The PAS leadership’s decision last night to back the use of the word Allah by Catholics as it is consistent with the federal Constitution and Islamic principles, with the condition that it cannot be misused or inappropriately addressed, is most welcome as a commendable contribution to the resolution of the “Allah controversy” following the Dec. 31 judgment of Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Datuk Lau Bee Lan.
Lau said that pursuant to Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution, it was an offence for non-Muslims to use the word Allah to Muslims to propagate the religion.
However, it was not an offence for non-Muslims to use the word to non-Muslims for the purpose of religion.
Pursuant to Articles 11 and 12 of the Federal Constitution, the Catholic weekly Herald had the constitutional right to use the word in respect of instruction and education of the congregation in the Christian religion.
Article 10 allowed it to use the word in the exercise of its right to freedom of speech and expression.
The proposal from influential Islamic scholar Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin that the government draw up reasonable guidelines on the usage of “Allah” among non-Muslims so that “other people’s rights will not be marginalised” is most constructive.
The former Perlis Mufti suggested reasonable guidelines to avoid the misuse of “Allah”, but at the same time, people should not be denied their rights to mention God’s name, even though they are not of the Muslim faith.
He said: “The best thing for a government to do in a multi-racial society is to set reasonable guidelines or rules. I feel that in a country, it is not about emotions, it is about how we manage ourselves with proper rules of conduct. Rules need to be drawn up so that people won’t misuse the name of Allah.
“However, at the same time, to absolutely deny a person from mentioning Allah’s name is just not right. ”
Mohd Asri stressed that caution needs to be exercised in this matter, as Arab Christians before this and even Sikhs use the name “Allah” in their worship.
The Cabinet tomorrow should convene an inter-religious conference to reach an out-of-court settlement of the “Allah controversy” to demonstrate that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia policy has meaningful application towards creating inter-religious understanding, goodwill and harmony.
In the first place, the Home Ministry should not have imposed the ban on the Herald from using the world Allah in the Catholic weekly publication.
It shows that Muslims feel insecure with such minor issues. Worried the people might for the first time start thinking outside the box? How long can this last, jokers don’t realise the impending globalisation is creating a borderless society. You can try and control all you want but it’s futile.
Most of my muslim friends overseas love the life there because they are free to do whatever they want. This is undeniably going to cause a massive emigration of educated malays and nonmalays and the left overs will be those we see on TV with radical banners claiming sole proprietary rights over a word.
There’s only room for moderate muslims in this country and any radical ideas should be dealt with by a responsible and fair government. Otherwise we’ll be listed once again as a terrorsing nation.
Just because they are the majority they think they can keep bullying the other races forever. Wake up because quality citizens are migrating by the hundreds every year. the governemnt has to put a leash on their fanatical groupies or else risk losing the real ‘productive’ races in the country.
After spending billions of ringgit on so many beautiful mosques and suraus it is indeed puzzling that some groups can still claim “confusion” over how to address the Supreme Existence.
Maybe those sleeping MPs can ask how many percentage was spent on contracts and how much was spent to training up religious teachers to guide the faithful.
Maybe the ultimate solution is to free the Malays and enable them to freely decide what religion they actually want to practise. After all, there are many bumis from Sabah and Sarawak who do not profess the Islamic religion.
There cannot be a worse existence than being unable to choose freely one’s religion or even no religion at all.
Even if the highest court decides on the matter, this issue will not be put to rest but the government seems “clueless” on how to find a solution.
http://malaysiawatch4.blogspot.com/2010/01/malaysiakini-and-major-headache-for-bn.html
The religious laughing stock happens only in Malaysia. Very soon, other people will not be able to use UMNO as well. Let’s copyright Allah© and UMNO©. Let do it in other countries and see what the authorities there will say.
In Mandarin, there is a difference in the way the Methodists and Catholics calling the God, as Shan Di (??) and Tian Zhu (??), respectively. But there is no doubt that the Christians are referring to the same God. The Muslims and Christians must also be referring to the same God.
Then why are we trying to monopolize the Arabic language? Is the God an Arab? I think it must be more meaningful to get a Malay God.
