A Model to Emulate
Please allow me some space in your widely-read paper to comment on the article you posted on March 10, 2010 with the title: Saudi Arabia: Sierra Leonean Joins 500 in Scientific Conference. (Photo: (Photo: Sheik Ramadan Jalloh speaking to Director of Public Affairs Unit, S/L Embassy Riyadh)
Alhaj Jalloh, I would like to abundantly thank you for highlighting the qualities and achievements of Dr. Ahmad Ramadan Jalloh.
By virtue of my position as one of the founding members of the Dawa Committee in Riyadh, I stand a better chance to talk about Dr. Ramadan than many in the Kingdom. Indeed, I have been one of the founding members of the Islamic Propagation committee, whose activities have, since the early 90s, been playing a pivotal role in enlightening our Sierra Leonean pilgrims about Haj rituals.
Both our scholars in Riyadh and in Madina, prominent among whom is Dr. Ramadan, have been interacting over the years mainly to educate and enlighten our countrymen and women when they come to the Kingdom to perform Haj.
Haj is the fifth pillar of Islam. It is enjoined upon every Muslim to perform only once in his/her life time. Yet, it is such a sophisticated pillar that no matter how much one reads about it or is told how to perform it, once on the ground, they need to have someone to guide them. Based in Madinah, where pilgrims oftentimes start their actual journey to pilgrimage, Dr. Ramadan and his colleagues have been invariably playing the most vital role. It is they who give our pilgrims their first dose by highlighting the significance of Haj, and explain what is required of each and every Muslim ( the dos and don’ts ) to perform Haj in total accordance with our religious precepts.
With his in-depth knowledge of the teachings of Islam coupled with his God given eloquence, Dr. Ramadan has oftentimes been the center of attraction on the holy sites of Mina and Arafa. He is a preacher who never bores his audience; for he knows how to present his topics. Being articulate in Arabic and English, (a skill lacking in some of our scholars), Dr. Ramadan would always smoothly sail through the hearts of his audience and capture their full attention.
He has always been a prominent scholar who tirelessly conducts Dawa sessions during the Haj seasons, expecting reward from no-one but Allah the Almighty. Dr. Ramadan, along with the former Dawa Committee Chairman, Sheikh Dr. Mohamed Habib Sheriff  (who is now already in Sierra Leone) and his then Vice Chairman, Sheikh Mohamed Bailah Bah (who is now the current chairman) have been performing extremely well as far as enlightening our pilgrims is concerned. These three scholars have been indefatigable in discharging their Dawa duties.
I hereby heartily congratulate Dr. Ramadan for all the selfless efforts and pains that it usually takes students to reach such heights in Saudi universities. He has honorably joined the golden list of our Sierra Leonean PhD holders; namely, Dr. Ahmad Mubashir Jalloh, Dr. Ibrahim Jalloh, Dr. Mohammad Habib Sheriff, Dr. Sheikh Omar Show and perhaps others whose names I cannot recall now. Each of the above scholars did splendid jobs and markedly made valuable contributions for which they would always be warmly remembered.
Now that Dr. Ramadan is planning to return to Sierra Leone soon, we are confident that he would be a positive addition to the Sierra Leone Association of Islamic Propagandists (Islamic Callers) and continue to energetically function and promote the Islamic awareness amongst our people in a very smooth but effective fashion. We are indeed hoping that he would excel in our home country as he has invariably done in the Kingdom, or even better.
As perfection is a virtue certainly impossible to attain, many and myself included would hope Dr. Ramadan become more accessible in spite of his tight schedule, more accommodating and, perhaps, on occasions, more down to earth. Dr. Ramadan is, undoubtedly, well-armed with the right tools to propagate Islam but needs perfecting this aspect to fulfill such sine qua none conditions for conveying more adequately his knowledge, especially to our Muslim sisters and brothers in Sierra Leone.
Finally, I wish Dr. Ramadan Jalloh every success in his future endeavors.
Ibrahim Y. Sillah, Dawa Committee Coordinator & Lecturer at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaStay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!
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