Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 07-02-2019

(Twitter: @FaizelPatel143)

Religion has divided many countries across the globe, yet South Africa is known to have a great degree of tolerance when it comes to religion.

This hasn’t been more apparent than in the precincts of South Africa’s seat of government.

As part of the State of the Nation address (Sona), Radio Islam is broadcasting from the precincts of Parliament in Cape Town with live coverage of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s second state of the nation address since taking over as president.

While salaah is obligatory upon every Muslim and the world a musallah, the courtesy of people at Parliament extended to the Radio Islam team while they were reading their Fajr salaah was heartfelt.

Programmes manager Ml Sulaimaan Ravat says the acceptance of Muslims in South Africa is unprecedented across the world.

“Nobody looked at us funny what are these guys doing. We performed our salaah in congregation. We put down our mats we read sunnats, we were lead in the Fajar salaah by Mufti Moosagie and nobody blinked an eyelid. It’s like a normal thing in South Africa.”

Ml Ravat says there are very few countries in the world with a minority Muslim population which are allowed to perform salaah on the steps of Parliament where the state of the nation address will be delivered.

“They waved us in this morning, ‘hey Islam radio’ and they make you feel at home, they make you feel welcome. It’s great bounty of Allah.”

Ml Ravat says while South Africa has its issues, it’s a great country to live in.