The BN Government had intended to make this another red-herring to divert the people’s attention to real issues the country is facing…
DAP has taken the absolute right approach to this matter. I hope that DAP can re-direct attention of the Malaysian public to the real business of running the country! Currently, it is clearly on course towards socio-economic and ruins….
Strictly speaking there is no dispute here needing the court’s resolution. If there is a problem, it is one which is purely umno’s and umnoputras’ creation. They are fussing because they want to claim exclusive ownership right in the word “allah”.
Jib Jib Boleh.
My comments could not come out, awaiting moderation. It may not come out at all. But it does not matter.
In Foochow dialect, when we are surprised by some unfortunate happenings, we express shock by saying ‘alah…’ sounds like ‘how come?’ I put down one l in order to differentiate it from the God with ll. But I am not sure if such expression could be related to God when we express that we are shocked.
Umno has purposely politicized this issue. They are playing a very dangerous political game. I am more and more convinced that our government leaders lack the will to lead the nation forward and is willing to gamble to hold on to political power with all means whatsoever. It doesn’t matter if it stokes religious conflicts, destroy the nation, or make Malaysia looked silly internationally and lumped into the same basket as countries such as Zimbabwe.
It is a verifiable fact that in the Middle East as mentioned in the article that “Allah” is used widely in every day conversations by Muslims and non-Muslims alike, and between Muslims and non-Muslims without fear of being offended or “confused.” I can confirm this based on my first hand experience travelling in many of the countries in Middle East including Saudi Arabia. This makes me wonder whether some (not all) of the muslims in Malaysia are of less caliber, insecure, easily misled, easily confused, and highly sensitive to perceived slights than their fellow muslims in the Middle East. Where is the capacity to think and reason in this people compared to others muslims who are self-confident in their beliefs?
can’t use alamak then?
PAS leadership’s decision last night to back the use of the word Allah by Catholics makes sense and is welcoming.
I believe there should be accountability with regards to the muslim religion in malaysia. It seems like they are manipulating their religion conveniently and politically.
If today they can claim sole proprietary ownership to the word ‘A-lla-h’, tomorrow they will claim ownership of the air that accommodates the echoes of their morning and evening prayers. We all know the facts of the origins and usage of the word ‘A-lla-h’ but we cannot reason with these extremists.
These extremists are likened to terrorists given their outbursts and unreasonable labeling of nonmuslims as infidels on national TV. As humans we will naturally retaliate with anger but being civilised we rather have a polite discussion over a cup of coffee. See that’s the contrasting difference between most of us compared to these emotionally enraged individuals.
This proves the phony government’s commitment to the 1malaysia mambo-jambo. Najib has to get his act together, do away with these immature religious threats and treat malaysians of all race and religion with respect or else regret the outward passage of talented individuals.
A religious war cannot be avoided if this kind of issue cannot be solved quickly. God will send Jesus to come down and then people will live happily ever after.
The religions are not owned by Malaysian politicians. The world can decide for Malaysia, but not Malaysia deciding for the world. Have a religious summit and let the religious heads have a discussion and then tell Malaysian politicians on what to do.
This issue should NOT have even come up. THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG with what the HERALD was doing and it would have stayed a non-issue if the govt had let them be.
It an example of that govt is better off out of our lives rather than in it. In fact, its more often better for govt to be out of our lives rather than in it.
In the end the big issue to me is. Why is Najib and Muhiyiddin, who have no legal expertise, was so confident by being so quick to declare that the ‘(appeal) courts will resolve the issue?’. The urgent issue is not this BUT how crappy our appeal court really is…
850,000 catholics will vote against BN from the looks of it.
If the court of appeals overrules the high court’s decision, then it’s kiss 1Malaysia goodbye. No one will buy into this bullsh*$% rebranded UMNO crap at all. Probably they should brace themselves for a landslide victory in the next elections. We’ve seen enough bull from this government and enough is enough time to enact every voting power bestowed upon us and do away with a racist government for good and prevent any such governments in the future.
i meant landslide loss in the next elections. if it’s victory time to migrate.
This is from http://www.answering-christianity.com/allah2.htm which is a webpage set up by a Palestinian Arab Muslim to answer criticisms by certain Christians about Islam.
