The Muslim month of Ramadan comes as one of the most highly anticipated moments in the Islamic lunar calendar. This is common knowledge owing to the simple fact that the majority of us here are followers of the Islamic faith.
Forget about the occasional light-minded banter we dished out to one another in the run up to the holy month, the spirit of caring and sharing is first epitomized in the goodwill messages we as a people exchange the very minute the sighting of the moon is made public. Social media platforms get inundated with messages of forgiveness and prayer.
As far as I know, Ramadan remains that sacred month it has ever been. Even as a young chap growing up, the recurring theme that had been on everyone’s lips is that the month of fasting is the period of ‘neemo’; a time when the floodgates of Allah’s blessings and mercy are opened to the faithful on an immeasurable scale.
That makes this month a very special one, with everyone doing his or her bit to get their own portion of the ‘baraajoo’ or ‘tiyabo’that commensurates their deeds. There is intense worship and supplication; the number of worshippers at ‘masjids’ swell even at the work place; local radio stations and of course our only TV station admirably roll out programme upon programme preaching such things like the Dos and Donts of fasting and how this fundamental pillar of Islam was prescribed upon those who had inhabited the earth before us. (Refer to Surahtul Baqara Verse 183-185)
Equally, there is also the sleep-inducing melodious Islamic songs and Quranic verses on the airwaves, filling us with a sense of tranquility. If you happen to be at the Saateebaa market, audio tapes of the late Muhammed Lamin Janneh fill the air, evoking memories of a soft spoken scholar who in his earthly days won many hearts and minds. And years after his passing, Omar Bun Jeng too continues to remind us about his undying legacy through his powerful recordings; works that come very handy for us all .
Thankfully at least for now, those disturbing ear- bashing ‘boom’ ‘boom’ reggae things are placed on the pause button. The drivers themselves have put the brakes on such an irritable stuff. However, even as this holy month brings with it some degree of serenity and sanity in commercial vehicles, the rather nauseating practice of spitting through car windows becomes a habit for some people during this period. I remember a day when I had hastened to alight from a ‘gele-gele’ just because my positioning in that vehicle meant drops of spittle had been clinging on to me. Sadly, one risks being told to find your own private car if you happen to complain in such circumstances. Some people still need reminding that this ‘Deen’ is all about purity and decency both spiritual and physical.
From a massive upgrade in dress codes such as the ‘Hijab’ on the part of women to improved comportment levels, Ramadan in The Gambia is indeed a rectifier of societal conduct, going as far as regulating most people’s moral compass. Such is the degree of respect accorded to this holy month.
However, the difficulty in getting transport after work and its attendant problem of traffic jam especially on the Latrikunda Sabiji-Tabokoto highway requires a great deal of patience for someone eager to quench his or her thirst after a long day at the office.The same can be said of working women who like to beat the rush hour to prepare the ‘ndogu’.Another familiar sight during this holy month is that of people lining the roadside around the Westfield/Cooperative area cursing the bluff of drivers who seem revel in their ordeal. A pitiful situation that raises questions about man’s concern for man at a time when a show of generosity towards one another pays off handsomely.
Such lamentable scenarios, adding to the manner in which the price of basic goods go through the roof, are few frustrating experiences the faithful in The Gambia do endure every other Ramadan. Long may we continue to bask in the virtues and feel good factor that are the hallmark of this month.
By Famara Fofana#
