Bugiri Muslims defy Quran
Jan 31, 2009
ON Idd last December, Muslims who had converged for prayers at Masjid Umaru mosque in Bugiri district ended up fighting over which direction to face while praying.
By George Bita
ON Idd last December, Muslims who had converged for prayers at Masjid Umaru mosque in Bugiri district ended up fighting over which direction to face while praying.
The brawl that left two children injured in Bwole parish, Bugiri town council, brought to light a new sect in the area that deviates in several aspects from the Muslim belief.
Despite the fight, Hussein Kawule of the controversial Salaf sect, explained to Saturday Vision last week that their teachings do not deviate much from the mainstream Muslim faith. The only difference, he said, was the direction they face while praying.
“We are all answerable to the Quran as the most holy book and it has been so for a very long time. Those fears that a splinter group of Islam is emerging are baseless as all Muslims are one,†he stressed.
Unlike mainstream Muslims, the Salaf sect members do not face north-east, the direction of Mecca, when praying.
They, however, have exaggerated Islamic practices. They wear extra-short trousers, going a little below the knees and they strictly do not shave their beards. Women cover their bodies completely, leaving only small holes in their outfits for the eyes.
Yunusu Madangu, a cleric at the Masjid Umaru mosque, disclosed that 40 followers of the sect reside in Bugiri town. According to Madangu, the practice of not facing Mecca when praying was started at his mosque in November 2008 by Sheikh Jowali Atwib, who comes from neighbouring Iganga district.
“Sheikh Jowali came up here arguing that new research had proved that we should actually be facing the opposite direction while praying,†Madangu narrated.
After a lengthy debate, with most believers asking for evidence, the controversial Sheikh was thrown out of the mosque. “But a section of Muslims in the area had bought his idea and now mosques have sprung up with followers in Namayingo, Nabigingo, Nankoma and Mayuge,†he said.
The sect is running a mixed primary school located within the premises of the mosque.
While leaders of the sect deny responsibility for the mosque clashes, security sources in the district have expressed concern about their militant stance. They fear that the emergence of a new Muslim sect with conflicting teachings might lead to unnecessary clashes.
Consequently, Bugiri resident district commissioner Margaret Kikomeko has met Muslim leaders and urged them to iron out their differences. Police sources said two members of the sect were arrested in connection with the Allied Democratic Forces rebel group.
The sources, however, insist they were arrested because of their individual activities and not because they belong to the sect.
Meanwhile, Chris Kiwawulo reports that the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council spokesperson, Hajji Nsereko Mutumba, said the council does not recognise the Salaf sect, although they have heard about it.
Commenting on the idea of changing the side where Muslims face while praying, Mutumba said it was Haram (a taboo comparable to eating pork) not to face Mecca while praying.
“All mosques are built in a way that when Muslims are praying they face Mecca,†he stated.
On the men’s dressing, Mutumba said they have to wear trousers that are above the ankle to avoid any contact with dirt while walking. He, however, said the trouser should not be cut too high, as this would make a Muslim appear skimpily dressed.
Although Mutumba said women are supposed to dress in a manner that does not allow them to expose their bodies, he was uncertain about leaving only the eyes out. “I will consult more on that.â€
The newly-elected deputy mufti, Shiekh Abdul-Hakim Ssekimpi, said he is the head of the Salaf sect, which teaches the fundamental Islamic principles, although he is of the view that the initial side where Muslims were facing while praying is the right one.
“These young Muslims need to get their geography right. All mosques in Bugiri were built in a way that Muslims face Mecca while praying. They talk about new but that is not true,†Ssekimpi pointed out.
On dressing, Ssekimpi said cutting one’s trouser up to the middle of the calf was okay but stressed that it should not exceed it.
As for women, Ssekimpi said it was okay for them to cover their bodies, which deters men from disturbing them. Ssekimpi also said the Bugiri RDC, Margaret Kikomeko, had called him about the fear that the new stance by the allegedly militant sect could cause clashes among Muslims and promised to iron the differences.