Below is some information he got from an Indonesian contributor concerning who doubt whether ‘Allah’ should be used in the Indonesian language Bible…
LAI stand for Lembaga AlKitab Indonesia or Indonesian Bible Society.
please visit: http://www.alkitab.or.id/foreword.htm
Recently there was a big issue among Christians in Indonesia about the word ‘Allah’ used as God in the Indonesian’s Bible by LAI. Some have said that ‘Allah’ is not a truth God, and should be used ‘Elohim’ instead. But LAI just keep quite.
The issue come to the peak when there was a group of Christians produced their version of Bible by removing the word ‘Allah’ as name of God and put ‘Elohim’ instead. This version of Bible has started to spread, and Christians in Indonesia have started to confuse, which is which????
In this critical condition, Indonesian Bible Society under United Bible Societies (UBS) – WORLDWIDE BIBLE SOCIETY has wrote a circular to defend that ‘Allah’ is really the God of every prophet, the article is “Penggunaan “Allah” dalam Alkitab” or in English is “The Using of “Allah” in AlKitab (Bible)” by Dr. Daud H.Soesilo (Email: [email protected]), he start his explanation about who Is ‘Allah’ originally by:
“el, elohim, eloah adalah nama pencipta alam semesta dalam bahasa Ibrani, bahasa asli Alkitab Perjanjian Lama. Dalam bahasa Arab, allah (bentuk ringkas dari al ilah) merupakan istilah yang seasal (cognate) dengan kata Ibrani el, elohim, eloah.”
in English….
“el, elohim, eloah is the name of the creator of the universe in Hebrew (Ibrani), the original language of the Old Testament. In Arabic language, allah (simplified form from from al-illah) is the cognated title with the word in Hebrew for el, elohim, eloah.”
please visit the whole explination – all in Indonesia language: http://www.alkitab.or.id/jelas.htm
So this is clearify who Allah really is. He is the God of this universe and the God of every prophet.
To make you confirm about this matter please email to Dr. Daud H.Soesilo from UBS or write or Email to Mr. Supardan, the General Secretary of LAI, his address is:
LEMBAGA ALKITAB INDONESIA. All rights reserved.
Jln. Salemba Raya No. 12,
Jakarta 10430 –
Indonesia
Phone: (62-21) – 3142890, Fax: (62-21) – 3101061,
Email: [email protected]
It seems that East-Malaysian need to protest the religious bullying of the minority by UMNO-led fanatics and hypocrites through their votes in the coming state election…. and off-course the 13th general Election!
Can we depend of the ‘rule of law’ in Malaysia?
It seems that it is rather a ‘rule of mobs’ being practiced in Malaysia….
Judge Lau Bee Lan decision has been overturned in Nizar vs Zambry…. by UMNO friendly Court of Appeat judges (correct… correct.. correct arranged appointments?)
Now another decision of Judge Lau Bee Lan on “Allah” ruling would be challanged by UMNO….. ‘ . Guess what will be the outcome? UMNO will put the ‘preferred judges’ to hear the case in the Court of Appeal and the Apex court-Federal Court….. So it is not so difficult to predict the outcome!
Seems that the minority do not have any avenue to solve their grouses other than through their votes!
SUPP, SPDP, PRS , PBS should disassociated themselves from Barisan Nasional-led by the big bully UMNO if the are really representing and care about the people of Sarawak & Sabah….. if this act of bullying continues
The two words “ALLAH ” and “GOD” are universally applicable,therefore,no religious group, Islam ,Catholic, protestians and jews or anyone can claim exclusived right to use them.There’s only one ALLAH/GOD who is our creator.All religions irespective of race, creed and culture ,are worshipping only ONE ALLAH/GOD,though through different ways.Hence I hope our muslims/malays brothers and sisters in malaysia understand it and not make a fuss about the word .If we can accept the universal word ” PROPHET ” I see no reason why all malaysians cannot accept ALLAH for commom good.
The president of a BN component party UPKO from Sabah, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, has voiced out out of his God-given good conscience his personal opinion as a Sabahan Christian on Justice Lau Bee Lan’s ruling about the “Allah” usage:
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/48578-dompok-says-widespread-bm-usage-pushed-christian-use-of-allah-
If Tan Sri Dompok is really not happy with the dictatorial decision being dictated by the Umnoputras over the restriction on “Allah” usage, he should have considered quiting Barisan Nasional and bringing his whole team of UPKO members to join the coalition of Pakatan Rakyat.
