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The Mufti of Uganda, His Eminence Dr. Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, has condemned the continued violence and widespread killings of civilians in the ongoing war in the Middle East, describing the acts as inhuman and unacceptable, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.
Dr. Mubaje expressed concern over the loss of innocent lives, including children, women, and the elderly, noting that even senior religious figures such as Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, have not been spared from the turmoil.
The Mufti made the remarks on Sunday while addressing mourners at the burial of prominent Muslim cleric Sheikh Abdu-Majid Abubakar Muyangu. The late Sheikh, who was the paternal uncle of the Deputy Mufti, Sheikh Muhammad Ali Waiswa, was laid to rest at the family’s ancestral grounds in Namalemba Village, Bugweri District, near the Tirinyi–Mbale Highway.
In his address, Dr. Mubaje urged Muslims to remain steadfast in their faith and uphold the teachings of the Holy Quran and the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
“I reiterate my message to the Muslim faithful to always adhere to the Islamic faith as ordained in the Holy Quran and the divine teachings contained in the sayings of Prophet Muhammad. Maintain peace, brotherhood, and unity in diversity,” he said.
He cautioned Muslims against importing practices from some Arab countries that could sow division within the local community. Reflecting on past divisions in Uganda during the 1980s and 1990s over minor theological differences—such as keeping beards or reciting prayers loudly—the Mufti emphasized that the core pillars of Islam remain unchanged.
“The foundation of Islam is the declaration that there is no deity worthy of worship except Almighty Allah and that Prophet Muhammad is His messenger. Anyone who sincerely professes this statement is your brother, despite differences,” he said.
Dr. Mubaje also clarified that Islamic burial practices in Uganda largely follow the interpretations of Al-Shafi‘i, one of the foremost Islamic scholars. He noted that some clerics who studied in Arab countries have introduced practices such as leaving bodies uncovered during burial, which often attracts mixed reactions in Uganda’s multi-religious society.
To preserve the dignity of the deceased and respect grieving families, the Mufti issued a religious directive urging Muslims to cover caskets during burials.
He further addressed cultural misconceptions, explaining that it is not blasphemous for a Muslim woman to kneel while addressing her husband, as this is traditionally a sign of respect rather than idol worship. He compared it to Arab customs of greeting superiors by pecking their foreheads, cheeks, or the back of their palms.
As family members laid a green cloth over the casket, mourners welcomed the Mufti’s guidance. He also commended the family of Sheikh Ali Bakari for their pivotal role in propagating Islam and urged Muslims to invest in educating their children in Islamic theology to ensure continuity of religious leadership.
Earlier, Sheikh Muhammad Ali Waiswa, representing the bereaved family, recounted his close relationship with the deceased. He revealed that after securing a scholarship to study Islamic theology in Saudi Arabia in 1969, he later lobbied for Sheikh Muyangu to also receive a scholarship. The two studied together at the Islamic University of Madinah and later dedicated their lives to teaching Islam upon returning home.
The late Sheikh served for decades as a teacher at Nahadha Islamic Institute in Bukakaire, Namalemba, Bugweri District — a school founded by his elder brother, Sheikh Ali Bakari.
