Umamah Bakharia | ub@radioislam.co.za

2 min read
9 November 2022 | 20:00 CAT

History was made in Cape Town today after the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) received the first Camouflage Quran in the world from the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC).

Radio Islam International spoke to the first deputy president of the MJC, Moulana Abdul Khaliq Allie, that was part of the handing-over ceremony.

“We have noted that the people of other faiths particularly people of the Christian community who have their bible that is presented to the Christians and our Muslims that serve in the SANDF never had access to a Quran and hence this particular discussion started way back,” says Moulana Allie.

The MJC serves as a religious advisor to the SANDF and started the process in 2012 to cater to the Muslim community within the force. After a decade of processing, the SANDF signed off on the camouflage Quran a few months ago.

However, he says the MJC is cautious about how the Quran is perceived as the camouflage is used per the SANDF requirements.

“It is a phenomenal presentation by the chief of the SANDF – he’s presentation articulated precisely the belief of the Muslim that there is no first or second edition of the Quran, it has remained the original since its revelation,” he says.

Moulana Allie attributes this development to the growing number of Muslims in the SAPS, SANDF etc.

Listen to the full interview here: