Phenomenal Tribute to Alhaji Sallieu Bah after Hajj

Dallas, Texas, U.S.A, November 18. A large committee of women in Dallas, Fort Worth, Texas was established to organize a warm welcome send-off on the arrival of the Chief Imam, Alhaji Salieu Bah (in photo) and three other pilgrim women from Hajj on November 16.

The Imam was showered with gifts of compliments, testimonies and appreciation for his good deeds by a multinational community that comprises Sierra Leoneans, Guineans, Senegalese and Liberians. The send-off feast took place at a well renowned Jubilee Banquet Hall in Carrollton with a huge program that consist many speakers who spoke about the Imam.

The compliment and honor accorded to Alhaji Bah was not only for the hajj he performed with his wife, Sarah Bah, but the community at large reflected on the excellent deeds of the Imam in the past. The event was a unique opportunity to recognize the most sterling personality of Mr. Salieu Bah wherein all leaders of different organizations were also granted permission to speak.

The Chief organizer of the event was Mrs. Elizabeth Bockarie, a well-known Christian woman in the community, backed by professional nurses and nurse practitioners. The Master of Ceremony was Alhaji Sununu.  Various other Alhajis who have also performed the Hajj in the recent years including a football legend, Mohamed Jalloh, and Alhaji Rashidu Lamin and few others were all there to grace the occasion. Dozens of Christians including the Chief organizer, Elizabeth Bockarie, also demonstrated their good wishes to the Imam. Despite the fundamental theological difference, Sierra Leoneans value of Muslims and Christians coexistence has become symbolic to the eyes of the American people and other immigrants in the Unites States.

In acknowledging the compliments, Alhaji Salieu Bah in his own words said: “I thank each of you most heartily for making me so inexpressibly happy by your presence on this impressive and memorable occasion.”

It will be a memorable event because, to him, it was a memento that will ever remind him about the greatest honor he received on the night of November 16, 2013. The recognition was most appropriate in view of the contributions to the progress of Muslim and Christian coexistence, one Guinean upheld.

Alhaji Bah pondered the occasion as an opportunity for him to convey the values of hajj (pilgrimage) to all Muslims who have the intention to perform the fifth pillar of Islam. He said that Hajj is an Islamic duty that must be carried out at least once in the lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so.  He explains the eligibility of persons fit to perform the hajj as, good intention and commitment, physical health, and financial strength. He preached that hajj has a significant impact on Muslims noting that the hajj strengthens the spirit of unity between each person toward one another and brings equality among all human-beings.

Alhaji Bah demonstrated in a clip-board, the history of hajj saying that the Prophet, Ibrahim was instructed to construct a small stone structure, the Kaaba, which was to be the gathering place for all who wished to strengthen their faith in Allah.  He said, the Prophet Ibrahim was bestowed by Allah as a messenger to mankind for teaching people the path of virtue and righteousness, directions in which all Muslims are following today and will follow forever.

Alhaji Bah admonished Muslims to follow his hajj financial plans that he had adopted years ago to make it easy for whoever intending to perform the pilgrimage in Mecca. Two or more people can come together and make plans of hajj by making monthly contributions in a savings account that will accumulate enough in couple of months to enhance one person’s hajj/ program. In consecutive years, many people will go to hajj easily by making subscription as he put it, considering it as part of your monthly bills to avoid paying the huge amount at one time.  He advised Muslims to contact him for details so that his agency will facilitate the good process in a smooth and healthy atmosphere.

Representatives from Senegal, Gunea, and Liberia were honored to speak on the event. The other three pilgrims, who also honored to speak, were the wife of the Imam, Haja Sarah Bah, Haja Marie Barrie (the Texas Chief big sister), and Haja Isata Jalloh.

The excellent work done by Alhaji Salieu Bah during the past many years in the metropolitan clearly warrants the multinational community to honor him with gifts of compliments and appreciation in different ways.

By Sanpha Sesay, Texas Chief

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