Malaysian row over word for 'God'

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A church and Christian newspaper in Malaysia are suing the government after it decreed that the word "Allah" can only be used by Muslims.

In the Malay language "Allah" is used to mean any god, and Christians say they have used the term for centuries.

Opponents of the ban say it is unconstitutional and unreasonable.
It is the latest in a series of religious rows in largely Muslim Malaysia, where minority groups claim their rights are being eroded.

A spokesman for the Herald, the newspaper of the Catholic Church in Malaysia, said a legal suit was filed after they received repeated official warnings that the newspaper could have its licence revoked if it continued to use the word.

"We are of the view that we have the right to use the word 'Allah'," said editor Rev Lawrence Andrew.

'Unlawful'

The Sabah Evangelical Church of Borneo has also taken legal action after a government ministry moved to ban the import of religious children's books containing the word.

In a statement given to Reuters news agency, the church said the translation of the bible in which the word Allah appears has been used by Christians since the earliest days of the church.

There has been no official government comment but parliamentary opposition leader Lim Kit Siang said the decision to ban the word for non-Muslims on security grounds was "unlawful".

"The term 'Allah' was used to refer to God by Arabic-speaking Christians before Arabic-speaking Muslims existed," he said.

Religious issues are highly sensitive in Malaysia, which has a 60% Muslim population.

Religious freedom is guaranteed in the law but minority groups have accused the Muslim Malay majority of trying to increase the role of Islam in the country.

Source
 
UMNO, the Malay-based ruling party, has been losing support of the Malay Muslim populace to its main rival PAS, the largest Islamist party here. This latest furore over the use of God's name is UMNO's latest card in the political game in order to regain the favor of the Malay Muslims.

They are only doing so to be seen as the champion of the Malays who are largely Muslims where Islam is the racial identity of the Malays and apostates are often seen as unbecoming of a Malay.

It's pretty disgusting to note that, while Iblis the Reprobate tries so hard to remove the name Allah from our lips and remembrance, a Malay Muslim is actually doing him a favor by banning the use of the name Allah as substitute for God.

Sometimes I think not Christians, Jews or Hindus, but we Muslims who are the only real enemies of Islam.
 
Malaysian Islamists - It's not wrong for the Christians to use the term "Allah".

By Azamin Amin

KUALA LUMPUR: The Head of Pan Malaysian Islamic Party's (PAS) Ulema Council, Dato' Mohamed Daud Iraqi had given an explanation that it is not wrong for the Christians and Jews to use the term "Allah" as it was being used by the Christians and Jews for centuries.

"It is just that if 'Allah' is associated with an act of worship which involves 'shirk' like making Him into two or three entities, thus it would be against the religion and sharia law and it is forbidden for Muslims to indulge with it; but it is alright if it is refering to the same God", he said when contacted by Harakah.

The controversial involving the term "Allah" arised when the official newsletter of the Malaysian Catholic Church, Herald The Catholic Weekly used the term "Allah" with reference to "God" in the Malay Language section of the newsletter.

The owner of the newsletter is also facing difficulties in renewing the publishing permit because of that issue.

According to the Deputy Minister of Internal Security Affairs, Dato' Johari Baharom, the decision was made after analysing the report submitted to the Department of Publishing Control of the ministry.

"Herald can use other terms but not "Allah"; as it would make the public confused", Johari said.

By explaining further, Mohamed said that, even the Koranic verses proclaim that the Non-Muslims adhered to the oneness of God and the creation of this world by Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala including the usage of the term "Allah".

In the mean time, he stressed that if Herald has an agenda like confusing the public that "Allah" is also pleased with their religion, then it's forbidden.

According to him, Islam recognises Christianity and Judaism as "Heavenly Religion" (Samawi) but after Prophet Muhammad brought Islam, those heavenly religions were abrogated by Islam.

The newsletter published an article in the Malay Language Section last May under the title "Kasih Allah: Tidak Membeza-Bezakan" ("Love of Allah: Would Never Differentiate") of page 23 of the newsletter seems trying to influence the Malays who are adherents of Islam, especially the teenagers.

Herald is published by The Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur on behalf of The Bishops of Peninsular Malaysia, based in Petaling Jaya.

Translated from Malay Language.

Source: Harakah (22nd Zulhijjah 1428 - 6th Muharram 1429 / 1st - 15th January 2008), page 2
 
north_malaysian said:
Malaysian Islamists - It's not wrong for the Christians to use the term "Allah".

