Islam In the Gambia
The Gambia has a Muslim population, but other religions exist happily alongside. Gambians practise a tolerance befitting the teachings of Muhammad (pbuh) Do not be put off visiting Gambia for religious reasons, because althoug many Gambians are both strict about and faithful to their religion, their tolerance to other peoples religions is striking, with large Christian churches everywhere. Most Muslims in Gambia approaches fellow Gambians and tourists with a very non judgemental easy going attitudes towards their beliefs. In this, The Gambia is a model country for its tolerance - there are people from all over West Africa rubbing shoulders, doing business, co-existing side by side - with very little obvious friction or trouble, the key to this is their fundamental approach to the Koran and the teachings and life of the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as well as a throughly integrated and deep seated tribal religious and cultural background. For most practising Muslims, Islam is a way of life and a code of living, most will wash and pray 5 times each day. (Please be aware of this if you are out with a Muslim guide.) There are a number of Muslim festivals, Ramadan based on the moon's cycle moves backwards through the year, currently it is October/November and has some minor effects on tourism - most Muslims fast from dawn to dusk and in the first few days their tempers are rather short. Friday prayer is the main religious event of the week and some guides don't work on a Friday to ensure that they can attend the prayers at the Mosque at around 2 pm. If your guide is Muslim, try to make it clear that you don't mind him visiting the Mosque on Friday, infact go along yourself and see the colourful devotion and submission to God your self.. The whole service is only about 30 minutes long and are a very social gatherings - you'll be surprised at the number of people attending and the disciplined self order that always prevails. One of the most celebrated Muslim festivals, is Tobaski. A ram is chosen and is sacrificed in remembrance of God providing a ram in the thicket for Abraham, so his son Isaac can be spared. At Tobaski everyone eats meat, it is a time when people try to get home to their villages to be with their parents, presents are exchanged the young honour the old with useful gifts of rice, salt or sugar. Islam is ancient in West Africa and has provided much of the education, medicine in the country, as well as religious guidance.