More than four thousand Muslims from Senegal and The Gambia, last Sunday, converged in Gunjur for the annual Ziareh of Sheikh Omar Futiyou Taal, organized by the Sheikh Omar Futiyou Foundation.

Sheikh Omar Futiyou is said to have once travelled to The Gambia and made several worships to Allah at Gunjur, where the Ziareh took place. In fact, history has it that Futiyou has met with the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) during his stay at the Gunjur riverside, which is now referred as "Kenye-Kenye Jamengo" meaning the sandy mosque.

Cherno Muhammad Basiru Taal, Kalipha of the Tijaniya brotherhood in the Senegambia region and a grandson to Sheikh Omar Futiyou, urged Muslims to embrace Islam for their present and hereafter benefits. He described his grand father as a great man of God, who had once played a fundamental role in the strengthening of the Islamic religion. He also reminded the Muslims to maintain peace among themselves without which, worshiping God will be hardly done.

Ebrima Touray, secretary general of the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council (SIC) also described Sheikh Omar Futiyou as a great man of God. He emphasized that there is no other religion that is worthy of practice but Islam. Futiyou, he said, has made a great work for Allah and has immensely contributed to the strengthening of the Islamic religion in the Senegambian region and the world at large.

For Ismaila Sambou, secretary of state for Local Government and Lands, Senegal and The Gambia are one family since the time of Futiyou. He reminded Muslims about the punishments that lay ahead of those who transgress the bounties of Allah, urging them to love and have caring for one another. The Senegalese ambassador in The Gambia, Modou Faal observed that the conduction of the Ziareh is a show of oneness between Senegal and The Gambia.

Other speakers at the ground included Governor Sanneh of Western Region, Imam Mass Kah of Banjul, alkalo of Gunjur Alagie Fanding Touray and Jam Jamaje Sallah, a delegate from Senegal.