First Muslim prayer facility launched in Kruger National Park, South Africa!

The Kruger National Park located in Phalaborwa, a town in the Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo province, in South Africa has now launched its first ever mosque on December 3rd, 2018. This was reported by Rekord Centurion Muslims. The park’s managing executive, Glenn Phillips, said:

“The initiative was aimed at promoting inclusivity and diversity at the park. Many of the park’s visitors are Muslim, which had made an increased need for the mosque clear.”

He also expressed:

“We have people from different cultures visiting the park and it is our task to try and ensure that we accommodate everyone.”

The mosque is located between the Clock Tower and The Stevenson Hamilton memorial library. There is also a washing up area (for Wuzu) for both, men and women. Muslims pray five times a day and the mosque was built to enable Muslim guests visiting the park to do so. This was possible mainly because many visiting guests of the park are Muslims. A Muslim religious leader, Junaid Hassin, said:

“This would help Muslim visitors better practice their religion at the park. Various people from the Muslim community in South Africa were in attendance to witness the opening.”

According to estimates in 2015, Islam is practiced by roughly 1.5% of the total population of South Africa. The earliest Muslims in the country were part of the involuntary migration of slaves, political exiles and political prisoners from Africa and Southeast Asia during the 17th century. According to recent figures put, the number is approximately between 75,000 and 100,000 Muslims. In addition to this are a considerable number of Muslims from South Asia, who arrived as economic migrants.

The Muslim community in South Africa lives in harmony with other faith communities. This religious cohesion is most prominent in the Indian and Coloured residential areas where Muslims live amongst, work with and attend school with fellow South Africans of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Christian, atheist and agnostic beliefs.

Indeed, this opening of the mosque is a matter of great pride for the Muslim Ummah. Allah (SWT) does listen to our prayers (see: prayer time app) and we should not lose hope. May such initiatives be taken in other parts of the world where our fellow Muslims struggle for facilities to practice Islam with convenience. Spread this good news and let others know of such measures taken for Muslims!

See also: Duas for thanking Allah (SWT)