I hope that Pakatan Rakyat leaders can now take the good opportunity to extend an olive leaf to Tan Sri Dompok for the sake of greater unity of the whole Malaysia.
The people should learn more about both religion of Islam & Christians…
Christians -believed that God created Adam and Eve and we are all descendants of these two firsthuman beings
Islam too -believed that God created Adam and Eve(Hawa) and we are all descendants of these two firsthuman beings
Both Christians and Islam believed there were prophets -Abraham(Christians) /Ibrahim(Islam), Moses (Christians)/Musa(Islam), David(Christian)/Daud(Islam), Jesus/Isa,….many others similarities,
So doesn’t that point to the same origin of the God? The differences only started about about 500 AD when Islam’s prophet arrived ….
So God the Creator is the same God referred to by both religions?
Worrying the the use of the word ‘Allah’ will confuse the Muslims ? What a lame excuse…. there are tonnes of information available in the cyberspace being capable to “confuse” the followers of the religion…… and even the ‘controversial cartoon’ which was banned in printed media sing a long time ago is still available in the cyberspace today…. so don’t bark at the wrong tree!
SAD lah, everyday ppl in our nation wasted energy n time on -ve nonproductive issues
Marina M ahathir said those protesting against d court ruling obviously did not know enuf about Is lam as a religion
Confident people do not get confused
Only weak n ignorant ppl get confused
Her own racist father who frothed against d court ruling is one of them
D nation continues 2 burn itself out
A judge has correctly interpreted d federal constitution n made d correct judgment
But d federal gomen is not happy at all
It is making a very swift move 2 get d judgment dat it wants
Appeal n appeal until it gets what it wants
D mesej is clear n loud, any judge dares 2 risk their rice bowl n promotion 2 do otherwise
This is d type of 1M’sia warped democracy n justice we get here
A clear blatant manipulation n terrorisation of d court
Does AI hv a chance in his sodomy case
Can we expect an honest, true verdict over TBH’s death
Your guess is as good as mine lah
I read in one of the UMNO-supported blogs saying that Islam is the sole property of the Malays. He is wrong in using emotionalism, misplaced logic and extraneous argument to veer away from the fact. Islam is a universal religion, just as Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism are universal religions. Where in the constitution was it stated that Allah cannot be used by others? The east Malaysians and the Sikhs have been using the word “Allah” for hundred of years. I doubt that Sabah and Sarawak would be willing to be part of Malaysia if it were known that they cannot use the word “Allah” in their worship of God. In so doing, have they insulted Allah and has the law being thrown at them? No, it was not an issue for years since Independence, but only recently when UMNO were forced against the ropes by their opponents did they exploit the sanctity of Islam to sanction their misdeeds.
Religion is a very powerful tool and whoever wrongly controls it would bring untold misery for the masses. History is replete with many horrible atrocities, all committed in the name of religion. The decaying Roman Catholic Church before the Reformation, Hilter and many Islamic regime today all used religion as the basis for their justification to do harm.
Even before there is a Islam, the word Allah was used. Islam, Christianity and Judaism worship the same God so it doesn’t matter what name is used for God. It can be interchangeable with the language that is being used. Christianity believe that the message of God should be transmitted in the local language unlike Islam Hadhari which wants its believers to imitate the Arabs. So for the east Malaysians who only speaks the local language, Allah has been in use for many years. Mahathir confirms this: “I accept the term ‘Allah’ had been used in Sabah and Sarawak before the two states joined Malaysia.” For Christians who speak other languages such as English, Chinese or Tamil you don’t expect them to refer God as Allah because that was not the term of God in these languages. Just like if we use the term “car” in English and “kereta” in Malay it doesn’t mean that “car” is a horse and “kereta” is a buffalo. Both refer to a road vehicle with four wheels.
Was there anywhere in the Koran where the name of Allah is confined within the Islamic religion only? In fact the Koran states that it would be a confirmation of the greatness of God if other religion were to recognize that there is God. In the Arabic language “Allah” is the term for God. That’s is why those Arabic Christians and Jews speaking in Arabic refer God as “Allah”. Similarly, an Arab who is versed in another language will use a different term for God in that particular language.
