I refer to the Malaysiakini report Catholic paper in 'Allah' row gets new permit .

The Arabic ‘al-Lah’ means ‘the God.’ According to Islamic history, the pagans, Christians, and Jews all used the term ‘al-Lah’ or ‘Allah’ to mean God since long before the Prophet. Arabic- speaking Christians call God ‘Allah’ till today.

What the Qur’an says:

Evidence of Christian and Jewish usage of the word ‘Allah’ during the Prophet’s lifetime can be found in Chapter 22, verse 40. Abdullah Yusef Ali translates the verse as follows:

‘(They are) those who have been expelled from their homes in defiance of right, for no cause except that they say, ‘Our Lord is God.’ Did not God check one set of people by means of another, there would surely have been pulled down monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of God is commemorated in abundant measure.’

Note that where the English translation uses the term ‘God’ the original Arabic is ‘Allah.’

Other evidence of pre-Islamic use

1. Prophet Muhammad’s polytheist father, who died while Muhammad (saw) was still in his mother’s womb, was named ‘Abd Allah’ which means ‘slave of Allah.’

2. The Prophet’s young wife Aishah, the daughter of Abu Baker and the first baby born in Islam, had an elder brother also named ‘Abd Allah,’ demonstrating another case of a child – born into polytheism of then-polytheist parents -- being named ‘slave of Allah.’

3. In fact, the renowned Islamic historian Ibn Ishaq records no fewer than 24 of the Prophet’s contemporaries in both Mecca and Medina named ‘Abd Allah’ – all born (and so named) into polytheism.

Pick up a translation of his ‘Sirat Rasul Allah’ (‘Life of the Prophet of God’) in the Islamic section at any local bookstore and check the index of names in the back. Count the listings under ‘Abd Allah.’

4. Islamic history clearly demonstrates that the term ‘Allah’ was widely used among the polytheist Arabs.

Ibn Ishaq’s ‘Sirat Rasul Allah’ (Life of the Prophet of God) includes countless quotes by Muslims and non-Muslims alike that begin with, ‘By Allah.’

By Allah, it is an insult to claim that Muslims are so easily ‘confused.’