Pakatan In Unison: Non-Muslims Can Use The Word ‘Allah’

By SM Amin shaik@malaysiandigest.com

Abdul Hadi (L) said the word Allah cannot be misused by other quarters on Muslims in a manner which will result in confusionPETALING JAYA: Pakatan Rakyat’s supreme council today unanimously decided that the word ‘Allah’ should be free to be used by people from all religions, on the condition that “it isn’t misused.” PAS president, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang (pic) said, the word ‘Allah’ is a word which follows the original meaning in the Quran, and cannot be accurately translated into other languages. “The word ‘Allah’ cannot be misused by other quarters on Muslims in a manner which will result in confusion. “Muslims of other races still use the word ‘Allah’ (minus translation) when interpreting the Al-Quran in their own languages as well as during prayers. “However, Islam does not forbid those from other religions from using the word in their daily practices, even though they do not achieve the Al-Quran’s original meaning,” Abdul Hadi told a Press conference at PKR headquarters today. The decision was made after Pakatan leaders held a meeting, which was attended by PKR chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Abdul Hadi, and DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang, earlier today. However, the Opposition’s decision appeared to be in contrast with the decree issued by the Sultan Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah. Last Sunday, the sultan reiterated his earlier decree two years ago, that non-Muslims in the state cannot use the word ‘Allah.’ This was explained in a statement earlier today by Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) secretary, Datuk Misri Idris, who said the sultan made the statement in a meeting with the council. Misri explained that the sultan wants MAIS and the Selangor Religious Department (JAIS) to take stern action on Muslims and non-Muslims who trivialize the fatwa which forbids the use of the word ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims in February 2010. Meanwhile, Anwar, in his response when asked on the sultan’s decree, questioned the instruction, which he deemed “unfair and one-sided.” “MAIS moves independently and has nothing to do with the Selangor government… in fact, we view MAIS’ statement as not necessarily representing the state’s views. “That is why the caution and criticism is only directed towards Pakatan, and never for Umno,” he said. The controversy surrounding the use of the word began on Dec 2009, when the High Court ruled that Catholic newspaper The Herald can use the word ‘Allah’ as it was within anyone’s constitutional right. This triggered religious tension, which led to the arson attacks against eight Klang Valley churches in January, 2008. Abdul Hadi, in a subsequent special meeting convened by PAS, agreed that the word ‘Allah’ could be used by Christians, in accordance with the freedom of religion enshrined in Article 11 of the Federal Constitution. The issue again reared its head when DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng, in his recent Christmas  Day message, urged the Federal government to allow non-Muslims to use the word ‘Allah’ in the Bahasa Malaysia version of the Bible. Lim’s statement drew criticism from various quarters such as Umno and independent religious figures. It also incurred the wrath of several leaders within PAS, who disagreed with Lim’s views. PAS central information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, in response to Lim’s call, had said that as the Bahasa Malaysia Bible was translated from English, it was only appropriate to substitute the word ‘God’ with ‘Tuhan’, instead of ‘Allah.’ Source-malaysiandigest