By Azamin Amin

KUALA LUMPUR: The Head of Pan Malaysian Islamic Party's (PAS) Ulema Council, Dato' Mohamed Daud Iraqi had given an explanation that it is not wrong for the Christians and Jews to use the term "Allah" as it was being used by the Christians and Jews for centuries.

"It is just that if 'Allah' is associated with an act of worship which involves 'shirk' like making Him into two or three entities, thus it would be against the religion and sharia law and it is forbidden for Muslims to indulge with it; but it is alright if it is refering to the same God", he said when contacted by Harakah.

The controversial involving the term "Allah" arised when the official newsletter of the Malaysian Catholic Church, Herald The Catholic Weekly used the term "Allah" with reference to "God" in the Malay Language section of the newsletter.

The owner of the newsletter is also facing difficulties in renewing the publishing permit because of that issue.

According to the Deputy Minister of Internal Security Affairs, Dato' Johari Baharom, the decision was made after analysing the report submitted to the Department of Publishing Control of the ministry.

"Herald can use other terms but not "Allah"; as it would make the public confused", Johari said.

By explaining further, Mohamed said that, even the Koranic verses proclaim that the Non-Muslims adhered to the oneness of God and the creation of this world by Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala including the usage of the term "Allah".

In the mean time, he stressed that if Herald has an agenda like confusing the public that "Allah" is also pleased with their religion, then it's forbidden.

According to him, Islam recognises Christianity and Judaism as "Heavenly Religion" (Samawi) but after Prophet Muhammad brought Islam, those heavenly religions were abrogated by Islam.

The newsletter published an article in the Malay Language Section last May under the title "Kasih Allah: Tidak Membeza-Bezakan" ("Love of Allah: Would Never Differentiate") of page 23 of the newsletter seems trying to influence the Malays who are adherents of Islam, especially the teenagers.

Herald is published by The Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur on behalf of The Bishops of Peninsular Malaysia, based in Petaling Jaya.

Translated from Malay Language.

Source: Harakah (22nd Zulhijjah 1428 - 6th Muharram 1429 / 1st - 15th January 2008), page 2
Click to expand...

lol, this is funny, we should save this article and give it to western anti-Islamics who so eagerly claim Allah is a moon god and shouldn't be used, here we have Christians DEMANDING they have the right to use the word Allah in their christian faith!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Similarities in the faiths not unusual

On The Beat: By WONG CHUN WAI

The similarities in Islam, Christianity and Judaism are expected because these religions originated from the same area and the people share many cultural, sociological and anthropological traits.

IT’S odd that it should even become an issue but the matter has now gone to the courts following the unprecedented suits by two church groups against the Government for prohibiting the word Allah to be used.

Last week, the Catholic Herald filed a suit against the Government for banning the word to be used in the weekly’s Bahasa Malaysia section.

The suit was made after the Herald, published by the Catholic archbishop of Kuala Lumpur, was issued a series of directives by the Internal Security Ministry for the publication to cease the use of the word Allah, failing which the publication’s permit could either be suspended or revoked.

Other than the Bahasa Malaysia segment, the weekly also has the English, Chinese and Tamil segments for its members.

The Sidang Injil Borneo (SIB) church and its president have also sought a judicial review against the ministry for its decision to stop the church from importing Christian books which contain the word Allah.

Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Johari Baharum has reportedly justified the action by saying the decision was taken to prevent confusion as the word Allah could only be used in the context of Islam and not other religions.

He was quoted as saying that “only Muslims can use Allah, it’s a Muslim word, you see. The word Allah is published by the Catholics, it’s not right.”

As someone who knows Johari, I find him amicable, approachable and helpful but I believe he has only taken a political perspective on this issue.

With due respect, I do not think Johari has taken into account the linguistic and historical issue of the subject. He probably made the decision on the advice of middle and lower-level officials and we hope he will review this decision, which has caused unnecessary discontent.

Beautiful greeting

Anyone travelling across the Middle East can tell you that tourists would be greeted with “Assalamualaikum”, even among Christian Arabs, but

Malaysians are told that it is for use exclusively among Muslims. Even the Arabs are perplexed by this.

“Peace be upon you” is such a beautiful and meaningful greeting, and we wish for it to be used by Malaysians of all races. It is also such a positive introduction to the world of Islam, where followers wish others well.

The Arabs prefer salam, as with the Malays here, while the Jews use shalom. There is no religious context in such greetings.

If you take a copy of the Arabic bible, you will find that Allah is used as a reference to God in the Christian perspective. It’s not something new as it has been in existence for centuries. In fact, the Christian usage of the word predates Islam.

This Arabic word is the closest equivalent to the English word God. In Hebrew and Aramaic, the language used by Jesus, the word used for God was “El” or “Elah”.

