YOURSAY ‘And that word happens to represent the Creator of all things!’

Ex-CJ claims 'Allah' new tactic to convert Malays

Proarte: Christians have addressed God in various forms, ‘Allah’, ‘Tuhan’, ‘Lord’, ‘Almighty’, ‘Dios’, etc. The fact is ‘Allah’ is Arabic for 'The God' and in the context of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, i.e. the Abrahamic faiths, it refers to a unitary supreme being.

It has never been an exclusive term for the Muslim God. The Bible was translated into Malay as far back as the 1600s by the Dutch and the term ‘Allah’ was used to refer to God. We must remember that Islam in the 1600s was a relatively new faith to Southeast Asia which had deep Hindu-Buddhist roots.

As Islam gradually spread to the region from the numerous trading posts dominated by Arab and Indian Muslim traders it saw its dissemination expedited by the embracing of Islam by aristocrats and royalty.

There were Arab Christians doing vigorous trade as well and hence this notion of 'Allah' exclusivity would have been considered theologically incorrect by Arab Muslims as it was an Arabic word for God used by both Muslims and Christians.

The word ‘Allah’ gradually became incorporated in the local language as the population became increasingly Muslim. There were conversions happening simultaneously from the Hindu-Buddhist faith to Islam and Christianity respectively.

There was absolutely no issue regarding the use the word ‘Allah’ because Arab Christians used the word ‘Allah’ long before Muslims and furthermore the Quran was explicit in saying the God of Christians and Muslims is One.

It was only natural then that the word ‘God’ from the Dutch Bible would be translated as ‘Allah’ in the Malay Bible. In Malaya, the 'Father of Malay Literature', Munshi Abdullah also translated the Bible into Malay and used the word ‘Allah’ for ‘God’ in the 1800s.

As a devout Muslim, there was no conflict for him in using the term ‘Allah’. Therefore the comment by ex-chief justice Abdul Hamid Mohamad that using the word ‘Allah’ is a “new trick” by Christians to attempt to convert Muslims is simply untrue as well as insulting to Christians.

The ban of the word ‘Allah’ is not based on any reference to local history, Islamic history, Arabic knowledge, the Quran or Arabic Christian history. It is political Islam rearing its ugly head. It is a blight on the dignity of our nation and the constitution. It has wickedly divided the nation and sadly brought Malays and Islam into international ridicule and odium.

The Federal Court has a chance to put an end to this shameful debacle and to uphold the constitution and restore the dignity of the Malay people. Let us earnestly hope that the Federal Court judges will not pawn their integrity and the dignity of their profession by abdicating their sworn duty to uphold the constitution, thereby giving way to mob rule in Malaysia.

At every angle which I look at the merits of the attempted ‘Allah’ ban, I am hard pressed to see any logic to it. Why should there be any concern that Malays will be confused if ‘Allah’ is used in the Malay Bible?

Assuming Malays are an easily confused lot, this propensity to confusion can be avoided if they do not read the Malay Bible and do not enter churches, period. If Malays want to read the Malay Bible through their own volition, then no one can do anything about this. If Malays are worried about being confused over ‘Allah’, just stick to the Quran, why be a busybody and read the Malay Bible if you are prone to confusion?

Anyway, the system in Malaysia is such that Malays have constitutional safeguards such as anti-proselytisation laws to prevent them being exposed to other religions. To date, no one or group has been charged. Furthermore, state enactments prevent them from leaving the faith legally, so how do we explain this ridiculous paranoia which has no basis?

Haven't these easily confused Malays considered, using their warped logic, that Christians too should be worried about their flock becoming confused and converting to Islam and rejecting the divinity of Jesus if the word ‘Allah’ is used in the Bible?

This thought would help assuage Malay paranoia. On the contrary, they should view the Malay Bible with ‘Allah’ in it with pride, hope and rejoicing because of the numerous converts to Islam as a result of Christian 'confusion'.

Louis: Proarte, indeed your article is very enlightening and informative. Your reasons are very sound. Your historical facts are unshakable.

But, with the level of understanding and attitude of our judiciary, do they really care? Many would not mind if their judgments are half-past-six, void of substance a logic and precedents, as long as the masters are pleased. No longer would they pride themselves in a job well done.

Tentarik: Former CJ Abdul Hamid, if you have proof that the Christians are using this tactic to convert Muslims to Christianity, why don't you bring them to court?

What is your take on the forced conversion of natives/minors to Islam in East Malaysia? What about the recent instance of conversion using deception on the natives?

So CJ, be careful of what you say because it will reflect not only on you as a person but whether you were worthy of the post you once held - chief justice of Malaysia.

Basically: This is a former chief justice no less. He should know better than anyone that a claim like this without proof is called slander and defamation.

So far, not a single shred of proof has been produced on claims of converting Muslims using any underhand means. Is this the quality of top judges in our country? He is proof enough that our judiciary is in trouble.

Not Confused: Why, why, oh why are Muslims so deeply paranoid about their brethren being converted to Christianity? As far as I can see, although conversion is illegal here, no cases have every been brought nor evidence produced of any conversions.

To me, it just shows that Muslims are made out to be weak and easily confused, and scared stiff of all other religions. This is the opposite to my experience with the many Muslim friends that I have.

Please, stop this idiotic nonsense. Islam is not under any threat other than the damage many Muslims are bringing on themselves.

Swipenter: One foreign word can divide Malaysians so deeply and that word happens to represent the Creator of all things!

This goes to show how much truth there is that religion is the opiate of the masses lead by paradoxically those who profess to have the divine authority speak on behalf of the Creator.

Ex-CJ has done great disservice to judiciary

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