Top Clerics Seek Answers from Health Ministry Over Worship Places

Sheikh Shaban  Ramadhan Mubaje, the Mufti of Uganda and the current Chairperson of the Inter-religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) says that they intend to engage Ministry of Health next week to explain the logic behind the continued closure of worship places. 

According to Sheikh Mubaje, during their recent meeting the IRCU headquarters, leaders of mainstream religious bodies expressed their dissatisfaction with the continued closure of worship places.  “We want Ministry of Health, which advises the president to explain the logic behind the additional lock down days imposed on worship places,” he said.  

He added: “some of the places with very many people who don’t even follow SOPs are open. Why not worship places,” he said.    The Mufti, who addressed selected journalists shortly after scientific Friday prayers ( Juma) at the National Mosque in Old Kampala, said as religious leaders they have continued receiving queries from their followers on why houses of worship have remained closed. “Some of our people need guidance. We need these places opened,” he said.   

Mubajje noted: that: “We have collaborated well with the government in the fight against the COVID-19 Pandemic and we are still  sensitizing our flock to strictly adhere to the Standard Operating Procedures( SOPs) in curbing the spread of the virus. And we added our own guidelines such as performing ablution in private homes, carrying personal prayer mats, wearing face masking before entering Mosques and social distancing while  observing prayers.”

Mufti Mubaje pointed out that indeed places of worship need to be open to enable believers to continue beseeching the Creator so that He completely heals the World from the deadly scourge that has destroyed lives worldwide.  He also explained that on a closer look people who go for prayers are disciplined and more likely to practice the health guidelines than those frequenting places such as Markets, Shopping Malls, Taxi Parks that have resumed normal operations.  More waves are still coming so  the only way is to encourage people to learn, be disciplined and get vaccinated because the places of worship can’t remain closed indefinitely due to the fear of the disease.  

The Friday Sermon was delivered by His Eminence Sheikh Muhammad Ali Waiswa, the 2nd Deputy Mufti of Uganda. He reminded Muslim faithfuls to do self evaluation as they mark the end of the Islamic year 1443  “There are not the many years one has lived on earth rather they are righeous deeds one has strove to perform in doing the Almighty God’s Will and their relationship with other creatures that counts,” Sheikh Waiswa preached. 

Sheikh Waiswa beseeched Almighty Allah to bless all people who are experiencing all kinds of sufferings those bedridden due to different ailments, prayed for peace to prevail in the entire world as the new Islamic year 1444  is ushered in.