FEDERAL Territory mufti Datuk Wan Zahidi Wan Teh disagreed that Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan's swearing on the Quran was an imitation of the Christian faith, Sinar Harian reported.

Wan Zahidi defended the validity of the swearing because it was an oath taken outside of a trial or alyamin qhairul qadhaiyah.

According to Wan Zahidi, this type of oath was valid as long as it was made based on the free will of a mukalaf and was in Allah's name.

A mukalaf is a Muslim who is sound in mind, has reached puberty, is not disabled in any way and whose home district has an ulamak.

'If someone swears with mushaf or by placing his or her hand on the Holy Book or says, 'By this Quran', then the oath is valid,' explained Wan Zahidi.

He said that Mohd Saiful's swearing on the Quran was similar to the Christian practice but did not mimick it.

Last Friday, Mohd Saiful swore on the Quran that PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had sodomised him.