Moulana Sulaiman Ravat

“I don’t think we can go to the other extreme. We must understand that there are certain global political realities, and the Islamophobia project aligns with those global agendas. And therefore, if we become complacent or nonchalant about it, what people are exposed to online could start impacting their psyche and how they think.”

Moulana Sulaiman Ravat · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-30

Ravat warned that online rhetoric could eventually impact people's attitudes and psyche.

“They don’t speak the language any more. They are as South African as anyone else.”

Moulana Sulaiman Ravat · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-30

Ravat said his children are fifth-generation South African Muslims of Indian heritage.

“I would think I would say they are deeply religious and deeply patriotic, and there is no contradiction between the two.”

Moulana Sulaiman Ravat · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-30

Ravat argued that being a devout Muslim and a patriotic South African are not contradictory.

“Better be proactive than reactive. It’s a global reality. It has been for the last 20 years. And the fact that it could increase in South Africa and could have serious consequences, you could argue, is unlikely but not impossible.”

Moulana Sulaiman Ravat · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-30

Ravat urged proactivity against Islamophobia, saying serious consequences in South Africa are unlikely but not impossible.

“At the same time, I think on the ground, South Africans in the main are not Islamophobic, and there’s a variety of indicators to substantiate that.”

Moulana Sulaiman Ravat · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-30

Ravat told Al Jazeera that ordinary South Africans are largely not Islamophobic.