UPDATED
By Debra Chong
KUALA LUMPUR, April 24 — The Roman Catholic Church in Malaysia finally won the right to challenge the government’s ban on the right to use the word “Allah” to mean “God” outside of Islam.
The High Court today granted leave to the Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur, as the publisher of Catholic newspaper The Herald, in his application for a judicial review.
The Catholic Church claims the word “Allah” is not exclusive to Islam and wants the court to overturn the home minister’s order declaring it as such.A lawyer for the Catholic Church, Derek Fernandez, said it was supposed to be a “simple, straightforward matter” but became complicated as more and more parties got involved in the suit.
Several state Islamic councils including from Penang as well as certain Sikh religious groups had sought and were granted permission by the court early this year to intervene in the Catholic Church’s suit.
The archbishop had originally filed the suit early last year and made a new application two months ago, on Feb 16, following the home minister’s renewal of the newspaper’s annual publishing permit for 2009.
Justice Lau Bee Lan from the Appellate and Special Powers division made her decision on the matter in chambers this morning.
She also set May 28 to hear the Catholic Church’s application to stay the home minister’s directive and to allow it to use the word “Allah” until the court rules conclusively that it cannot.
The leading lawyer for the Catholic Church, Porres Royan, explained to The Malaysian Insider that until the court approves the stay, the “status quo is preserved”.
Editor of The Herald, Rev Father Lawrence Andrew verified that the weekly had stopped using the word “Allah” to refer to the Christian God in both its English and Malay-language sections.
“At the moment we’re not using the word ‘Allah’. We’re using the word ‘Tuhan’ in the Malay section, which is not the correct word,” he told The Malaysian Insider, adding it had received letters from concerned Catholics who were confused by the sudden change in the theological terms used to tell apart the different aspects of God.
“When do we say ‘God’ and when do we say ‘Lord’?” Fr Lawrence highlighted, pointing out that “Allah” was used to differentiate God the Father from His incarnation as Jesus, the “Christ” which also means “the Lord”.
Bookmark
Email This
Comments (27)
Show/Hide comments
A rose by any other name....
written by mh, April 24, 2009
written by mh, April 24, 2009
A rose by any other name smells just as sweet. God by any other name is still The Almighty God of All. Believe this all ye believers, and let this matter rest once and for all. ALLAH for all lah! :)
-
- +11
-
-
Fair decision..
written by m.k., April 24, 2009
written by m.k., April 24, 2009
Hope that Botak fellow is reading this. He has a lot to repent in his old age, not just this case.
-
- +10
-
-
why, Malaysia, why?
written by Rage against the Machine, April 24, 2009
written by Rage against the Machine, April 24, 2009
another wasteful religious issue, in my mind. concerted effort and time could be spent on more pertinent agendas, like Perak's constitutional crisis and the breaking down of the NEP.
but no, Malaysia loves the religious and racial stories. especially when 2 or more religions have a conflict of interest. why bother?
fundamentalism still survives in this day and age of openness and inter-dependence among different cultures. stop the quarelling and start loving each other, la!
but no, Malaysia loves the religious and racial stories. especially when 2 or more religions have a conflict of interest. why bother?
fundamentalism still survives in this day and age of openness and inter-dependence among different cultures. stop the quarelling and start loving each other, la!
-
- +5
-
-
The word ALLAH is not only for the magazine
written by Paul Ong, April 24, 2009
written by Paul Ong, April 24, 2009
Hello dawud,
The word ALLAH is used extensively by the Christians in Sabah and Sarawak and not limited to the Herald magazine! I bet the word "ALLAH" was used even before you were even born! Why the home ministry (Syed Botak) started this banninig "ALLAH" for the Christians? If he shut his mouth from the very beginning, I am sure this is a non issue.
The word ALLAH is used extensively by the Christians in Sabah and Sarawak and not limited to the Herald magazine! I bet the word "ALLAH" was used even before you were even born! Why the home ministry (Syed Botak) started this banninig "ALLAH" for the Christians? If he shut his mouth from the very beginning, I am sure this is a non issue.
