A Muslim group that does not fast and not pray every day – BBC News in Serbian
While twilight descends over the Mbake’s cadium, the village in central Senegal, everywhere rhythmically resolves the scan of Muslim believers dressed in the clothing of patches.
Gathered, the followers of the Bay Foil, in a comfortable circle in front of the mosque, sway and sing from their voice, while their voices rise and lower themselves as one.
Flames of small fire flashes in the background, throwing the shadows of the dancer on their colorful clothes.
Their Laundry swayed while moving, and their faces shine from sweat and ecstasy during this ritual, known as « Sam Fol » – which is at the same time the celebration and the act of commitment.
Participants often act as if in a trance during the mantra, which can last two hours and are held twice a week.
Bay fol, a subgroup of Senegal Great Brotherhood Mourida, does not look like another Muslim group.
They are only a fraction of the population of 17 million people in Senegal, mostly a Muslim country in West Africa.
They stand out with a striking look, and some believe that their unorthodox practice is too far away from Islamic norms.
For Bay Foil followers, faith does not express enough through five daily prayers or posts during the Holy Moon of Ramadan, as most Muslims do, but worth the work and helping the community.
The paradise in their eyes is not a mere destination, but a reward for those who perform difficult work.
Other Muslims often misunderstand them, and in the West, some drink alcohol and smoke marijuana, which is not part of their etos.
« The philosophy of the Bay Fola community is focused on working.
« It is a mystical type of activity, in which work in itself means commitment to God, » Mam Samba, Leader of the Bay Foil Group in the Mbake Cadiolor for the BBC.
They believe that every task, whether it is plowing field under the relentless sun, construction of schools or craft production of goods, interponged with spiritual meaning.
The work is not a mere duty but a meditative act, a form of prayer in motion.
The community believes that here, in the village of Mbake, their founder of Ibrahima fol first met Coteik Ahmadua Bambu, who was founded in the 19th century.
It is a branch of Sufist, which has an influential role in Senegal.
Fol, they say, dedicated to the service of Bambi and often neglect their own needs, including feeding, post, prayer and care of itself.
His followers retell that his clothes became worn and patched, painting folovo unselfish commitment.
Thus, the philosophy of Bay Foil and the tradition of clothing patching was created.
This type of loyalty to religious leaders today practice followers – the concept known as « ndiguel », and many in Bay Foil also add children names in Bay Foll.
The work ethic of the foil is also reflected in the heart of the Mbeke Cadior in the workshop where cooperation and creativity bloom to create beautiful clothes with patches.
Women work concentrated in silence, immersing ordinary textiles in barrels full of vivid colors.
With each next immersion, the fabric absorbs the layers of rich, bright colors, gradually pretending to striking textiles.
Men, equally subtle, take a painted fabric and is crushed in clothing that is practical, and expresses a recognizable identity of Bay Fola.
The air blinks in commitment while the clothes take on the form, with a mixture of inserts and devotional work reflected by their commitment.
These finished pieces are then further distributed to markets throughout Senegal, where they maintain the lives of residents and widely share the philosophy of the community.
« The style of Bay foil is genuine, » Samba explains, whose late father was the esteemed sheik Bay foil, or Marabut, what famous religious leaders in Senegal were called.
« Patch clothes symbolize universality – you can be a Muslim and still preserve your own culture. But we do not understand this. If you cannot accept criticism, you are not advancing, » adds.
And while the other Muslims of the post from dawn to dusk during Ramadan, Bay Fol are dedicated to the preparation of food for the evening iftar meal when the post interrupted in mosques.
This commitment is not limited to manual tasks.
Bay foil was founded by cooperative, social firms and non-governmental organizations with the aim of sustainable development in rural Senegal.
For them, work is not just a survival agent, but also the expression of spirituality.
« We have schools, health centers and social enterprises for creating new jobs, » Samba explains.
« In our philosophy of life, everything must be done with respect, love and care towards nature. Ecology is central for our model of sustainable development, » he adds.
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We Want To Create More Employment – BeCause Young People Need It Here In Senegal «
But they criticized the group due to the practice of strolling on the streets.
Although searching for money is not contrary to the verification system of Bay Foil, it is traditionally implemented with the intention of taking them back to the leader, which redistributes them for the benefit of the community.
« There are bey foil and what we call the ‘Bay FOOM – fake Bay Foll, » former Vice Rector of Aliune Diop University and Mouride Brotherhood Specialist Morida for BBC.
In urban centers such as the capital of the Dakar, the presence of these false Bay folovo has become massive.
« These are people who dress like we and beg on the streets, but do not contribute to the community.
« It is a serious problem that causes harm to our reputation, » Sen.
The emphasis of Bay Foil on a committed work and the community arrived away from the borders of Senegal.
Among their followers include Kiton Sojer Skanlon, an American who joined the community after the 2019 visit. Years.
In the meantime, she received Senegal’s name Fatima Batuli Bah and describes the first encounter with Marabutoma as a moment that changed her life.
« I felt like my body was wrapped light,
« My heart recognized the truth. It was a fundamental spiritual awakening for me, » she says for the BBC.
Bah now lives with Bay Foll, participating in their projects and applying Etos and Community Service.
It is part of a small, but an increasing number of international devotees that embraced the unique path of the group.
Bay Fol plays a key role in Senegal society and their investment in a wide range of agricultural activities is important for the economy.
Every year, they swear to the loyalty to the current leader of Mouride, known as Calif or Big Marabut, donating to fraternity money, cattle and crops to prove loyalty.
They are also crucial for a large mosque in the Senegal world city of Toubi, the epicenter of Mouridism, and are in charge of its maintenance.
In Toubi, they serve as unofficial guards of a large mosque during important events, such as a year pilgrimage in Mary when hundreds of thousands of people come to town.
They are worn to dress modestly, to sell drugs in the field and that no one expresses disrespect towards caliph.
« The followers of Bay Foil always guaranteed the safety of the caliph and the city
« No one dares to behave inappropriately when they are a bey fol nearby, » Sen.
Despite uninterrupting some, the influence of Bay Foll on Senegal Cultural and religious landscape is on the rise, although they face challenges in balancing tradition with modernity.
Limited resources interfere with these ambitious plans, and again their vision remains clear.
Sustainable development, rooted in faith and service, could help some of the huge number of unemployed young people in Senegal, who desperately seek funds for life.
Many of more thousand migrants engaged in dangerous travel across the sea to Europe come from Senegal.
« We want us to do more, » Samba says.
« We want to create more jobs – because they need young people here in Senegal.
« We need cooperation with governments and international organizations. It is our hope for the future, » he adds.
For them, handed over work is an answer for both economic and spiritual needs of the country.
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