In Islam Allah is unfathomable to the mind of mere mortals. Words are insufficient to describe the attributes of God. That’s why there are 99 other names for Allah and still it would be wanting. Allah is all-powerful. It’s only men who have inferiority complex who want to confine Allah in a gilded cage. For a Muslim one should be proud that other religion wants to use Allah as a term of reference for God in spoken Arabic or for any language that contain the word “Allah”.
Let’s be frank about it. The Islam that is practiced in Malaysia is purely political Islam. It is about control and stupefying the masses into accepting man-made rules. UMNO which is so corrupt does follow the true dictates of Allah but only uses Islam to perpetuate their rule with cruelty and unIslamic methods. Religion is just a tool for them to silence any divergent views. Instead of settling matters in a rational manner, they are frothing in the mouth with expletives, intimidation and violence. Allah is truly being insulted by these people who claim him as their God.
250 Muslims on Indonesia have no problems with Bibles translated the word..”God” or “Jesus” into “Allah”…but so much hue and cry…by tiny UMNO government.
Yes….religion must come out again…to protect UMNO from being voted out.
Keep quiet is best.
I had a long long comment..all not approved.
So just 2 sentences.and all hope to understand…Mahathir love this subject …to try save his adopted son.
Do not be fooled by his so call excellent explanations with the usual half truths.
How can a devil reincarnated person…cheating RM100 billion.. talk godly stuffs?
Remember to invite Allah to your inter religious conference. Remember to invite God to your cabinet meeting. Remember to invite Tuhan to any religious meeting. So that everyone will hear for himself or herself what the big guy has to say. Or gal. Then you will stop distrusting your own religious holy books. Allah is friendly to everyone. But His people make Him to be so unfriendly to everyone.
Well i hope it floods this friday for the sake of the protesters..lol
What a confused bunch of hooligans. Civilised humans with a basic elementary education won’t throw childish tantrums such as this. These so called grown ups are a bad example to their children and the whole of their race. This is what happens when some people are breastfed for too long until they’re middleaged. It’s better to spend time trainning monkeys.
“Keep quiet is best.” (monsterball)
monsterball,
It is the best for you to keep quiet on the “Allah” controversy because you don’t believe in Allah.
However, to many Christians in Sabah and Sarawak, the political party which tries to keep quiet in this “Allah” matter will have no room to live in their heart! The Malay speaking Christians will still want “Allah” be uttered from their mouth and from their preacher’s mouth. “Tuhan” is not the best translation for God because “Tuhan” means “the Lord”, which is another pronoun being given to God but it does not equal to the meaning of “God”. In other words, “Tuhan” is just another way of writing the word “Tuan” for referring to “the Lord”.
Monsterball, I thought you wanted DAP to rule in the Federal Government by the next General Election, right? Why out of sudden you want to give up the best opportunity to solicit the support from the Christian communities of Sabah and Sarawak? Why don’t you go get a copy of the Holy Bible now in order to upgrade yourself in the knowledge about the Abrahamic series of religions so that you may still have something to contribute in this blog?
Below are the comments of an Arabic commentator, Ahmed, who wrote in chedet blogsite. Ahmed asked whether there is a much better word than “Allah” to mean God in Malay. I am of the opinion that there is no other better word than “Allah” in Malay for describing God. The Malay word “Tuhan” means “the Lord” and will not accurately reflect the meaning of “God” as meant in the context of the biblical scriptures. Perhaps we need to invent a new word in Malay to mean “God”!
Ahmed’s comment follows:
Here is a simple question. What would be the reaction of Christian Americans if President Obama said in one his speeches said that “We Christians worship Allah?”
Though the post by Dr. Mahathir is in Malay, a language which I do not speak, some of the comments are in English. So here is my two cents on this issue.
Firstly, to be exact the word Allah does not mean God in English. In fact the word Allah has no equivalent in English. And in many ways, it is also unique in Arabic (my native language).
Let me first explain why the word Allah is unique in Arabic and does not have an equivalent in English.
God has plural – Gods.
God has a female equivalent – Godess.
