MalaysiaKini News
written by Stephen Ng
Monday January 11, 2009
I appeal to all peace-loving Muslims to urge the government to stop pursuing this matter of Allah's name. I also appeal to all Muslims to realize that no one should be restricted from using the name of Allah.
As your Quran says (Chapter 2:114): “Hence, who could be more wicked than those who bar the mention of God's name from (any of) His houses of worship and strive for their ruin, (although) they have no right to enter them save in fear (of God)? For them, in this world, there is ignominy in store; and for them, in the life to come, awesome suffering.”
It is time that Muslims demonstrate sensitivity to the feelings of people of other faith, instead of claiming monopoly over a name for which you have no copyright or patent. By doing so, you merely jeopardise the harmony of the races.
Marina Mahathir has given her views, which are very sound. Both Tok Guru Nik Aziz Nik Mat of PAS and Anwar Ibrahim of PKR have given their statements regarding the use of Allah. It would be wise for the government to listen to the voice of the people, instead of treading on this sensitive issue.
The government has to accept the fact that the name Allah has been used for the past 14 centuries by Christian Arabs. In Indonesia, where most Malay-language Bibles originate, there has never been any issue about the use of the name Allah.
In Malaysia, East Malaysians have used the name of Allah since the 1880s. In order for Malaysian Muslims not to be seen practising a different version of Islam, Malaysian Christians would want to be consistent with the rest of their world where the word Allah is used.
The former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, in his statement on the matter, failed to differentiate between believing Christians and atheists. No believing Christian, for example, would think of saying 'Allah is dead'.
The rest of the world is watching how our government handles the issue. Let's strive for unity in this country.
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