Islam is not becoming less tolerant. It’s unscrupulous and bankrupt politicians plus cowardly judges who are doing what it takes to keep them in power by playing to the gallery; to those who are the minority but propound the most outrageous notions. The latter are irresponsible people who think that by placing themselves above all else, the way cowardly bullies do, they need not do much to keep themselves afloat and enjoy all that life has to offer.
Truly, I doubt with my every being, that these specimens are either religious or even faithful to the monotheistic God they profess.
Necessity is always the plea for the infringement of every human freedom, so says William Pitt. To rule and ban the Catholic Church from using the word ‘Allah’ to refer to God in the Bahasa Malaysia section of the weekly publication The Herald, and say that its usage had the potential to disrupt the even tempo of the community’s life sounds rather far-fetched, doesn’t it? We don’t see this phenomenon happening anywhere else in the world, do we?
Isn’t it a case of the tyranny of the majority when they further justify their ruling by saying it is to protect the sanctity of Islam and the need to insulate it from against any threat? Today, it’s the name by which we minorities call God? What about tomorrow? And the next? And the next? The sanctity of my religion need not be protected from the likes of you? Am I a lesser human being to you? How are you more dignified than I am, in the eyes of God?
When will it ever stop, this institutionalised oppression, suppression and marginalisation? In the land of ‘Boleh’, everything is dismissed with the wave of the hand. Why don’t we try harder? Why don’t we do more to make our beloved motherland a better place, for all?
Why not build bridges and tear down barriers? Why put up high, high walls around us, so much so that we no longer recognise who’s our neighbour? Why always take the easy way out? Why forever so “malas-lah”?
All of us Malaysians have the right to profess our faith freely, including how we should call God. This is guaranteed us in our constitution, the highest law of the land. And what’s more, this concerns our faith; something so sacred. Something between us and God, The Most High.
Solomon, though giftedly wise in the earlier part of his reign, committed what his father David, faithfully and humbly resisted. David built his palace on the plains, on the lower city, among his people.
Though God says He has no Temple but the entire universe, Solomon built Him a magnificent Temple to show God’s presence in the midst of His people. Unlike David, a king after his people’s heart, Solomon then built for himself a grand palace and placed it beside the Temple, God’s abode. By doing so, he raised himself to be God’s equal. He had forgotten that the demands of the Law were valid for both king and people.
By foolishly placing himself high on the pedestal and as God's equal, giving himself absolute authority, he had distanced himself from his people, thus abdicating his responsibility of a king after God’s heart where power lies in service. The arrogant politics that Solomon so foolishly deployed led to the division of his people, followed soon by the fall of his kingdom.
For the Court of Appeal judges, non-Christians at that, to surmise that the use of the word ‘Allah’ is not integral to the Christian faith, is sacrilege! Who are you three stooges to tell us, Christians, what's integral to our faith? How dare you? Faith is between God and those whom He calls; not a lofty matter for you three “learned” public servants to decree upon or dismiss as “not integral”!
An independent judiciary? There's no word in my vocabulary (polite enough) to describe what I think of you!
Outpouring of support
I’m grateful though, for the outpouring of support from Muslims, far and near, who have courageously stepped forward to show us the truth. That the word ‘Allah’ is not exclusive to them. That the term was used way before they did. That what happened in the “honourable” Court of Appeal was an insult to the intelligence of Muslims worldwide.
If those in authority and others party to such a farce continue to oppose God’s wisdom conferred upon their enlightened fellow Muslims, be very mindful that this foolhardiness on your part will cost you dearly in the near future.
Religion and faith - being rather religious and holding dearly onto certain or antiquated practices do not make one faithful. However, the religion we profess can be totally transfigured by our very faith. By saying that Muslims can be easily confused if Christians use the word ‘Allah’ to call God, what does it say about your faith? I have never been confused as a Catholic when I hear my Muslim brothers and sisters refer to God as ‘Allah’, why are you? Confused, that is?
By “you”, I’m referring to the scant minority who are responsible for this stupefying din, created with malice and ill-intent. I am a Catholic and I generously share with you this holy word ‘Allah’ with the sure knowledge that neither one of us will ever be proselytised just by the mention of the word. I will die a Catholic and I give you my word that no matter how often I hear a Muslim utter God's name as ‘Allah’, I will never, ever, be converted to become a Muslim.
This relationship I have with God is not so fragile that it can be threatened by how I or others refer to Him. ‘Allah’ means everything to me; more than my own life and all that I hold dear. Hope is at the heart of my faith. And my faith is rooted in all my experiences as a Catholic. I don’t see Him but I hear Him. And no way, no matter how others refer to Him, will I be confused it’s not Him.
For I know Him.
