Religious Leaders Stir Controversy

TWO RELIGIOUS leaders have set the tone for what could possibly ignite a debate between believers of faith and even among unbelievers who aspire to enter holy matrimony.

Alhaji Haruna Quarcoo, Vice President of the Ghana Muslim Mission and Reverend Canon Emmanuel Armah, a Parish Priest of the St Michael and All Angels Anglican Church at Korle-Gonno are world's apart when it comes to the thorny issue of marriage between Muslim and Christian faith believers.

That notwithstanding, they both share the same thoughts on marriage between different ethnic groups.

In separate interviews with the paper, the two religious leaders shared their thoughts on why they would not give a blessing to a Christian/Muslim marriage, taking into account the beliefs of both religions.

The controversy over Christian and Muslim marriages has arisen as a result of latest developments, which reveal that some believers of both faiths have entered into marriages without the approval of their respective religious leaders.

As a revered minister of the gospel, Canon Armah says he would never encourage a marriage between a Christian and a Muslim since the two religions have various differences and conflicting beliefs.

According to him, the only instance where he would give a blessing to such marriage is when a Muslim agrees to be converted into a Christian.

This, he said would lead to a successful marriage since it would seek to curtail any potential disagreements and quarrels that would result after the marriage, especially when a child comes between the two.

For that matter, the man of God said he would not encourage any such marriage, knowing very well its ramifications.

"Imagine the situation where the father of a child is a Christian and the mother is a Muslim. It would be difficult to decide whether he should be a Christian or a Muslim since both parents would like the child to tow their line of faith and religious belief," he said.

On his part, Alhaji Quarcoo says the Koran, which is the holy book of Muslims, greatly frowns on such marriages since according to him, it is against the theory and practice of the Islamic religion.

He tackled the issue from a different perspective, taking into consideration the fact that the provisions of the country's constitution allow each and every citizen freedom of worship and association.

According to him, some Muslims have taken undue advantage of this provision of the constitution to go against the tenets of the Koran, which does not allow such marriages, stressing that the Koran prescribes for such persons to be punished to serve as a deterrent to others.

In Islam, he noted that the only condition to marriage is based on true faith and commitment towards the religion hence if both parties are not of the same faith, they should not be married, under the pretext of marriage of convenience.

The Islamic cleric quoted portions of the Koran to support his claim, chief among which was Koran chapter 2:221 which says "and do not marry the adulterer, till they believe here to worship Allah alone and indeed a slave woman who believes is better than a free adulterer even though she pleases you".

Further, the Koran ascribes "and give not your daughters in marriage to adulterers till they believe in Allah alone and verily a believing slave is better than a free adulterer even though he pleases you".

Though both individuals do not support marriage between Christians and Muslims, they share a common ground on marriage among different ethnic groups since they believe it could foster unity.

In spite of the huge difference that exists between the two religions, the youth of today, most of who belong to either of the religions, have set aside their differences and followed their hearts and desires.