African Islamic Professor Condemns Terrorism, Praises Muslim Charitable Organizations
Professor Doctor Abdallah Dumbuya, a Gambian scholar with a double Doctorate degree in Islamic Jurisprudence and Sciences, has strongly condemned organisations and groups using Islam as a justification for terrorism and violence.

The Islamic intellectual stated that in Islam "to kill innocent people is haram" [forbidden].

"The super powers should try by all means to stop terrorism immediately," the scholar said, asserting that any terrorist captured should be killed or jailed for life. "If they kill innocent people, they should be killed, if they do not kill but threaten with violence, they should be jailed for up to twenty years or more," he said.

According to Professor Dumbuya, both the Sharia (Islamic law) and Western law agree on the legalities involved in meting out punishment to perpetrators of terrorism.

Dumbuya intimated that although there is more media attention generated by so-called Muslim terrorists, there has been other development oriented Islamic philanthropists who have contributed to mankind. In a bid to give a contrast to Osama Bin Laden's personality he mentioned Sheikh Adina Basalama a Saudi Arabian Muslim cleric whom, he said, is not into terrorism but the development of poor people around the world. "Sheikh Basalama has helped to build schools and mosques in several countries, he has helped spread positive Islamic education to the world community," the professor explained.

Professor Dumbuya also mentioned Salem Bashanfer whom he said is another Saudi cleric very active in helping needy Muslims and underprivileged communities. He also mentioned Mohammed Hassem Sheikh Asheem Barakat and Abdallah Omar Ba Nkhar all Saudi clerics helping needy Muslims "not with guns, or violence."

On the question of State House Imam Fatty's statement that the US government should be blamed for the attack because of their policies, Professor Dumbuya refused to comment, claiming that only "half educated Muslims will support terrorism."

"I am a doctorate, I do not consider half educated people who support terrorism in Islam because they do not know the Quran or the hadith," he said.

He advised Gambians and non-Gambians to be "careful about terrorism," saying that people "who support terrorism will not get any help from the outside world." He called on The Gambia Government to make Islamic knowledge a subject in all the schools in The Gambia, and that Islamic teachers should be given priority in the Department of Education, pointing out that The Gambia is ninety-nine percent Islam.

He called on privileged Muslims to help Imams and Islamic teachers because "they are leading prayers without salary."

"I am asking the people to recognise the dignity of Imams, they are great people in Islam," he appealed.

Profession Dumbuya said that Imams have no other work except leading the Muslim communities "so they should be helped."

He called on schools to encourage their pupils to speak more English instead of vernacular, which he says will not be good for their education." "I met over hundred students of St. Augustine's and Gambia High School recently and they were all speaking vernacular (local languages). I asked them if they are taught in vernacular," Dumbuya said.

He said he contacted a teacher who told him students from Banjul and the Kombos usually fail English objective examinations while their counterparts in the Provinces are known for doing very well in the subject.

Professor Dumbuya commended Citizen FM radio station for their objective reporting, and called on international donor agencies to help the station establish a private television station in The Gambia.

The Islamic scholar roundly condemned the practice of calling the Azzan (early morning prayers) 4 O'clock at night, saying that it is unislamic.

"It is haram to make the Azzan at 4 O'clock when prayers take place at 6 O'clock." "In Islam, the first call should be 45 to 50 minutes before the prayers, and the call should only be twice," he said. He advised Muslims to know that the Azzan is only made two times and it should not be made several times as is the practice. He also condemned the practice of radio stations playing the early morning call repeatedly, as well as playing recordings on amplified speakers.

Professor Dumbuya has an International Doctorate in International Islamic Science, in the High Institute of Religion Principles, Ezzitouna Faculty of Theology, University of Tunis. He also holds another Doctorate degree in Jurisprudence and Legal Policy, and the Provisions of Muslim Law Concerning Children. He has spent up to twenty-one years in his academic pursuit in Tunisia and has undertaken numerous researches in the Arab world. He also works with an international Islamic charitable organisation as adviser.

According to the Professor, his charitable organisation will help The Gambia. "We intend to do a lot of help for Gambia, we have great intentions," he promised. Professor Dumbuya is presently here in The Gambia on a short leave.

This article originally appeared in The Independent, Banjul, The Gambia, West Africa, October 26, 2001.