Netizens speak up on 'Allah'
Aidila RazakPublished: Jan 6, 2010 5:15 PM | Updated: Jan 6, 2010 6:38 PM
Malaysian netizens are flocking to social networking site Facebook and micro-blogging site Twitter to air their opinions on the ‘Allah’ issue.
Malaysian netizens are flocking to social networking site Facebook and micro-blogging site Twitter to air their opinions on the ‘Allah’ issue.
To date, three Facebook groups have been set up - one in support of the ban and another against it. The third comprises those against the use of the issue for political purposes.
Leading the pack is a group calling itself ‘Menentang penggunaan nama ‘Allah’ oleh golongan bukan Islam’ (Against the use of the name ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims).
This was started on Jan 3 and has more than 85,000 members and is growing at the rate of more than 1,000 members per hour.
This far surpasses the other two groups which have only managed to attract fewer than 1,000 members in total, all of whom do not actively enter postings like the pro-ban supporters.
The pro-ban group is co-administrated by provocative Utusan Malaysia columnist Muhammad Ridhuan Tee Abdullah and Umno Youth exco Faisal Ismail Aziz,
‘Officers’ in the group include International Trade and Industry deputy minister Mukhriz Mahathir (right), with eight accounts registered in the name of Umno branches. Members are mainly made up of Malay-Muslim professionals based in the Klang Valley.
There are some who are against the ban, and who have joined to give an alternative perspective in the heated discussion threads.
Among the reasons given by those who support the ban is that the word ‘Allah’ will be used in the context of the Christian Holy Trinity, which goes against the Muslim belief there is only one God.
“Lifting the ban inadvertently agrees with the statement that Jesus is God’s son, while Allah has no son,” said a group member.
A minority contended that Muslims are not accountable for what others want to believe.
“It is untrue that we are allowing them to say that Allah is part of the Trinity simply because we do not challenge (the Christians’) right to use the word ‘Allah’. The Trinity is their belief, why do we bother about what they want to worship?’ one member argued.
Most agree with the Home Ministry, saying that the use of ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims will confuse Muslims, particularly children or those who are less educated.
“Maybe mature Muslims will not be confused, but what about children who are only just learning about Islam? Wouldn’t they be confused if they see their Christian friends worshipping Allah in a church, temple or shrine?” one member asked.
Another noted that, if such is the case, then the key issue is education and not whether non-Muslims have the right to the word ‘Allah’.
‘Christians relinquished right’
Others appear unrelenting in arguing that Allah is a specific name for God that is exclusive to Muslims, as apparent from the number of times the word ‘Allah’ is used in the Quran.
They also reject the argument that the word is also used by non-Muslims in other countries to refer to God.
A group member who claimed to have studied Christianity for the past 10 years argued that Christians relinquished their right to use the word ‘Allah’ centuries ago.
“During the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD, the church declared that Christians are forbidden to use the names of God found in the Bible in their daily activities, and to only use the word ‘Father’. The names of God can only be used in the church for ceremonial purposes only,” he said.
The dropping of the word ‘Alah’ (spelled with one 'l') from the 1769 King James edition of the Bible is also proof that the Christians no longer have rights to the word, he argued.
Most feel that allowing non-Muslims to use the word ‘Allah’ would be the beginning of further ‘infringements’ into other matters exclusive to Islam.
One member posted the view of a South African religious scholar who said: “Today (non-Muslims) are allowed to call their god ‘Allah’. Tomorrow they could call their Bible the Quran and create considerable confusion. Just as the term ‘Quran’ is exclusive for the Islamic scripture, so too is the word, ‘Allah’.”
On Twitter, hundreds including Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and ‘Fairly Current Show’ host Fahmi Fazdzil have been actively discussing the issue.
Unlike the Facebook groups which see a clash of opinions, the Twitter discourse appears to be aimed at finding solutions.
Notable suggestions include a dialogue between the Fatwa Council and the Council of Churches, and for Catholic Weekly Herald to not use the word ‘Allah’ and the government to retract its appeal until the councils have met.
Herald, which is printed in four languages, has been using the word 'Allah' as a translation for 'God' in its Malay-language section, but the government argued 'Allah' should be used only by Muslims.
The term 'Allah' is widely used among indigenous Christians in Sabah and Sarawak, many of whom speak Bahasa Malaysia.
