THANK YOU ALL

Alhamdulilah Rabil Alamin. I thank and praise Allah the Almighty, the Sustainer and Cherisher. It is his favour upon me which resulted in the completion of a research work i under take.
I could not have completed the MA Degree without the help and assistance and the prayer of my Mother, My Lovely and caring Wife and my three children, who whenever I feel the stress of the program, their smiles and questions took away all the worries.
The encouragements and kind words from friends also contributed to the smooth completion of this work, they are many but the following people stand out: Brother Bakary Colly IDB Jeddah, Sakou Gassama, Sidi keiter u.k, Motar Coventry University, Lamin Darboe, Sarjo Bayang, Ebrima Kamara and many others.
And also the Gambian brothers and sisters who kindly responded to my survey questions. Without them I wouldn’t have been able to conduct any survey analysis. Among this people are: Sister Jabou Joh, Sister Aisha Saidy, Brother Lamin Touray, Ebrima Conteh, Saloum, Mustapha B Touray U.S, Keba lamin U.S, Pasedy Jawara U.K, Bamba Mass U.K, Saul U.S, Yankuba Ceesay, Karamo Khan Seattle, U.S and many others. I thank you all so much. You made me proud to be a Gambian.
The Gambian Banking experts who provided opinion on several issues, yet they wish to remain anonymous, I thank you all. The Gambia Shariah Scholars who provided juristic analysis of my queries, among them Dr Jah. Accept my sincere gratitude.
I have to give a special thanks to Bakary Colly and Shirley Britton. The two of them made me continue with the topic I selected for the dissertation. Shirley went as far as visiting the Gambia Antony General chambers in search annual reports of the case study i conducted. Brother Bakary continually, advice me on ways to acquire more resources and understanding of Islamic finance in the Gambia. May Allah reward you all.
Finally, I thank and ask Allah to reward Dr Seif for his kind advice and tolerance to all my frequent questions and interruptions. The Admin staff at MIHE and Gloucestershire University , Sister Sarvat, Gainer, Desmond and Dr Siddiqui. My appreciation to Islamic relief for the part-scholarship of my program, May Allah reward you all. Amen .
I dedicated the final work to my late father Ebrahim Morikeh Touray. Rest in peace.
Wasalam.

The Power of Thinking

Boundless
Magnetic wanderer
Noiseless wanderer
Discretely reaching to absorbed
Freedom assured in the quest to silently fulfil
To taste and visualise
Even that which is out of bound
Experiencing the limitless aptitude
Non-physical
Free from command
Free from instructions
In avenues of spirits
Divinely map out
Wander, the mind wander
Imagine the wishes
The pleasures, unphysical feelings
The vibes, lyrics
The myths-stories
Literatures, science, technology
Attained by the wanderer
Feeding upon freedom to imagine
Tasting even distant passionsIndeed the BOUNDLESS

Mandinka poem

Yinti Yonto kaba
Kabalamasibo
Nbarin musoli, kaba manfeya lon
Musu jama tardeta, kaba labarola
Yinti yonto kaba
Kaba kaa malo le sabu
Kaba kaa Nekuya lee Seeyandi

Famali Nin Bamalu kunbota
Kaba laa Nyagi Bondo
Musuluwo, Alkana kaba Maa, Nin Futuwo Mansite
Nin Yamira, Diya Bekabato
Baatu Foo Fintinwu Fintinwu Yeban
Kaba Kaa Kuneyale

Yinto Yonto Kaba
Kaaba Lamasibo
Din Wulu, Wokola Malo
Kikendole Borita
Kefuntulu Yee Dante
Suwokuta Dibiman Kee
Yinti Yonto Kaba Balamasiboo!

(Poem in Mandinka Language, by Suntou Touray)

Mother's Day. A Hadith or Prophetic Saying.

I do not celebrate specific days for mothers or fathers, i beleive every day should be a respectable and honourable day for our parents. But since some do, i thought it necessary to share a well known hadith on the importance of mothers.
Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) statements
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him)reported: A person came to Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and asked, "Who among people is most deserving of my fine treatment?'' He (PBUH) said, "Your mother". He again asked, ``Who next?'' "Your mother", the Prophet (PBUH) replied again. He asked, "Who next?'' He (the Prophet (PBUH))said again, "Your mother.'' He again asked, "Then who?'' Thereupon he (PBUH) said,'' Then your father.''

PAN-AFRICANIST- Who do they speak for

A response:
He was wrong not to criticise Mugabe. The Pan-Africanist ideology supporters most realise that, any dictatorship or brutality is the same. No matter who commits it.The comdemnation of Mugabe by the west started after he betrays their trust. That is wrong, but does that mean, Mugabe should treat his own people with comtepmt and impunity? No wonder Pan-Africanism is not gaining ground. The idea is a good one, but unless, the promoters realise that, crime is a crime, lack of democracy on the part of our own folks is our responsibility, not the west. The West have united on the premise of human rights, the rule of law and respect for the human being, aka their own kind first. We hate each, we can't stand each, yet we continue to blame the west for all our woes. This is amazing.Another irony is that, some of our own Leading Gambians in the Pan-Africanist struggle ended up living more than half of their lives in the west, what message is that sending?You cannot eat your bread and have it.How often do the regular Pan-Africanist folks living in America, Sweden, U.K, Holland or else were in the west visit the African continent or Gambia for that matter? Most Africans or Black will support the Pan-Africanist idea. But should we be glamourising brother/sisters who has left the Gambia for decades and yet we claim to want know their Pro-Black legacy? What is going on?

Project Completion

I thank God for the strength and health he gave me in making the completion of the project successful. I am doing the fine tuning. I shall comment about all those who one way or other contributed to the success of the enquiry.
May Allah bless all of you in advance. There are also other incidences i was meant to comment on. I didn't wish to distract myself unnecessarily, although the issues were relevant. Sorry for suspense readers. I will not be specific in this matter, the case is too sensitive for that. But as a community leader, we owe our members an explanation as to why we didn't interfere in a certain dispute between two warring Gambian parties. Sometimes, it is important to leave certain matters as private. The privacy and secrets of others is more important than trying to interfere and add fuel to fire.
As i said, i will comment on this subject in few days time God-willing.

Self-Defence Class

Folks, I have stated here a while ago that, the credit crunch is making some people aggressive. This is a fact. In most summers, i cycle rather than drive, unless for lectures and other far away engagements.
I have noticed that, people are getting impatient on many issues. To be affirmative, i have enrolled for a self-defence class. Wrestling and grabbing, with martial arts. It's only on Monday and Wednesday evenings. It will make me prepared for the sudden attacks, not that, i pray for it. But you never know who is fade up with things.
Try it i would say, it also increase your strength and energy levels. You eat better and sleep better. You also relax mentally.