Allah has neither plural nor a female equivalent in Arabic. That makes it unique.
On the other hand the word Ilah in Arabic has plural (Alihah).
It is very true that Arab Christians do use the word Allah to mean God. But that is because it is their language. There is no alternative to what they mean in Arabic.
My last question: does the word God have a Malay equivalent? If yes.. use it. Why insist in a word that has alternative and more accurate in your own language.
Onlooker’s comment:
Unfortunately, such a so-called sophisticated language as the Malay language does not even have a much better alternative than the word “Allah” to accurately describe the word “God”!
It is interesting to see how certain leaders fan the flames of hatred and threaten civil unrest. We should track their activities closely, recording every word and action. They should be held accountable for inciting civil unrest if their activities bear fruit.
Wake up citizens, this is a live demonstration of how the government manipulates the judiciary system, it’s like watching a solar eclipse, now watch the judiciary system get sodomised tomorow.
C’mon Sabah n Sarawak MPs n state assembly men, it’s time 2 be counted
Speak 4 ur ppl now on this issue or hold ur voice forever
Sabah and Sarawak is hoping to get out as soon as possible. There is no future. The end is near. Jesus is coming to town.
i totally agree with monsterball’s comment..he spoke out everything in my mind.religion is not a tool for politics..maybe some are used to be it.but we are not.Christian is not meant for that.
I agree that this issue is about the rights of Native of Sabah and Sarawak. If such a simple thing as their practise of using a word is forcibly taken away, then their land, their way of life, their right to education, immigration, etc all can ultimately be taken away..
Eventually all Sarawakian and Sabahan will be asked to declare themselves as Malay Muslim. THAT is what this is about..
Umno owns islam.
No other arguments can change this fact.
UMNO practices democracy or does this look similar to something called communism?
Hey,guys not to worry too much,even if the appeal/federal courts gave a biased verdict,it’s not the end of the world because we can bring this matter to the attention of the United Nations General Assemby and the Internatinal Court for justice. Can we or we cannot not ?.
Maybe, christian herald should give way, n use ala, or arla, or alar or alah or ahla etc, don’t waste time fighting this small matter!
don’t make us look like fools in the eyes of the world
Allah has 99 other names. I just found out. oh gee wiz ! Ar-Rahman. As-Salam. Al-Ghaffar. Al-Fattah. Al-Qabid. As-Sami. Al-Barr. Allah Ta’ala. Just some of the names. So you will have to make sure these other 99 names of Allah cannot be used by others too. When you talk about conversion, in Malaysia it is illegal to convert a Muslim out of Islam. Everyone knows about it. So why you do have to remind people about it ? When you make Allah out to be exclusive, it looks like you have a different religion altogether. Not only can you not share Allah, but it is like saying that this is a different God from the God whom you profess to be the one true God. Even Muslims say that Allah is this one true God and it is just the different ways we worship but it is the same true one God. Simple explanation. But now you are telling your people that this Allah is a different God. Do the Muslims in Saudi Arabia make this out to be an issue ? It seems they care more about the practises of Islam rather than what the name of God should be. Even the name of Allah appears on fish’s skin or scales or there are even occasions it appears on the meat of cows as reported by the news. Even fish’s scales and meat can be holy enough for the name of Allah. Why can’t it be on printed pages ? Afterall it is just letters and ink. The same letters and ink that appear in your holy book. People can read your holy book but if they do not believe, they just do not and would not believe.
Worrying the the use of the word ‘Allah’ will confuse the Muslims ?
The Catholic weekly Herald have been using the word “Allah” for so many years and no one seems to be confused, except the BN Govt.
100,000 muslims are protesting outside mosques all over nation and it’s allowed by the government. You mean to say BN is afraid of their own people? or are they condoning their implausible behaviour?
1Malaysia can be considered the greatest failure come tomorow if this government allow their immature barbarians to protest against a lawful verdict on this matter.
Why not give NR and HH a test, get 100,000 christians outside churches all over the nation and see if it’s allowed by the government.
Despite the overwhelming protests by people of all walks of life against the UMNO hooligans, the IGP has now stated that the houses of worship are now on their own. In other words don’t expect the police to protect your premises. How sickening can things get in this wasteland. I am most disgusted.