On Dec 31, the Kuala Lumpur High Court allowed Herald to use the word ‘Allah’, triggering much negative reaction among Muslims. The Home Ministry has appealed the ruling, and today obtained a stay order to prevent use of the word in the interim.
To date, three Facebook groups have been set up - one in support of the ban and another against it. The third comprises those against the use of the issue for political purposes.
Leading the pack is a group calling itself ‘Menentang penggunaan nama ‘Allah’ oleh golongan bukan Islam’ (Against the use of the name ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims). This was started on Jan 3 and has more than 85,000 members and is growing at the rate of more than 1,000 members per hour.
This far surpasses the other two groups which have only managed to attract fewer than 1,000 members in total, all of whom do not actively enter postings like the pro-ban supporters.
The pro-ban group is co-administrated by provocative Utusan Malaysia columnist Muhammad Ridhuan Tee Abdullah and Umno Youth exco Faisal Ismail Aziz,
‘Officers’ in the group include International Trade and Industry deputy minister Mukhriz Mahathir (right), with eight accounts registered in the name of Umno branches. Members are mainly made up of Malay-Muslim professionals based in the Klang Valley. There are some who are against the ban, and who have joined to give an alternative perspective in the heated discussion threads.
Among the reasons given by those who support the ban is that the word ‘Allah’ will be used in the context of the Christian Holy Trinity, which goes against the Muslim belief there is only one God.
“Lifting the ban inadvertently agrees with the statement that Jesus is God’s son, while Allah has no son,” said a group member.
A minority contended that Muslims are not accountable for what others want to believe.
“It is untrue that we are allowing them to say that Allah is part of the Trinity simply because we do not challenge (the Christians’) right to use the word ‘Allah’. The Trinity is their belief, why do we bother about what they want to worship?’ one member argued.
Most agree with the Home Ministry, saying that the use of ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims will confuse Muslims, particularly children or those who are less educated.
“Maybe mature Muslims will not be confused, but what about children who are only just learning about Islam? Wouldn’t they be confused if they see their Christian friends worshipping Allah in a church, temple or shrine?” one member asked.
Another noted that, if such is the case, then the key issue is education and not whether non-Muslims have the right to the word ‘Allah’.
‘Christians relinquished right’
Others appear unrelenting in arguing that Allah is a specific name for God that is exclusive to Muslims, as apparent from the number of times the word ‘Allah’ is used in the Quran.
They also reject the argument that the word is also used by non-Muslims in other countries to refer to God.
A group member who claimed to have studied Christianity for the past 10 years argued that Christians relinquished their right to use the word ‘Allah’ centuries ago.
“During the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD, the church declared that Christians are forbidden to use the names of God found in the Bible in their daily activities, and to only use the word ‘Father’. The names of God can only be used in the church for ceremonial purposes only,” he said.
The dropping of the word ‘Alah’ (spelled with one 'l') from the 1769 King James edition of the Bible is also proof that the Christians no longer have rights to the word, he argued.
Most feel that allowing non-Muslims to use the word ‘Allah’ would be the beginning of further ‘infringements’ into other matters exclusive to Islam. One member posted the view of a South African religious scholar who said: “Today (non-Muslims) are allowed to call their god ‘Allah’. Tomorrow they could call their Bible the Quran and create considerable confusion. Just as the term ‘Quran’ is exclusive for the Islamic scripture, so too is the word, ‘Allah’.”
On Twitter, hundreds including Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and ‘Fairly Current Show’ host Fahmi Fazdzil have been actively discussing the issue.
Unlike the Facebook groups which see a clash of opinions, the Twitter discourse appears to be aimed at finding solutions.
Notable suggestions include a dialogue between the Fatwa Council and the Council of Churches, and for Catholic Weekly Herald to not use the word ‘Allah’ and the government to retract its appeal until the councils have met.
Herald, which is printed in four languages, has been using the word 'Allah' as a translation for 'God' in its Malay-language section, but the government argued 'Allah' should be used only by Muslims.The term 'Allah' is widely used among indigenous Christians in Sabah and Sarawak, many of whom speak Bahasa Malaysia.
On Dec 31, the Kuala Lumpur High Court allowed Herald to use the word ‘Allah’, triggering much negative reaction among Muslims. The Home Ministry has appealed the ruling, and today obtained a stay order to prevent use of the word in the interim.
View Comments0