Christians in Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, Indonesia and many parts of Africa with huge Muslim communities have used the word with no problems.

In fact, the Church of Nativity where Jesus was born is located at the Palestinian side and Muslim leaders have no problems attending the church mass annually, as part of the respect accorded to the church.

I made my pilgrimage to Jerusalem some years back and it was an eye-opener for me to see most of the biblical sites at the Palestinian-run territory. A Muslim holds the keys to the Church of Nativity because of the factional fight between church groups.

It is common to see Palestinian Muslims and Christians selling church souvenirs, including crosses and rosaries, to pilgrims side by side.

The ministry has obviously decided that Allah is exclusive to Islam, seeing it as a security issue, but times have changed. They have no reason to fear that Malaysians would be confused. In fact, the ministry’s decision is confusing.

SIB president Pastor Jerry W.A. Dusing has said, in court documents, that the word Allah was used in the first complete Malay Bible in 1733 and the second complete Bible in 1879.

The ministry has stirred up a subject which should be left alone, as it has been for centuries. A new generation of Malaysians, more fluent in Bahasa Malaysia than English, has emerged because of our own policy.

Sermons in churches are increasingly conducted in the Malay language, simply because the younger congregation are no longer fluent in English.

Indonesians, mostly foreign workers, are attending church services in huge numbers alongside Malaysians. If Christian books cannot be in Bahasa

Malaysia, then it has got to come from Indonesia and Singapore. The dilemma is that the Bahasa Indonesia translated Bible uses the word Allah and Indonesia has more Muslims than Malaysia but it’s not a problem there.

Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin is right. He has consistently reminded Malaysians that Bahasa Malaysia is not exclusively for Malays. The same applies to Arabic words.

But I believe our Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is a fair man. He has been open-minded enough to attend Christmas gatherings and it was him who lifted the ban on the Iban-language Bible, revoking an Internal Security Ministry order.

Pak Lah must have listened to the views of both Muslims and Christians by now and certainly he serves as a good appellant.

It would be good if the church could meet Pak Lah, express their feelings and possibly withdraw the suits. They could also give an assurance that these books and publications will be used only for their members.

Challenging tasks

The impasse has to end and as we usher in the new year, let us remember there are bigger and more challenging tasks ahead of us. Surely, the ministry has more issues to handle than to create a linguistic controversy with religious connotations.

It is good that the controversy has been handled in a rational and calm manner. Many Malaysians, in fact, do not see the need for it to crop up in the first place, and we sometimes need to remind ourselves that we should not see any agenda or shadow in every action or statement that we make.

These similarities, in words and practices, in Islam, Christianity and Judaism, are expected because these religions originated from the same area and the people share many cultural, sociological and anthropological traits.

Unlike other religions, these three religions, are sometimes referred to as “Abrahamic faiths”, believe in one God but have different concepts of the Creator.

There is something positive out of this controversy – it’s good to learn and appreciate each other’s religions. As individuals, we are all constantly seeking out God in our personal journey of faith. Let us do so with our eyes, our minds and our hearts open.

Source
 
The_Prince said:
lol, this is funny, we should save this article and give it to western anti-Islamics who so eagerly claim Allah is a moon god and shouldn't be used, here we have Christians DEMANDING they have the right to use the word Allah in their christian faith!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

and it's even funnier that the Islamists are okay with Christians calling their God as Allah but not the secular ultra-nationalists. It's a weird world huh?
 
north_malaysian said:
and it's even funnier that the Islamists are okay with Christians calling their God as Allah but not the secular ultra-nationalists. It's a weird world huh?
Click to expand...

Didnt the current malaysian prime minister say that he wanted to start the islamic civilization or something like that ?
 
Aaron85 said:
Didnt the current malaysian prime minister say that he wanted to start the islamic civilization or something like that ?
Click to expand...

he introduced a new concept called "Islam Hadhari" (Civilisational Islam) which most Muslims dont even care to know about it.

He just talk...and talk... and talk..... the most boring Prime Minister I've seen.+o(

But when something wrong in his administration, he would be the last person to respond... or maybe not responding at all....

The most sick thing about him is that his son in law Khairy Jamaluddin (KJ) is very vocal about the political issues. He was definitely NOTHING during former Prime Minister era... suddenly he was over exposed in current Prime Minister era. Some people said that KJ want to be the Prime Minister in less 10 years time.... KJ is known to be ultra-nationalist.

Many people believe that KJ influenced the current Prime Minister a lot....

Many ultra-nationalists are in current PM's cabinet and parliament like Zam Maidin, Nazri, Bung Radin, etc.

