Can The Sultan of Selangor Really Ban This?
The Selangor Ruler decreed that all non-Muslims in the state have been barred from using “Allah” and instructed MAIS and the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (JAIS) to take firm action against all groups, including non-Muslims, who continued to question the state fatwa.
By xinch — 09 Jan 2013, 02:32 PM — Updated over 10 years ago
Effect of Fatwas on Non-Muslims
“MAIS’s action, which is inconsistent and contrary to the order of the court, appears to belittle and disrespect the court decision,” the lawyers said
Heads of churches agreed that the practice was a right “guaranteed to us in our Federal Constitution” under Article 11, which addresses freedom of religion.
thestar.com.my
The state Ruler is repeating what Islamic authorities have been saying for years, based on a fatwa gazetted three years ago.
Sesuatu fatwa yang telah disiarkan dalam warta hendaklah dipatuhi oleh semua umat Islam yang berada di negeri itu, kecuali amalan peribadi yang dibenarkan mengikut Hukum Syarak
“Fatwas are advisory in nature and do not apply to non-Muslims. Moreover, any fatwa issued that contradicts the supreme law of the land (the federal constitution) would be illegal and void,”
“a non-Muslim could be committing an offence if he uses the word ‘Allah’ to a Muslim but there would be no offence if it was used to a non-Muslim”.
The 'Decree' Issued By The Sultan of Selangor
The Sultan's decree followed a special meeting convened to discuss Lim Guan Eng's Christmas message where he had urged the government to allow Christians to use "Allah" in the BM version of the Bible
Recently, Guan Eng was reported to have raised the issue again through his blogsite, urging the federal government to allow Christians in the peninsula to use the word "Allah" in the Bahasa Melayu version of the Bible.
mysinchew.com“His majesty the Selangor Sultan has made a decision and decreed that the word ‘Allah’ is a sacred word specific to Muslims and is strictly forbidden to use by any non-Muslim religion in Selangor..""
What Others Think About The Issue
MCA deputy publicity chief: "I'm not making a statement."
PAS: Isu ini tidak seharusnya diperpanjangkan jika rakyat dan semua pihak yang terlibat menerima penjelasan dan penerangan daripada pihak yang terlibat secara telus dan secara langsung.
Beliau berkata, dari aspek agama, tiada hadis yang melarang bukan Islam menggunakan perkataan itu, malah di Arab Saudi sendiri mereka boleh menggunakannya.
Hadi accused Umno of turning the “kalimah Allah” into an election campaign issue
thestar.com.my
Dr Haron described as kufur (disbelievers) those who allow non-Muslims to use the word “Allah”, as it could lead to syirik (shirk) when the word is used on the cross and other prayer paraphernalia.
thestar.com.my
it began with the 1986 government ban on the use by non-Muslims of the word “Allah”, and three others — “solat”, “Kaabah” and “Baitullah”.
thenutgraph.com
Here in Malaysia religion is greatly politicised and race a weapon to be wielded when “needed”. Never has this been more pronounced than after the 2008 general election
Abdul Hadi accused UMNO, which represents Muslims in the country and the ruling BN, of using the word “Allah” as an issue and polemic via the mainstream media in the run-up to the general election.
thestar.com.my
Bnyk lagu negeri2 ada klimah Allah trmasuk S'ngor. Jk mrk haram sama sekali pnggil Tuhan ALLAH, mk versi khas dperlukn.
twitter.com
Former Perlis mufti: Many state anthems have the word Allah, including Selangor. If they ban calling God ALLAH, they will therefore need a special version
yahoo.comPak Sako (Opinion): There are major contradictions in the claim that the word “Allah” belongs only to Muslims and Islam, and does not apply to non-Muslims and other religions (JAKIM), and in the…
PKR's Baru Bian: "Exercise restraint, tolerance and goodwill. We must be reminded that we are indeed treading on Holy ground."
PAS' Mat Sabu: “The PAS’ president had issued the statement in 2010 to not forbid any religious adherent apart from Muslims to use the word ‘Allah’. PAS maintains that stand."
PAS' Hadi Awang: There is no harm if non-Muslims in Malaysia continued to use the term 'Allah'
"Allah" As An Arabic Word
If you pick up an Arabic Bible you will see the word "Allah" being used where "God" is used in English... "Allah" is the only word in Arabic equivalent to the English word "God" with a capital "G".
emuslim.comGod is known in Arabic as Allah to distinguish Him from ilah, which could refer to any of the gods once worshiped in Arabia.
pbs.orgWikipedia: Allah is the Arabic word for God (literally "the God", as the initial "Al-" is the definite article).
The "Allah" Debate In Malaysian History
Erykah Badu was scheduled to perform in the capital Kuala Lumpur when a semi-nude photograph surfaced of the singer with the word “Allah” written on her body in Arabic.
clutchmagonline.com"Everybody in the world knows Allah is the Muslim God and belongs to Muslims. I cannot understand why the Christians want to claim Allah as their God,"
time.com
Sarawak lawmakers said Christian voters there remain unconvinced there will be no future clampdowns.
2009: Authorities in Malaysia have seized more than 20,000 Bibles in recent months because they refer to God as "Allah"
cnn.com2009: "We have to question Christians' motive for wanting to use this obviously Muslim word. It appears to be for conversions. All Muslim Malays in Malaysia are against this."
reuters.com
Court ruling upholds 2007 verdict: bars non-Muslims from translating God as "Allah" in their literature.
aljazeera.com2009: "Father Andrew says the Catholic Church in Malaysia has been using the term Allah for ages. It even appears in Malay Bibles."
theworld.org
Nazri (2005): Bibles in BM and B. Indonesia were prohibited by the constitution since independence... anyone found with Bibles in local language editions to be "taken to court"