Open Letter to the Muslim Community of Sierra Leone
*In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful*
Assalamu Aleykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu
With deep humility and sorrow, I write this open letter to the Muslim community of Sierra Leone. I do so not in condemnation, but in sincere concern for the future of our Ummah and with a call to return to the unity, guidance, and mercy found in the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Allah Almighty reminds us in the Qur’an: “And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers.” (Surah Aal ‘Imran, 3:103)
Yet today, while we argue and condemn one another, our youth and women are being drawn away from Islam. The noble gatherings of Majlis or Karantain, where knowledge once spread in our villages, are disappearing. They are being replaced by immorality, secret societies, and practices contrary to the message of tawheed. It is painful to note that many villages in our country have no mosques. In places where mosques exist, only a few gather to pray, and many lack even the basic knowledge of Islam. Ignorance and polytheism are spreading where the remembrance of Allah should flourish.
At the same time, external threats grow stronger. Missionaries enter our villages, building churches and luring people away from Islam with promises of food, clothing, school supplies, or money. We have seen Muslim schools and mosques taken over, repurposed, or abandoned. The Islamic university once established in Magburaka once a proud symbol of Muslim education is now overshadowed by secular systems, restricting Islamic learning and erasing its original identity. In addition, many of our Islamic schools have lost their Islamic character. Institutions once known for hijab and modesty are now reduced to shamelessness and free mixing, sometimes even under the leadership of non Muslims.
My dear brothers and sisters, these are grave challenges, but the greatest threat to Islam in Sierra Leone is not from outside it is from within. Our disunity is our greatest weakness. Sectarianism, political divisions, rivalries among scholars, and public condemnations are consuming us. Instead of standing together in Da‘wah, building institutions, and protecting our faith, we quarrel over secondary matters. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) warned us: “Do not envy one another; do not hate one another; do not turn away from one another; but rather be servants of Allah as brothers.” (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2560)
One such issue dividing us is the celebration of Mawlidun Nabi. Some celebrate it, others oppose it but it should not become a cause for hatred and division. Differences of opinion can be resolved with respectful dialogue, not public fighting. We have far more urgent concerns threatening Islam in our villages and towns, and we cannot afford to lose focus. The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said: “The believer to another believer is like a building, whose different parts enforce each other.” (Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith 481; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2585)
Therefore, I call upon all Imams, Sheikhs, Da‘ees, Islamic organizations, and Muslim leaders in Sierra Leone: let us put aside our differences and unite for the sake of Allah. Let us return to the noble work of Da‘wah, strengthen the Islamic knowledge of our people, and revive the building of mosques, schools, and institutions grounded in the Qur’an and Sunnah. If we remain divided, we will continue to lose generations to ignorance, misguidance, and other faiths. But if we unite under the rope of Allah, His help will be with us, and the light of Islam will shine brightly once more across Sierra Leone. Allah Almighty says: “Indeed, Allah loves those who rely upon Him.” (Surah Aal ‘Imran, 3:159)
May Allah guide us back to the straight path, unite our hearts, and strengthen our efforts to preserve and spread Islam in this blessed land. Wassalamu Aleykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu
*About the Author:*
Alhaji Imam Alusine Mansaray is a public commentator and a passionate advocate for food security, youth and women’s empowerment, and responsible leadership in Sierra Leone.
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About The Author