ON Idd last December, Muslims who had converged for prayers at Masjid Umaru mosque in Bugiri district ended up fighting over which direction to face while praying.
The brawl that left two children injured in Bwole parish, Bugiri town council, brought to light a new sect in the area that deviates in several aspects from the Muslim belief.
Despite the fight, Hussein Kawule of the controversial Salaf sect, explained to Saturday Vision last week that their teachings do not deviate much from the mainstream Muslim faith. The only difference, he said, was the direction they face while praying.
“We are all answerable to the Quran as the most holy book and it has been so for a very long time. Those fears that a splinter group of Islam is emerging are baseless as all Muslims are one,†he stressed.
Unlike mainstream Muslims, the Salaf sect members do not face north-east, the direction of Mecca, when praying.
They, however, have exaggerated Islamic practices. They wear extra-short trousers, going a little below the knees and they strictly do not shave their beards. Women cover their bodies completely, leaving only small holes in their outfits for the eyes.
Yunusu Madangu, a cleric at the Masjid Umaru mosque, disclosed that 40 followers of the sect reside in Bugiri town. According to Madangu, the practice of not facing Mecca when praying was started at his mosque in November 2008 by Sheikh Jowali Atwib, who comes from neighbouring Iganga district.
“Sheikh Jowali came up here arguing that new research had proved that we should actually be facing the opposite direction while praying,†Madangu narrated.
After a lengthy debate, with most believers asking for evidence, the controversial Sheikh was thrown out of the mosque. “But a section of Muslims in the area had bought his idea and now mosques have sprung up with followers in Namayingo, Nabigingo, Nankoma and Mayuge,†he said.
The sect is running a mixed primary school located within the premises of the mosque.
While leaders of the sect deny responsibility for the mosque clashes, security sources in the district have expressed concern about their militant stance. They fear that the emergence of a new Muslim sect with conflicting teachings might lead to unnecessary clashes.
Consequently, Bugiri resident district commissioner Margaret Kikomeko has met Muslim leaders and urged them to iron out their differences. Police sources said two members of the sect were arrested in connection with the Allied Democratic Forces rebel group.
The sources, however, insist they were arrested because of their individual activities and not because they belong to the sect.
Meanwhile, Chris Kiwawulo reports that the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council spokesperson, Hajji Nsereko Mutumba, said the council does not recognise the Salaf sect, although they have heard about it.
Commenting on the idea of changing the side where Muslims face while praying, Mutumba said it was Haram (a taboo comparable to eating pork) not to face Mecca while praying.
“All mosques are built in a way that when Muslims are praying they face Mecca,†he stated.
On the men’s dressing, Mutumba said they have to wear trousers that are above the ankle to avoid any contact with dirt while walking. He, however, said the trouser should not be cut too high, as this would make a Muslim appear skimpily dressed.
Although Mutumba said women are supposed to dress in a manner that does not allow them to expose their bodies, he was uncertain about leaving only the eyes out. “I will consult more on that.â€
The newly-elected deputy mufti, Shiekh Abdul-Hakim Ssekimpi, said he is the head of the Salaf sect, which teaches the fundamental Islamic principles, although he is of the view that the initial side where Muslims were facing while praying is the right one.
“These young Muslims need to get their geography right. All mosques in Bugiri were built in a way that Muslims face Mecca while praying. They talk about new but that is not true,†Ssekimpi pointed out.
On dressing, Ssekimpi said cutting one’s trouser up to the middle of the calf was okay but stressed that it should not exceed it.
As for women, Ssekimpi said it was okay for them to cover their bodies, which deters men from disturbing them. Ssekimpi also said the Bugiri RDC, Margaret Kikomeko, had called him about the fear that the new stance by the allegedly militant sect could cause clashes among Muslims and promised to iron the differences.