Luwero District Kadhi under the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) Sheikh Ramadhan Mulindwa Nsanja has said that it’s still hard in his faith to sanction marriages between Muslims and non-Muslims.
According to Sheikh Nsanja, in Islam, marrying is an act of worship. Sheikh Mulindwa says that the Sharia law bars a Muslim from marrying a Non-Muslim. He explains that it’s ungodly, just like the way when a Christian commits adultery, it becomes a crime.
He says that just like the way it is forbidden for a Muslim to find a religious nun covering herself with a veil and proposes to her, it’s the same way a Muslim can’t be allowed to do so to a non-Muslim. He says the barring is premised in the law, just like the way it is in the Canon law where a Catholic man is not allowed to marry more than one woman.
But on the contrary, he says those who do so are treated as defiant. Sheikh Mulindwa suggests that given that it’s still hard to change some doctrines in the Muslim faith, the only option for living in harmony is embracing co-existence and respect for each denomination.
He made the remarks Thursday during a dialogue organized by the Inter-religious Council of Uganda (IRCJ) under the theme “Harmony Unveiled: Fostering Peace and Conflict Resolution among Interfaith Women, Youth, and Cultural Leaders through Dialogue.” The meeting held at Pope John Paul II Pastoral Center (PJPIIPC) was aimed at clearing the path towards harmony and understanding among diverse communities.
Sheikh Mulindwa’s remarks were in reaction to requests by women to allow Non-Muslims marry Muslims. The Non-Muslim women participating in the dialogue asked Sheikh Mulindwa to allow Non-Muslims to marry Muslims without what they called tough restrictions. One of them Edith Nakabuye recounted how her son was mistreated after he married a Muslim girl.
Throughout the event, participants engaged in thought-provoking discussions, interactive works to foster empathy, promote mutual respect, and develop practical strategies for conflict resolution. The dialogue targeted harnessing the power of dialogue and shared experiences to cultivate a culture of harmony that transcends religious, cultural and generational divides.
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