Qur’an: “Tuhan kami, juga Tuhan kamu, adalah Satu”

 Ethnic and inter-religious relations, Islam  3 Responses »
Jan 282008
 

This is the Malay translation of verse 29:46 from the Qur’an obtained from here: Dan janganlah kamu berbahas dengan Ahli Kitab melainkan dengan cara yang lebih baik, kecuali orang-orang yang berlaku zalim di antara mereka dan katakanlah (kepada mereka): Kami beriman kepada (Al-Quran) yang diturunkan kepada kami dan kepada (Taurat dan Injil) yang diturunkan kepada kamu dan Tuhan kami, juga Tuhan kamu, adalah Satu dan kepadaNyalah, kami patuh dengan berserah diri. Yusuf Ali’s English translation: And dispute ye not with the People of the Book, except with means better (than mere disputation), unless it be with those of them who inflict wrong (and injury): but say, “We believe in the revelation which has come down to us and in that which came down to you; Our Allah and your Allah is one; and it is to Him we bow (in Islam).” M. Pickthal’s English translation:  And argue not with the [Read more]

We believe in one God/Allah

 Christianity, Islam  1 Response »
Jan 192008
 

Just came across this verse from the Qur’an (29:46), which I think speaks for itself: وَلَا تُجَادِلُوا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ إِلَّا بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْهُمْ وَقُولُوا آمَنَّا بِالَّذِي أُنزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَأُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ وَإِلَهُنَا وَإِلَهُكُمْ وَاحِدٌ وَنَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ Wala tujadiloo ahla alkitabi illa biallatee hiya ahsanu illa allatheena thalamoo minhum waqooloo amanna biallathee onzila ilayna waonzila ilaykum wailahuna wailahukum wahidun wanahnu lahu muslimoona And dispute ye not with the People of the Book, except with means better (than mere disputation), unless it be with those of them who inflict wrong (and injury): but say, “We believe in the revelation which has come down to us and in that which came down to you; Our Allah and your Allah is one; and it is to Him we bow (in Islam).” (English rendition by Abdullah Yusuf Ali)

Herald permit: Divide-and-rule rears its ugly head?

 Christianity, Democracy, Human rights, Islam, Marginalised groups, Poverty, Universal spiritual values  7 Responses »
Dec 242007
 
Herald permit: Divide-and-rule rears its ugly head?

Publication permit in doubt: The Herald has provided prominent coverage of recent demonstrations and other human rights issues even as the mainstream media abdicate their responsibility Four years ago, Christian Malaysians were overjoyed when Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi sent Christmas greetings to their various churches and congregations. It was an astute gesture that touched many Christians, and many of them voted in droves for the BN in the 2004 general election. How times have changed. Now, as we observe Christmas 2007, the mood in many churches is decidedly sombre. The Catholic Church has not yet received its new publication permit for its weekly Herald newspaper for the coming year, ostensibly because of its use of the term “Allah” to refer to God in its Malay-language section. As a columnist for The Herald, I am deeply disappointed. The Herald’s use of the term “Allah” is nothing new; it has been using [Read more]

Merdeka! But beware the new power…

 Corporate agenda, Democracy, Environment, Ethnic and inter-religious relations, Islam, Malaysian finance/business, Politics  No Responses »
Aug 312007
 

Just watching the 50th Merdeka celebrations on TV and I can’t help but notice how top BN politicians are dominating the proceedings. The 8tv talk show hosts are singing the praises of the PM. Samy and Ong Ka Ting are hovering around the PM. So too Hishamuddin Hussein. Khairy Jamaluddin raising the flag… Khairy leading the Youth of the BN component parties in a marchpast…Najib literally breathing down Abdullah’s neck, looking over his shoulders, as the PM delivers a “spirited” speech. (Fifty years ago, the Tunku was flanked by Najib’s father Razak, Cheng Lock, and Sambanthan. Umno Youth leader Sardon Jubir placed a chain around the Tunku’s neck in recognition of his role as Bapa Kemerdekaan.) Dressed in BN blue, Abdullah uses words such as “terbilang” and “gemilang” (from the BN tagline), raising his voice in an attempt to fire up the crowd – but he ends up coughing in [Read more]

Religious leaders overcome odds to affirm right to water

 Accountability, Christianity, Corporate agenda, Development issues, Ethnic and inter-religious relations, Islam, Malaysian finance/business, Neo-liberal economics  No Responses »
Aug 122007
 

It’s not often that religious leaders come together to take a common stand on an issue of national significance. Over the years, Aliran organised a couple of seminars – one on corruption and the other on the human being – that looked at these issues from the perspective of the various spiritual traditions. In recent times, we have seen religious leaders coming together to protest against the invasion of Iraq and, last weekend, to reaffirm the right to water in an interfaith seminar. But this time, the plan by various religious and civil society groups to hold the event at the National Mosque was scuttled at the last moment. Obviously, some quarters are uncomfortable with the idea of Muslims and non-Muslims putting aside their differences and coming together to take a common stand on an important public interest issue especially at such a prominent landmark as the National Mosque. In [Read more]

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