PROFILE: Imam Muhammed Lamin Touray: The Imam Ratib of Gunjur Central Mosque

In a country where the moral compass of society is often calibrated by religious voices, Imam Muhammed Lamin Touray has emerged as one of The Gambia’s most respected and enduring Islamic scholars. Over decades, his voice has resonated not just within the sacred confines of the mosque, but in national discourse, shaping policy, healing divides, and guiding generations of Muslims toward a balanced and compassionate faith.

Imam Muhammed Lamin Touray: The Imam Ratib of Gunjur Central Mosque

Humble Roots, Scholarly Ascent

Born in 1955, in the coastal town of Gunjur, Imam Touray was nurtured in a deeply spiritual and religious environment. From an early age, he showed exceptional dedication to Islamic learning, memorising the Holy Qur’an and later pursuing higher Islamic studies both locally and in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Among his mentors and teachers was the revered Sheikh Sheriff Hatab Bojang, under whom he sharpened his theological and pedagogical acumen.

National Religious Leadership

In 2008, Imam Touray was elected President of the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council (GSIC), a role he would hold for over a decade. As head of the GSIC, he became a national figure, navigating complex religious and political terrains with measured wisdom.

Under his stewardship, the GSIC worked to unify various Islamic sects in The Gambia, resolve mosque disputes, and foster relationships with global Islamic bodies. Notably, Imam Touray championed inter-Islamic harmony, encouraging tolerance between Sunni and Sufi communities and discouraging extremism.

He also served as the Imam of the State House Mosque under former President Yahya Jammeh, and was a trusted spiritual advisor across multiple administrations. Despite the political overtones of his position, he maintained a tone of independence, focusing his sermons on ethics, justice, and spiritual renewal.

Imam Touray’s Friday sermons have been broadcast nationwide, often tackling controversial yet pressing social issues. Whether discussing indecent dressing among youths, the importance of charity, protecting the environment or the role of parents in moral upbringing, his message has remained clear: a return to discipline, modesty, and God-consciousness.

Beyond the minbar, he has been a strong advocate for supporting the underprivileged, frequently mobilising his congregants and community to assist orphans, widows, and struggling families, especially during Ramadan and Eid festivals.

Counselor to the State

In 2023, Touray was named chair of the National Muslim Elders Advisory Council, an initiative by President Adama Barrow to consult religious leaders on development and peacebuilding. The council’s work reflects Touray’s long-standing belief in faith-based governance, not theocracy, but a moral state anchored in values.

He also represented Gambian Islam on international platforms, holding talks in Turkey and Saudi Arabia on matters of Islamic education and religious diplomacy.

A Lasting Legacy

Now in his 70s, Imam Muhammed Lamin Touray continues to serve as Imam Ratib of Gunjur Central Mosque, mentoring a new generation of imams, scholars, and activists. His legacy is one of principled leadership, combining classical Islamic knowledge with a deep understanding of modern societal dynamics.

He remains a rare voice in an age of religious polarisation, calm yet firm, traditional yet forward-looking. In the hearts of many Gambians, he is not just an imam, but a moral compass for a nation in transition.