decides policies and direction of our dear motherly for the next five years, Allah will instead not come down to change our condition for us.
Now to the main crux of my treatise dedicated to the movers and shakers of the fight against injustice, slavery and separatism, I say a big bravo and congratulations for your relentless efforts, sacrifices and selflessness. You all have made history and your names have been indelibly imbibed on the stones of change for a better Gambia. The struggle against dictatorship and injustice is always daunting and high sight proves that it cost lives, comfort zone shifts and abandonment of so many necessities and luxuries all of which you all have without reasonable doubt demonstrated. However, erring on the side of caution is an antidote for complacency, thus, all these sacrifices should now culminate with sincere prayers and supplication. With reference to the battle of Badr, after the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the companions explored and instituted all pre-war strategies irrespective of their damning numbers and scarcity of weaponry, the Prophet entreated them to put their trust in Allah and earnestly beseech His help. He (peace be upon) spent the night before the battle in prayer and supplication amidst profuse crying until Abu-Bakr intervened for him to stop because Allah has accepted his supplication. This has been referenced In Anfal 12-13, Allah says “Remember when you sought help of your Lord and He answered you (saying): ‘I will help you with a thousand of the angels each behind the other (following one another) in succession” – “Allah made it only as glad tiding, and that your hearts be at rest therewith. And there is no victory except from Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Mighty, All Wise”.
After seeing the unprecedented crowds cheering the coalition and the enthusiasm and determination for change reverberating in all spheres of our society, it is now time for us all to seclude in communion with our Lord during this final night in prayers and supplication. Hajjaj Ibn Yusuf who alone executed 125,000 men including prominent companions of the Prophet like Abdullah bin Umar, Abdullah bin Zubair and Said bn Zubair is the most brutal and deadly ruler of our history and the scholars then used to consider him as a calamity and curse sent down by God which I believe is our case too with Yaya Jammeh. Undoubtedly this night is critical and extremely important for all of us who have tirelessly campaigned and advocated for change to spend in prayers and supplication. Let us not relent or become complacent at this deciding moment, please wake your families up and spend this night in supplication just as the campaign nights have been spent on meetings and fanfare.
Fellow Gambians, on a final note, don’t be bothered or intimidated by Jammeh’s BS rhetoric that no election, or power can remove him except Allah. Well this statement of him is controversial because elections and invasions are means of Allah snatching power from people because indeed nothing happens except by His will. Yaya Jammeh is a sheer human being empowered by Allah, he cannot benefit or harm neither can he stop the will of Allah. Allah says in Al-Imran 26 – “Say (O Muhammad SAW): ‘O Allah! Possessor of the kingdom, You give the kingdom to whom You will, and You take the Kingdom from whom You will, and You endue with honour whom You will, and you humiliate whom You will. In your Hand is the good. Verily, You are Able to do all things”. The same Lord who gave him power will snatch it away from him tomorrow God willing through the ballot box.
Welcome new Gambia
Welcome Third republic
And long live to all genuine and patriotic Gambians; to those our compatriots who have given their lives, we ask Allah to accept you as martyrs and to those incarcerated we say freedom has come and today we celebrate your sacrifices as our noble heroes. Special tribute to my Dad Alhagie Momodou Sanneh; a man who has spent his whole life sacrificing for others and leading by example. A humble and dignified son of Kiang and by extension The Gambia. We celebrate your accomplishments and stand behind you in this struggle.
BB Sanneh
Ends
Very good write-up Musa. Obviously the most powerful weapon a believer has is supplication and therefore at this crucial point for our nation, may Allah give us a resounding victory, peaceful transition and a better future.