They controlled the mass media in Malaysia. They can do demonstrations but not the oppositions.

They can do all pro-government campaigns on all tv channels, but not the oppositions.

Most of people who dislike the current government are Chinese, religious Muslims, middle-class and elite Malays; and Hindus.

Yeah... they also control the Election Commission.

We would have a general election next year.... and I believe they would still win... because they would compete as cowards... who cheat alot.....:raging:
 
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just for curiosity.... in Malaysia how many people would vote to have an Islamic State with Sharia law? an approximation...
 
Muslim Identities Public Opinion Survey (2005)

The public opinion survey conceptualised and coordinated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Patricia Martinez of Universiti Malaya's Asia-Europe Institute, polled 1,029 randomly-selected Malaysian Muslims across the peninsula between 15 to 18 December 2005.

Is Malaysia an Islamic State?
Yes - 73%
No - 25%
Don't Know - 2%

Do you want an Islamic state in Malaysia, like Iran?
No - 77%

Do you want Hudood Laws to be implemented in Malaysia?
Yes - 56%

Should the Non-Muslims be subjected under Hudood Laws?
No - 60%
Yes - 28%

Is it acceptable for Malaysian Muslims to live alongside those of other religions?
Yes - 97%

Should Islam be part of an interfaith council in Malaysia?
Yes - 76%

Should Malaysians be allowed to choose their religion as stipulated in the Constitution's Article 11 which guarantees freedom of religion?
Yes - 77%

Should Malaysian Muslims be allowed to change their religion?
No - 98%

Do you want the Sharia Laws to remain as it is under under the Constitution?
Yes - 64%

What is the level of strictness of current Sharia Laws in Malaysia?
Not Strict Enough - 77%
Sufficiently Strict - 18%
Too Strict - 2%

Who should have the authority to monitor and punish Muslims for immoral behaviour?
Religious Authority - 44%
Family - 33%
Others - 21%

Which identity would you choose if you could only choose one from this three options: Malay, Malaysian or Muslim?
Muslim - 73%
Malaysian - 14%
Malay - 13%

Do you feel that your identity as Muslim, Malaysian and Malay.
Yes - 99%

Do you believe that in Islam, women and men have equal rights?
Total - Yes (76%), No (24%)
Male Respondents - Yes (80%), No (19%)
Female Respondents - Yes (73%), No (26%)

If a husband told his wife she should not work, should she obey him?
Total - Yes (57%)
Male Respondents - Yes (57%)
Female Respondents - Yes (57%)

Can women be Sharia Court Judges?
Total - Yes (55%), No (38%), Don't Know/No Response (7%)
Male Respondents - Yes (51%), No (40%)
Female Respondents - Yes (60%), No (35%)

Source: http://www.malaysia-today.net/Blog-n/2006/09/poll-shows-73-think-we-are-islamic.htm

 

Malaysia reverses Allah paper ban


KUALA LUMPUR. The Malaysian government has reversed a decision to ban a Christian newspaper using the word Allah to refer to God. The government had threatened to refuse to give the Weekly Herald a publishing permit if it continued to use the word.
The paper's editor said the word had long been used by Christians to refer to God in the Malay language.

The ruling was immediately condemned by civil rights and Christian groups in Malaysia, who said it infringed their right to practice their religion.

But Malaysia's internal security department demanded the word be removed, saying only Muslims could use it, Kazinform quotes BBC News.

'Over-zealous ministers'

Now the government has back-tracked.

In a fax to the Herald's editor, the government says it will get its 2008 permit, with no conditions attached.

Father Andrew Lawrence told the BBC he was delighted, saying prayers had been answered.

He blamed politics and a general election expected here in 2008 year for what he said were the actions of a few over-zealous ministers in the Muslim-dominated Malay government.

Religious issues are highly sensitive in Malaysia, which has a 60% Muslim population.

Religious freedom is guaranteed in the law but minority groups have accused the Muslim Malay majority of trying to increase the role of Islam in the country.
Click to expand...

SOURCE
 
north_malaysian said:
Kind of weird right? 77% dont want an Islamic state but 56% want Hudood Laws....:exhausted
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yes, but if you notice the Q it says LIKE IRAN, so its not that they dont want an Islamic state per se, its that they dont want an Iranian style state and you cant blame them can you? the media is always talking about how Iran does this and does that so obviously ppl will be put off, although if someone goes to Iran like i have on many occasions you will see its a very nice place you wouldnt find any of the supposed oppression and crazy mullahs. although i did see a mullah walk across the street once. :)
 
For the sake of the next year election, the BN politicians are saying so many crazy things.....

