Posted on 01/11/2013 2:24:28 PM PST by SeekAndFind
A Malaysian Sultan has issued a fatwa prohibiting non-Muslims from using the word "Allah" in Arabic.
The Sultan of the Malaysian state of Selangor, Sharafuddin Idris Shah, issued the prohibition on Tuesday, according to the Lebanon Debate newspaper. Malaysian media have reported that the prohibition has been put in place by the Islamic leader because it is a "sacred word," and should be reserved exclusively for Muslims, according to MidEast Christian News.
The sultan has ordered the Islamic Council of Selangor and the Islamic Affairs Department in the state to take strict action against all groups that question the fatwa and the 1988 Ordinance, which prohibits the use of the word "Allah" in Arabic [by non-Muslims].
The organization representing Protestant churches in Malaysia commented on the decision by saying that Christians in the country have been using the word "Allah" when referring to God for centuries, and they plan to continue to exercise their constitutional right.
Lawyers from a related "Allah" case in 2009, in which a Christian woman challenged the government's confiscation of her religious CDs as they had "Allah" written on them, said that the fatwa goes against the court's decision in that 2009 case.
It also highlights another similar case that ruled Christians would be allowed to import and use bibles in any language. However, according to MCN, that court decision was "followed by a wave of religious violence that swept the country."
The dominant religion in Malaysia is Islam, whose followers make up 61.4 percent of the population, according to the Population and Housing Census of 2010. Islam is recognized as the state religion of Malaysia, although the country has a secular constitution. The country has often seen politics become entwined with religion, leading numerous debates to take place on whether Malaysia should be an Islamic or secular state.
According to the 2010 Census, the religious make-up of Malaysia is: 61.4% Islam, 17.8% Buddhism, 9.2% Christian, 6.3% Hinduism, and just over 3% other. Only 0.7% of the population confess to having no religious following. Freedom of religion is guaranteed by the country's constitution, however, in practice it faces many restrictions. For example, a Malay must be a Muslim. Although non-Malays are more free to practice various faiths, however, if a non-Malay has converted to Islam they technically are prohibited from leaving the faith.
In addition, children born to Muslim parents are considered Muslim, and are prohibited from converting. If a Muslim does attempt to convert to other religions, they can face punishment by state governments, with punishments reportedly including fines and/or imprisonment.
--- MidEast Christian News (MCN) contributed to this article
Ditto for Arabic-speaking Jews.
>>You don’t realize that “Allah” has been used by Arabic Christians since... well since virtually the beginning of Christianity. Your comment would be akin to saying Japanese Christians are talking about pagan gods because the ‘kami’ in “kami-sama” is their word for god and was applied to ‘gods’.<<
My point is the “god” of islam is indeed Satan.
Correction: Allah simply means "God" "god" in Arabic. Maybe it will be good for Arab Christians to start using a different word for God. And I don't believe for one minute that Arab-speaking Jews use the term Allah, they have a beautiful selection of Hebrew names for the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!
Okay, “stupid, f***king, stone, moon-idol” it is
I thought arabic speaking Jews and Christians were using the term before Islam. Why should they be the ones to change?
Freegards
When they speak Hebrew, sure. But when they speak in Arabic, they say "Allah," just as English-speaking Jews use the word "God." (Incidentally, the Hebrew word for "God," elohim, is from the same Semitic root as "Allah" (a-l-h).
I was once at a Passover Seder with some Jews of Middle Eastern descent, and they sang some of the Passover songs in Arabic, and used the word "Allah."
Shove it up your very smelly Obama, imam, you miserable piece of cr*p.
And my point is that is not what you said.
What I said, stands, however. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is not the same as the Muslim Allah. There are numerous differences in the biblical and Koranic accounts.
Perhaps Allah was the word for God before Mohammed appeared on the scene, but unfortunately the Mohammedans took over and abused the word. Since it’s doubtful that they will give up using “Allah,” it would save giving the mistaken impression that these Gods are the same if a different word were used.
Yes, the abuse is on the Muslim side. But it is simply not the case that Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are equally monotheistic religions. The Muslims do not worship the biblical God, but a false invention of their own.
>>And my point is that is not what you said.<<
It seems others understood me.
But I stand properly chastised for being under-clarificized.
How the play hide and seek?
Allah Allah all in free
The word “allah” has been co-opted to mean the god of Islam. I cannot imagine why any Christian would want to use that word! In a completely different scale, it is the same reason why I don’t fly a confederate flag in my front yard; I live in an area of the country where rednecks and, yes, the clan have co-opted the confederate flag. But seriously, would you call the Lord Allah and risk have people misunderstand Who you are talking about?
I don’t know about Jews elsewhere, but it seems to me that in the US most Jews speak English but use Hebrew names like HaShem to refer to God. It seems to me like Arabic-speaking Jews would also use Hebrew names for God. And, so what if Elohim and Allah have the same semitic roots? Elohim is the plural of El, God almighty. Like so many Freepers have already said in this forum, Allah is another name for Satan!
allah = SPIT!
“But seriously, would you call the Lord Allah and risk have people misunderstand Who you are talking about?”
I’m thinking that if I was at a Mass in any of the Eastern Churches or other Christian groups that use arabic, I certainly wouldn’t be confused.
But if I was confused, and asked, I would hope they would explain the deal to me in charity. Likewise if I was an arabic speaker and used the term around those who aren’t used to arabic speakers, I would hope any would ask for clarification with charity. And I hope I would reply to them charity, expalining that this is what arabic Christians use, and used before Islam.
I don’t see how one group should get to define what term another group uses for God. Especially if there is a longer tradition of using it for the one expected to change.
Freegards
We have the same thing in America.
Whites are banned from using the “N” word.
Blacks use it every day and all the time.
Do not utter it if you are white.
Allah—you mean it’s not that stuff you step in when at a farm?
mmm...
In many contexts, the English word ‘God’ is used. ‘Hashem’ is used also, to avoid the problems being described, and to signify a Jewish reference. Unless one is reading a Holy or educational text, I can’t think of a use of ‘El’ or its cognates in English.
I believe ‘Allah’ is used where common English uses ‘God’, and where modern Hebrew would use ‘Elohim’. There might be good reason an Arabic speaker might want to avoid advertising a Jewish reference point.
Allah Peanutbutter Sandwiches
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.