What a brilliant way to start the new year, 2010, with the news that the Herald is free to use the word ‘Allah’.
The High Court declared that the Home Minister’s order banning the use of the term was illegal, null and void; the term is not exclusive to any religion.
This is as it should be. Wisdom has prevailed. This is a victory not just for the Herald team, but for the country and its international image – and for all its people, Muslims, Christians and others alike. It is a victory for those who cherish inclusiveness and harmony – and a defeat for the small-minded and the chauvinists among us.
Of course, there could be a Round Two (appeals) and that could be a different story. But I hope not. It’s time to move on. There are other serious issues facing our nations that we have to grapple with.
Selamat Tahun Baru, Happy New Year, one and all!
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The meaning of the syahada
I bear witness that there is no god except Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
u see?
Allah is Allah.
The word Allah is better and higher than the word god
Allah and the semantics. The people are not ready to understand the semantic of this term Allah. When there is ignorance, there is misunderstanding and this leads to chaos. Educate the people first on the true meaning of the word Allah linguistically then everything will be fine.
“You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God.”
Exodus 20:3-5
I believe the person who wrote this verse is not even in the leagues of GOD, he is too self centred by our religious standard, in fact he might be the opposite or anti GOD.
Allaah is just God in Arabic (only with the capital). Its cognate in Hebrew is Elohim (plural of majesty), in Aramaic/Syriac Alaahaa. Similar in construction to Coptic P-Noudi (the God). It carries no religious (meaning Muslim) connotation at all, except monotheist. It is premuslim. It is a contraction of al- (the) and ilaah (a god). Hence it is never plural (the gods is al-aalihah), nor feminine (the goddess is al-ilaahah, but the goddess name “Allaat” is from a similar contraction as Allaah). When it is defined by a suffix possessive pronoun, the contraction is broken down and you get, for… Read more »
ya, why want to quarrel over God’s name? Does it really matter we, christians must refer God as Allah? Catholic church, please stop it for God’s sake. Umno is taking this golden opportunity to play up politics. If u really must call God as Allah, then do it in your heart. U must love all mankind, if the Malaysian Muslims are confused when non muslims call Him as Allah , then, we must not confuse them. Please, it is indeed dearer if we call Him as Abba, Father, isnt it? Sometimes i wonder why dont God just … stop all… Read more »
Love these videos on how the Christian Arabs praise Allah
http://malaysianunplug.blogspot.com/2010/01/malay-muslim-groups-and-umno-in.html
Watch the prayers in Indonesian and Arabic in a church in Indonesia
and Hail Mary in Arabic and
the Arabic Christmas Carol on the birth of Jesus. Sounds like a Muslim call for prayer.
A Jewish person explaining the source of the word Allah.
And a Muslim girl explaining Who is Allah.
Ok so the christians won!!!???
Now why can’t the church come around and declare from today onwards we will call our Allah — Arah or HalaHala or HAHA or DADA or just good old original GOD. You muslims, mahathir and whoever else keep your Allah. End of story. But no — let us fight and fight — why? Christians (oops!) lead such boring life — we need real life drama and excitement ma…
I agree with some of the commenters that UMNO will be dense enough to do anything to have this verdict reverse.
We have not heard the last from certain muslim NGOs…
I bet my bottom RM that some … malay muslim will appeal…
Thank God the infamous AP has been summoned by the almighty to answer for his ‘time’ on earth.
Do you think it will be relevant?
Allah is for christian arabs to call God. Used by Muslims as well.
There is no need to use this in Malaysia or anywhere non Arab speaking countries.
