Why would anyone want to abuse 'Allah'?
FREE YOURSAY 'And if someone does, he should be given the harshest punishment.’
Mais: What if 'Allah' appears on liquor bottles?
Onyourtoes:
Selangor Islamic Affairs Council (Mais) chairperson Mohamad Adzib Mohd Isa, you expressed fear that the word ‘Allah’ may be misused or abused.
If Malay-speaking Christians have used the word ‘Allah’ to refer to God, why would they want to defile that word in beer bottles or at karaoke centres?
Enforcing the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988 on beer companies and karaoke centres, to me, is different from enforcing the same law on churches and other religious bodies.
By the way, San Miguel beer and karaoke are not the only sins, you know.
Odin Tajue: The question "What if 'Allah' appears on liquor bottles?" illustrates extremely infantile logic. Any normal, sane manufacturer would not be so debased, so silly, as to mock or desecrate the word.
In the highly unlikely event that it does happen, then haul the vermin to court and fight for him to be subjected to the harshest possible punishment .
Philip Thomas: I am sure most Muslims are not easily confused. Anyway the Bible in Malay first appeared in 1600s and ‘Allah’ was used then.
If you go to Egyptian markets, you will hear both Muslim and Christian traders greet one another Assalamualaikum and use the word ‘Allah’ to refer to God.
In fact, Muslim traders there even sell Christian religious items to tourists. Of course if this was the scenario in Malaysia, all hell would break loose.
If the message is wrong or sacrilegious, I am sure they will be condemned. So don’t worry. But what is the aim of using ‘Allah’?
Let me answer. The aim is to ensure Christians, who do not converse in English, to be able to pray and worship their God the way they have been doing for centuries.
We are not out there to convert the Muslims, especially Malays. Unfortunately, Malay Muslims are apparently easy to be confused. Is their faith is that shallow? Indeed, is this really the case?
Guyintheglass: What if the cow jumped over the moon? The issue is on freedom of religious practice and Mohamad Adzib is talking about something else.
Not Smart: The reasoning makes no sense; it’s stupid and childish. This is akin to asking what if people beat red lights?
Obviously there are laws and the manufacturers/importers are not as stupid as Mais to do such silly things as suggested by Mohamad Adzib since it would only jeopardise their business.
If one's faith is strong, why the need for man-made laws when God's laws alone should be sufficient?
It appears that only pro-Umno Malay Muslims are championing this cause, which indicates that their faith is weak. Mais should look into strengthening these ummahs' faith first.
Antoine Ross Deliones: The only way I can see how the word ‘Allah’ can possibly appear on a beer bottle is if there is a legal regulation requiring beer companies to issue on the bottles the warning: "Allah forbids alcohol consumption as it is bad for health and undermine moral behaviour."
No beer company would want this.
Maharaja: Can I print the word ‘Allah’ on a sticker and stick it on the back of my car, saying: “Praise Allah the Almighty God who has made heaven and Earth”?
Is it wrong for non-Muslims to praise Allah? Or rather, will Allah prohibit non-Muslims to praise Him? Is it stated somewhere in the Quran that non-Muslims are not entitle to praise Allah or are prohibited to do so?
If there is none... is it not a sin to add or subtract any word in the Quran?
Fairnsquare: Do Muslims listen to church sermons? An abuse of the word ‘Allah’, would result in a joint action by all, including Christians, against the wrongdoer.
Trinity is a perception and belief of Christians, not to be questioned by any others who do not understand this. So in fact, there is no problem other than the issue is politically manoeuvered.
CHKS: Let's be fair to these queries as they address a real concern. But a legitimate question calls for a legitimate answer.
To have a legitimate answer, why not you sit down (instead of grabbing people's Alkitab and shouting like barbarians), invite some Muslim scholars from the Arab world where these words are from and have been used extensively by Christians and Muslims, as well as Christian scholars.
Then you may have your answers to your concern that the word might appear on liquor bottles. Is this okay?
Shamu99: Let’s not allow this topic to take the limelight or focus the public’s attention away from other social concerns, such as ‘harga barang naik’ (rising prices).
