In the spirit of tolerance and fraternal relationship between Christians and Muslims in The Gambia, Bishop Robert I Ellison, the Bishop of Banjul, accompanied by some members of the Catholic community, yesterday, paid a courtesy call on the Imam Ratib of Banjul, Cherno Kah, and the committee of Banjul Muslim Elders.

This symbolic visit, according to officials, is in honour of the occasion of the Eid al Adha (Tobaski). Bishop Ellison, in a speech, thanked the Imam and the Banjul Muslim Elders for their warm reception and expressed his sincere wishes to the gathering on "behalf of the Catholic Community in the Gambia." He noted that during these past two days, "we have prayed to God Almighty to continue to protect and guide the entire Muslim community in the Gambia."

Bishop Ellison wants every Muslim to reflects their mind back on Prophet Ibrahim about the special sacrifice he had made and his request to Almighty Allah. He said when Muslim celebrate Eid al Adha they recall their mind back on Prophet Ibrahim by celebrating religion and the value of Islam.

As a sign of hope, Bishop Ellison said, about one month ago in Rome 24 Muslim leaders, including Imams and scholars, for the first time, gathered together with 24 Christian leaders to share and discuss issues that would lead to living in peace and harmony.

"The Gambia is a very small country in the world, but it is a very significant nation because, by and large, Christians and Muslims are living side by side in peace and harmony," Bishop Ellison said.

Alhaji A A Faal, chairman Committee of Banjul Muslim Elders, in welcoming the visitors, said the spirit of tolerance between the peoples of the two faiths started as far back as 1823, following the arrival of Christian missionaries known as the "Society of Friends."

He said: "Islam and Christianity share a common bond of faith," and he added that The Gambia's Muslim and Christian relation are unique in the whole world. Faal further noted that the former High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to the Gambia, Mr Jenkinson, and Ambassador Ruther Ford of the United States of America had stated that "Christian and Muslim relationship in the Gambia are unique and could very well be a lesson to the whole world."

Imam Cherno Alieu Mass Kah, the main host of the meeting, expressed gratitude to Bishop Robert I Ellison and the catholic community, saying: "Allah said those that are closer to you are the Christians because they easily accept the truth.

Imam Kah noted that among the basic principles of Islam is that we should not discriminate. "Whoever fails to follow this belief should not be considered a Muslim," he said.

The Lord Mayor of Banjul, Samba Faal, Rev Fr Edu Gomez, and a cross section of members of both the catholic and Muslim elders were present at the occasion.