Muslims Exchange Old Qurans for New, Approved Copies at Madani Event Malaysia

By Abdullahi Yusuf

At the second-anniversary event of Malaysia’s Madani Government, hosted by the Home Ministry, Malaysians have been given the opportunity to exchange their old or damaged Qurans for new, Putrajaya-approved copies.

A Home Ministry officer, who preferred to remain unnamed, explained that the initiative allows individuals to trade in any Quran whether old, damaged, or lacking the official Home Ministry stamp for a new one. As of 4:15 PM, more than 30 Qurans had been exchanged at the ministry’s booth.

Datuk Dr. Roslan Hussin, 60, who participated in the exchange, described it as a perfect opportunity to replace his old Qurans, which had missing pages. “We read the Quran daily and we are concerned about reading without the complete text,” he said. He and his wife exchanged four damaged copies during the event.

The initiative, called “Jom Exchange Al-Quran,” ensures that the replacement Qurans meet official standards, as they are approved by Malaysian authorities and vetted by Muslim scholars. The Home Ministry controls the sale, distribution, and publication of the Quran in Malaysia, and any Quran printing requires a permit from the Quran Printing Control and Licensing Board, under the Printing of Quranic Texts Act of 1986.

Nik Yusaimi Yussof, Secretary of the Ministry’s Enforcement and Control Department, noted that many returned Qurans were unauthorised, as they did not adhere to the Uthmani guidelines—the rules established during the standardisation of the Quran under the third Caliph, Uthman ibn Affan. Common issues with unauthorised Qurans included incomplete verses, errors in diacritical marks, unclear chapter names, missing verse numbers, and damaged pages.

This initiative is part of a three-day celebration marking the achievements of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Madani Government, which is also showcasing the 2024 National Public Service Reform Convention. The event, held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC).

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