Should Rehema Nakuya renounce Islam?

Aug 15, 2002

SIR— I am responding to the issue of the new Miss Uganda which appeared in the “Talk of the Town” pages of Wednesday.

SIR— I am responding to the issue of the new Miss Uganda which appeared in the “Talk of the Town” pages of Wednesday.I would like to be educated a little by my brothers and sisters Abbas Nuwama, Yunus Abbey, Mrs Hadija Kibira and many others of the same school of thought about Islamic laws. Is it really true that some of the laws in Islam permit other wrongs and forbid others? Are some wrongs good and others not? For example, when a Muslim steals or robs at gunpoint, it is a good wrong; when he/she drinks alcohol, it is wrong but forgivable (not haram). But when someone like Rehema Nakuya goes for the Miss Uganda contest, she commits apostasy. I thought all wrongs have the same weight in the eyes of Allah. Why should we lynch Nakuya when we kept mum after a Muslim brother from Lugazi town won himself a brand New Toyota pick-up truck from the Pilsner Lager promotion early this year? Is drinking Pilsner Lager not haram? I am willing to be enlightened on the “good wrongs and the bad ones” in Islam.Sam Musidihe WanderaKampalaSIR— I was dismayed by the unwarranted attack on Rehema Nakuya by Sheikhs Sulaiman Kakeeto of Nakasero Mosque and Muzata Batte, which appeared in The New Vision and Bukedde of Monday.The two sheikhs attacked Miss Nakuya’s participation in the beauty contest, advising her to leave Islam. This was uncalled for. The sheikhs should stop behaving like the fire brigade, waiting for the Rehemas of today’s Muslim world to win beauty contests and then speaking out when these Muslims have been around since these contests started.When you consult the highest Muslim authority, the act does not remove Rehema from Islam. My advice to these leaders is to start going to schools to sensitise the young Muslims on the Islamic morals instead of waiting comfortably in their mosques just to condemn. We have taken keen interest in this issue of beauty contests and soon we shall avail the public the Islamic view.Lastly, I congratulate Rehema who, if I am not mistaken, is the first Muslim Miss Uganda and a doctor at that. But this goes with a caution: she should take up her responsibility and exhibit a true Muslim picture of the dress code and general behaviour. Good luck.Amir Ahmed ManghaliSecretary Uganda Muslim Concern Ministry

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