When local songstress Josiane Uwineza, commonly as Miss Jojo, announced that she was converting from Christianity to Islam, most of her fans were shocked. At that time, Miss Jojo had just got engaged and was living with her fiancé; Saleh Munyampundu.
When local songstress Josiane Uwineza, commonly as Miss Jojo, announced that she was converting from Christianity to Islam, most of her fans were shocked. At that time, Miss Jojo had just got engaged and was living with her fiancé; Saleh Munyampundu.
Born and raised in a Christian family in Bugesera District, Miss Jojo changed her first name to Iman and proceeded to pull out of the Primus Guma Guma Superstar music competition because it "was against her new religious beliefs.”
Miss Jojo is not the only one who has made this faith journey for love.
Natasha Muziramakenga was born a Christian. When she met her then boyfriend, Khalil Khally, she was intrigued by his Islamic faith.
"I was inspired by my husband. I moved in with him when we were still dating and I just watched him practicing his faith. He never forced me into changing, in fact, he never talked about it for two years,” she says.
Muziramakenga says that her husband didn’t have to say anything, he simply showed her.
"He showed me. He inspired me to join his religion through his ways. I saw his kindness, cleanliness and level of responsibility and I was convinced,” she says
Khally gave her a Quran and Muziramakenga made time to read and understand the teachings.
"I would ask him why this or that and he would explain. Then I thought how beautiful to have a religion which has actual answers and which is also such a healthy way of life for the spirit and body,” she says.
She quit drinking alcohol and dedicated her time to understanding the teachings. She was surprised by the things that no one knew about Islam.
"There were surprises and the biggest one for me was the women rights. Contrary to what people think, the Quran says so much about the well-being of women,” she says
Today, Muziramakenga is a practicing Muslim. Looking back, she says that she feels like a different person now.
"I felt comfortable. I feel I have finally found myself,” she says
What holy books say
Andrew Mukinisha is a Pastor at Christian Life Assembly (CLA) in Nyarutarama. He told The New Times in an interview that the Holy Bible allows a person from one Christian denomination to marry from another but it’s intolerant of the non-Christian denominations.
"If it’s within the confines of Christianity, then that can work but other religions like Buddhism, Islam etc. are unacceptable. A Christian should not compromise his faith,” he says
He says that if a member of his church met and fell in love with someone from another religion, he would counsel them about their decision to marry from another religion.
Sheikh Yusuf Mugisha, leader at Al Quds Mosque in Kacyiru, says that normally, potential brides are chosen based on beauty, family background, wealth and religious belief but according to Islam, religious belief is an important requirement.
He says that Islam does not prohibit a practicing Muslim from marrying a non-Muslim.
"Islam does not say that you cannot marry a non-believer. However, when it comes to marrying non-Muslims, it is easier for men than it is for women because when children are born, they must take the father’s religion. It becomes a problem when a Muslim woman marries a non-Muslim man because in most cases, the Christian man wants his children to take after him,” he says
When it comes to the religious union which in Islam is known as Nikkai, Sheikh Mugisha says that it is not complicated.
"The non-Muslim bride or groom can still bring someone from their religion who is then taken through the necessary process. Islam does not prohibit someone from marrying a non-Muslim, it however tries not to encourage it,” he says
What other people say
Hamza Nkuutu is a practicing Muslim married to a staunch born again Christian. The couple has three children and has lived happily for more than ten years.
Nkuutu says that he made a conscious decision not to ask his wife to change her religion because he didn’t want to impose his beliefs on her.
"When you think about it critically, we are all praying to the same God. The holy books could be different but ultimately, we are all serving the same God. Why should I force someone to change her religion to suit me,” he wonders
Asked about the confusion this may bring to their children, Nkuutu says that their children will not be affected.
"My children go to church. I am a Muslim and at some point they will go to a mosque. The way I see it, they will have to choose their own religious path when they are old enough. I am happy that at least they are prayerful children,” he says
Patricia Umuringa is a young single woman. She is a member of the Pentecostal Church in Muhima. She says that she can never consider changing her religion for love.
"If you love me, you cannot ask me to change a religion I was born and raised into to please you. Making me change my religion for you sounds like a condition or requirement, why are you not changing your religion for me? How does that make our love unconditional?” she wonders.
The issues of love and religion are controversial but ultimately, one would expect love to take precedence in any relationship. Whether Muslim, Buddhist or Christian, the only religion in the world we live in today is ‘tolerance and understanding’. The subject of changing or not changing your religion for someone is something that long and complicated debates are made of. What we need to ask ourselves is if these debates are actually worth it.
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YOUR VOICE: Would you change your religion for someone you love?
Fulgence Sabyenda, Vendor
Definitely, as a person who believes in God, I wouldn’t mind changing my religion for someone I love. I think what matters most is having faith in God not religion and as long as my partner prioritizes that too, then I find no problem. Many people find this very confusing and some end up calling off their marriages all because of religion. If you are truly in love; differences in religion shouldn’t be an issue.
Mani Martin, Artiste
If I really love that person, I wouldn’t change my religion. For me, God is much more important. If a person really loves me, then he would respect my beliefs and I would respect hers in return without any of us changing his/her religion. If two people are willing to bond, love should be the priority. They should make a decision about the religion to take on without jeopardising their future together.
Young Grace, Artiste
Getting married is about loving and being supportive to each other. Regarding changing religion there should be room to compromise if it’s pure love. Personally, it would be okay as long as it’s not burdening my relationship from flourishing in anyway.
Emmerance Mwitende, Housewife
After all what binds people together is God and the love they have between them regardless of religion. I wouldn’t mind changing my religion for someone I love, because after all the love that we have for each other wouldn’t reduce just because one of us abandoned his/her religion.
Compiled by Dennis Agaba