The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now .
Mais: What if 'Allah' appears on liquor bottles?
Onyourtoes: Selangor Islamic Affairs Council (Mais) chairperson Mohamad Adzib Mohd Isa, you expressed fear that the word ‘Allah’ may be misused or abused.If Malay-speaking Christians have used the word ‘Allah’ to refer to God, why would they want to defile that word in beer bottles or at karaoke centres?
Enforcing the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988 on beer companies and karaoke centres, to me, is different from enforcing the same law on churches and other religious bodies.
By the way, San Miguel beer and karaoke are not the only sins, you know.
Odin Tajue: The question "What if 'Allah' appears on liquor bottles?" illustrates extremely infantile logic. Any normal, sane manufacturer would not be so debased, so silly, as to mock or desecrate the word.
In the highly unlikely event that it does happen, then haul the vermin to court and fight for him to be subjected to the harshest possible punishment.
Philip Thomas: I am sure most Muslims are not easily confused. Anyway the Bible in Malay first appeared in 1600s and ‘Allah’ was used then.
If you go to Egyptian markets, you will hear both Muslim and Christian traders greet one another Assalamualaikum and use the word ‘Allah’ to refer to God.
In fact, Muslim traders there even sell Christian religious items to tourists. Of course if this was the scenario in Malaysia, all hell would break loose.
If the message is wrong or sacrilegious, I am sure they will be condemned. So don’t worry. But what is the aim of using ‘Allah’?
Let me answer. The aim is to ensure Christians, who do not converse in English, to be able to pray and worship their God the way they have been doing for centuries.
We are not out there to convert the Muslims, especially Malays. Unfortunately, Malay Muslims are apparently easy to be confused. Is their faith is that shallow? Indeed, is this really the case?
Guyintheglass: What if the cow jumped over the moon? The issue is on freedom of religious practice and Mohamad Adzib is talking about something else.
Not Smart: The reasoning makes no sense; it’s stupid and childish. This is akin to asking what if people beat red lights?
Obviously there are laws and the manufacturers/importers are not as stupid as Mais to do such silly things as suggested by Mohamad Adzib since it would only jeopardise their business.
If one's faith is strong, why the need for man-made laws when God's laws alone should be sufficient?
It appears that only pro-Umno Malay Muslims are championing this cause, which indicates that their faith is weak. Mais should look into strengthening these ummahs' faith first.
Antoine Ross Deliones: The only way I can see how the word ‘Allah’ can possibly appear on a beer bottle is if there is a legal regulation requiring beer companies to issue on the bottles the warning: "Allah forbids alcohol consumption as it is bad for health and undermine moral behaviour."
No beer company would want this.
Maharaja: Can I print the word ‘Allah’ on a sticker and stick it on the back of my car, saying: “Praise Allah the Almighty God who has made heaven and Earth”?
Is it wrong for non-Muslims to praise Allah? Or rather, will Allah prohibit non-Muslims to praise Him? Is it stated somewhere in the Quran that non-Muslims are not entitle to praise Allah or are prohibited to do so?
If there is none... is it not a sin to add or subtract any word in the Quran?
Fairnsquare: Do Muslims listen to church sermons? An abuse of the word ‘Allah’, would result in a joint action by all, including Christians, against the wrongdoer.
Trinity is a perception and belief of Christians, not to be questioned by any others who do not understand this. So in fact, there is no problem other than the issue is politically manoeuvered.
CHKS: Let's be fair to these queries as they address a real concern. But a legitimate question calls for a legitimate answer.
To have a legitimate answer, why not you sit down (instead of grabbing people's Alkitab and shouting like barbarians), invite some Muslim scholars from the Arab world where these words are from and have been used extensively by Christians and Muslims, as well as Christian scholars.
Then you may have your answers to your concern that the word might appear on liquor bottles. Is this okay?
Shamu99: Let’s not allow this topic to take the limelight or focus the public’s attention away from other social concerns, such as ‘harga barang naik’ (rising prices).
The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now.