The biblical God is not = Quran’s Allah
My dear Anil Allahuakhbar Almighty God the Great. Al-Ma’idah (The Table Spread) 5:17 (Y. Ali) In blasphemy indeed are those that say that Allah is Christ the son of Mary. Say: “Who then hath the least power against Allah, if His will were to destroy Christ the son of Mary, his mother, and all every – one that is on the earth? For to Allah belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between. He createth what He pleaseth. For Allah hath power over all things.” As exclaimed by Moses (pbuh): “Hear, O Israel: The… Read more »
There you go, as expected from this stereotyped pea sized brains UMNO politicians, they are appealing the decision of the high court, and as expected the Court of Appeals (could) overturn the high court decision. Another asked the Muslims populace to stay calm. What a joke of an advice, the Muslims worldwide are happy if people quote Allah as their God, but Malaysian UMNO Malays say no. Just what have these UMNO people have their heads? What happen to MCA, MIC, Gerakan and other parties in the Bolts and Nuts coalition? These people just want to screw, screw and screw… Read more »
Waste of money . Waste of time
Allah is for Muslims
Lord is for christians
Buddha is for buddhists
A Christian who want to name his god Allah have lack of catholic knowledge …
Moreover , To mix political issues with religions is a wrong and dangerous way , we all know it .
I do not applaud the judge or the judgement and please do not celebrate just yet. Our GOD the supreme being is one …..this case will go up to Federal and lets abide the decision.
Let sane minds prevail
Allah for all!
I don’t know if I would call it a victory in this case. Should I feel victorious if I managed to recover what was stolen from me in the first place?
I might feel happy and relieved about this court’s decision, but victorious? I don’t know!
Maybe I might feel different after a more definitive and final decision is made.
To me, English speaking Christians should use the word God and Jesus Christ. Malaysian and Indonesian Christians should use Tuhan and Yesus. Arabic speaking Christians should use Allah and “Jesus in Arabic”. Mandarin speaking use “xen” and “Yesus”.
Even I am a Christian, I see there is no necessity for Malaysia Home ministry or Christians or Catholics to make such a fuss about the use of the word “Allah”. It is between God and man/woman to live a life that please God and the argument is just a waste of time.
where are thou, KTK and OTK?
silence is golden, i guess.
Happy New Year! God bless us Malaysians in 2010 to have a better understanding and harmony among us in Malaysia This is great News about the ALLAH ruling but our happiness maybe for a short while. First, the presiding judge will be making the majority of the UMNO extremists demanding for the judge to be put in the cold storage or early retirement for the judgement. OR Some UMNO members (may) find some friendly PAS or phamtom PAS members or paid public members and instigate them to go for street protest. The final nail to the coffin (could be)… the… Read more »
I will like to think that the basic of religions is all about its contents and how the followers practicing them. It is not so much about whose words that it should be belonging too.
Let’s close the chapter and move on.
… ALLAH is pleasd that more people now are acknowledging that he is the only GOD. Shame on me as a Muslim to have misguided Muslim.
Good news… for now. The Malays in Malaysia must grow out of this false propaganda coming from their “false leaders” just for them to remain in power. Issue like this never arise from the Malay Indonesians or even the Malay Filipinos.
Fools that we are, can’t we see that this (appears) scripted to make Najib and the BN look moderate and magnanimous and, therefore, fit to carry on running the country? This (appears to be) a classic UMNO ploy: push us to the edge, pressure us until we can hardly breath, then relent, release the pressure, and, hey presto, there’s the proof UMNO is a good, kind, gentle, tolerant and compassionate party that takes care of the needs of ALL Malaysians. It’s all a “wayang kulit”. It is said that a leopard never changes its spots. The very fact that UMNO… Read more »
Too early to celebrate. Given the implication of the case, it is likely that the Home Ministry will appeal against the decision to the higher courts. We have seen the ‘biasa’ results of the appellate court!
Happy New Year Anil.
Rejoice now you all for these verdict (could) be overturned by the court of appeals or federal courts. Watch the Judge’s career for she (could) be send to the back burners… A brave judge indeed for the word Allah preceded Islam. Only in Malaysia can history be re-written. Rejoice now for ‘these are my mountains’.
… the ruling (could) be overturned. Listen to the hawk… from Pasir Salak. This is the stuff and class of UMNO/BN. This is the true colour of BN aided by MCA, MIC and the party led by the political eunuch Gerakan and other mosquito parties. This is the true stuff of BTN!
Just why are the other political parties within BN keeping quiet with the remarks of the … man? Ah…. let us wait for more to come in 2010.