Leaders summon cleric over remarks at Sebaggala's funeral

The Kibuli Muslim sect has summoned Sheikh Lukman Wakinyankaali over his remarks at the funeral of former Kampala mayor, Haji Nasser Ntege Sebaggala, which they claim contradict the Islamic teachings.

Sheikh Nuhu Muzaata, a renowned cleric, says they want Wakinyankaali to explain the basis of his remarks in regard to the burial of Muslims, which he says is not rooted in the Islamic teachings.

"What Sheikh Wakinyankaali said at Sebaggala's funeral does not only mislead Muslims, but also contradicts the Islamic teachings and we want him to explain the basis of his argument. If he fails to convince us, we shall compel him to make a public apology," Muzaata said.

He explained that although the Quran does not give the time frame for the burial of a dead Muslim, it is provided for in the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (hadith), which is the second source of the Islamic law.

"In Islam, we have about five sources of law and it would be wrong for a cleric to only base his teachings on one of them only. For example, if Muslim scholars issue a fatwa (ruling) on a matter, it is binding and in this case all eminent sheikhs had already condemned delayed burial of Ssebagala and it was wrong for Sheikh Wakinyankaali to contradict them," Muzaata said.

He also wants a Muslim joint council formed as one of the mechanisms to curb individual fatwas which contradict Islamic teachings.

"We might have our differences when it comes to leadership, but we should form a joint council just like Christians and we have unified rulings on controversial Islamic matters," Muzaata said.

He pointed out that Sebaggala's delayed burial was a second act to undermine the Islamic faith in the country with the first being the burial of Ngeye (Columbus monkey) clan leader Muhammad Kibirige, who was buried in bark cloth contrary to the Islamic teachings.

During Sebaggala's burial, Wakinyankaali said there is no timeframe for the burial of a dead Muslim although they are encouraged to hasten it.

"It is Prophet Muhammad who told us to hasten the burial of the dead, but he gave no time frame or even a punishment for delayed burial. Let us not condemn Sebaggala's delayed burial because Allah (God) knows why Ssebaggala has spent all these days without being buried," he said.

Wakinyankaali went further to argue that delayed burial of a Muslim does not make them non-Muslims.

He also attacked Muslim clerics for condemning Ssebagala's family over his delayed burial, yet they never bothered to reach out to him during his lifetime to rectify his Will.

Ssebagala's delayed burial was premised on his Will in which he directed his family to bury him after three days.

This was condemned by top Muslim clerics who declared Ssebaggala's Will null and void. 

A Will or testament is a legal document by which a person, the testator, expresses their wishes as to how their property is to be distributed at death, and names one or more persons, the executor, to manage the estate until its final distribution and how they should be buried.

Supreme Mufti Sheikh Siliman Kasule Ndirangwa condemned the delayed burial of Ssebaggala and appealed to Muslims to stop being misled by their wealth to make Wills which are contrary to Islamic teachings.

"People should seek advice from clerics so that they get to know what their religion teaches and how Wills aredone instead of making mistakes which are contrary to the religion," Ndirangwa said.

Deputy Supreme Mufti Sheikh Muhamood Kibaate said when a Muslim dies, they are supposed to be buried immediately.

Kibaate explained that burial of a Muslim can only be delayed if the person has died outside the country, where there is need for a postmortem examination before burial by the family members or security body for investigation processes.

"According to Islam, it is our duty as religious leaders to do the right thing if the deceased made mistakes in his Will," he said.

Efforts to get a comment from Wakinyankaali proved futile as the various calls made to him yesterday went unanswered.

The Islamic will

Dr Sheikh Ahmed Muhammed Kisuule, former Uganda's Ambassador to Iran, says a good Will should include the number of someone's children, wives and the sheikh one wishes to lead their funeral rites to avoid confusion.

"The Will must include even illegitimate children and mistresses such that they are not disfranchised, but it must be in conformity with the Islamic teachings," Kisuule said.

Sheikh Imran Ssali, an Imam at Gadaffi national mosque, however, says although it is good to make last Wills, it should not include distribution of property.

"Distribution of properties is well streamlined in the Quran," Ssali said.