But why Najib lead all the sayings... not Pak Lah or that monkey KJ.

Maybe Pak Lah is in Australia right now?:exhausted
 
Malaysia reversal on 'Allah' ruling

The Malaysian government has reversed a decision to ban the Malay-language section of a Catholic newspaper amid a row over the use of the word "Allah" as a synonym for God.

In a surprise about-turn, officials approved the publication permit for The Herald which reports on Catholic community news in English, Malay, Tamil and Chinese.

The internal security ministry gave no reasons for the earlier ban but the unusual delay in getting the permit renewed had followed a warning over the publication's use of the word "Allah", which officials had said could only be used to refer to the Muslim God.

Speaking to Al Jazeera Reverend Lawrence Andrew, editor of The Herald, said he was happy the government had renewed the weekly's 2008 permit without any conditions.

"The renewal process usually takes two to three months but I don’t know what caused the delay this time," he said.

"The government did not give any explanation in its letter."

Print publications in Malaysia require a government permit which is renewed every year.

Warnings

The government has previously warned The Herald, which has a circulation of 12,000 among Catholics, that its permit could be revoked if it continued to use the word "Allah" for God in its Malay-language section.

"Allah" is Arabic for God and means the same in Malay, Malaysia's national language.

Christians in Malaysia have argued that the word "Allah" was used by Christians before Islam.

Andrew said he did not know the reason for the initial ban, which the Herald had appealed.

"It could have been due to any of the articles we have published, and not necessarily the use of the word Allah," he added.

Andrew said people cannot be denied the use of their language, adding that the community is grateful the ban was not imposed.

"It was certainly a good thing for the country as a whole that we can accept one another. We need to be moderate and have tolerance," he added.

Early this month The Herald filed a suit seeking a declaration on the use of the word "Allah" as a constitutional right.

Meanwhile, in a separate development it has emerged that a church in the eastern state of Sabah is also suing Malaysian authorities for barring the import of Christian literature from Indonesia containing the word "Allah".

Sabah Sidang Injil Borneo Church filed the case in Kuala Lumpur earlier this month after six titles for their Sunday school education for children were banned.

Letters from the internal security ministry said the books contained various words that were exclusive to Islam, including "Allah" (God), "Baitullah" (House of God), "Solat" (prayer) and "Kaabah" (The Sacred House).

In multi-racial Malaysia, the government considers religion a sensitive matter and often classify related matters as a security issue.

Source
 
Greetings Grace Seeker,

How are you?

Grace Seeker said:
What are Hudood Laws? What is the difference between them and Sharia?
Click to expand...

Definitions of Hudood on the Web:

H[SIZE=-1]udud: Islamic laws stating the limits ordained by Allah and including the deterrent punishments for serious crimes
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]

Hudud ( Arabic حدود, also transliterated hadud, hudood; plural for hadd, حد, limit, or restriction) is the word often used in Islamic social and legal literature for the bounds of acceptable behaviour and the punishments for serious crimes.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudood[/SIZE]


There is no difference between Hudood laws and the Sharia. Rather, the Hudood laws form part of the Sharia. The wikipedia link above gives some useful info about it.

Also, here is also a useful link about Islamic law in general: Islamic Law:Myths and Realities.

There is some relevant info on the page about Hudud under the section entitled "Hadd crimes."

:)

Regards
 
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Thank-you, Osman. That was helpful. I didn't want to make any of the following comments till I was clear on that.


As with most public opinion poll, I see that the public is of two different minds with regard to what it believes, and yet apparently a majority of the people who both views at the same time:

Do you want the Sharia Laws to remain as it is under under the Constitution?
Yes - 64%

What is the level of strictness of current Sharia Laws in Malaysia?
Not Strict Enough - 77%
Sufficiently Strict - 18%
Too Strict - 2%
Click to expand...


64% want the Sharia Laws to remain as it is, and yet 79% (combined) think that they are either not strict enough or are already too strict.

So, we don't like them the way they are, but don't change them.



Should the Non-Muslims be subjected under Hudood Laws?
No - 60%
Yes - 28%

Should Malaysians be allowed to choose their religion as stipulated in the Constitution's Article 11 which guarantees freedom of religion?
Yes - 77%

Should Malaysian Muslims be allowed to change their religion?
No - 98%
Click to expand...

So, non-Muslims should not be subjected to Hudood Laws and people should be allowed to choose their religion, unless of course a person born into a Muslim household, should think independently of his family and wish to be known as something other than a Muslim. Then, if though the person see him/herself as not a Muslim, he is compelled to keep that label.
 
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