-
- +10
-
-
GOD IS ONE . DIFFERENT PEOPLE CALL HIM BY VARIOUS NAME.
written by R.Rama Chandran, April 24, 2009
written by R.Rama Chandran, April 24, 2009
No one religion or group can claim exclusivity to GOD. The ONE Almighty God belongs to all humanity and different people or religion called HIM by various names. In Islam Allah has 99 different names. Hindus have much more!! But GOD is one and belongs to all humankind by whatever name HE is called and worshipped. Judges must be objective and fair in their judgements. They should not be influenced by the religion they practice but should take a neutral stand so that their judgements will be adored by the GOD almighty for being very judicious. Let us human not quarrel over God who wants to see us all united. RR
-
- +4
-
-
...
written by Johan SSM @ Khun Pana, April 24, 2009
written by Johan SSM @ Khun Pana, April 24, 2009
Cant lay all the blame just on a Botak from Yemen.
Botak was just playing to the tune of his political party.
Lets us blame the entire episode just on bn as a whole.
Everything was okay and fine until bn created this unnecessary tension.
Botak was just playing to the tune of his political party.
Lets us blame the entire episode just on bn as a whole.
Everything was okay and fine until bn created this unnecessary tension.
-
- +5
-
-
Justice Lau would be replaced?
written by Tantech, April 24, 2009
written by Tantech, April 24, 2009
Now I am afraid that Justice Lau would be replaced on May 28 case. Please pray for her.
-
- +6
-
-
Malaysia is owned by Malaysian
written by Rakyat Supremacy, April 24, 2009
written by Rakyat Supremacy, April 24, 2009
Hi rakyat, Malaysia is owned by Malaysia ok. Not Malay only. Coz we all borned in Malaysia. Outside Malaysia, people call Chinese/India/Malay borned in Malaysia as Malay. So what you talking about? Hahaha...funny la u.
-
- +2
-
-
Allah
written by j, April 24, 2009
written by j, April 24, 2009
God in Spanish in Dios, God in French is Dieu and God in English is God. God in Indonesia is Allah, so shouldn't God in Bahasa Malaysia be Allah too?
-
- +1
-
-
confused
written by second, April 24, 2009
written by second, April 24, 2009
how about this. I'm a muslim and my God is Allah, and my fellow non-muslim friends claimed that their God is called Allah too. Does that mean my God is the same with their God too? Or simply by comparing the similarity of God's character, which I believe is very universal since it's being an inborn intuistic of man since the creation of Prophet Adam, does that make my Allah same with their Allah too? i also wonder why people in the previous generations didn;t use Allah too as a reference to God? Doesn't the Pope in the Vatican City (which i believe the leader of the Roman Catholic) have anything to say about this? or it is simply some isolated issue in this part of the world only? does religion evolve in it's terms of referring to their God in the first place? Shouldn't they refer back to their own original scriptures, their books etc or any authentic sources if they have any? Man, i'm deeply confused in this issue. Can someone help me to clarify and untangle the confusion in my mind?
-
- -5
-
-
This issue is not done yet...
written by Hang Tuah 1, April 24, 2009
The status quo is preserved until...
The court approves the stay.
That Catholic Church can use the term Allah as it always has.
...as Christian Bumiputra has always use this term from the beginning when they frist became Christians. The Bible in Malay right from its first translation and publication has always used the term.
This term Allah has always been used by the Arab Christians for the last 2000 years...longer that Islam as introduced by the prophet.
The issue is not who can use the term Allah...
The issue is why not.
Why should anyone wants to exclude others by use of force, by use of law from others from using it??
The Malay Muslims use this term.
The Malay Christians also use this term. Many of them are found in Indonesia.
Why then we should quarrel when for so long since our independence this term was never an issue??
What is the motive?
What is the political motive?
What is the religious motive?
Some feel the Malays have given up so much...
They gave citizenships to pendatang asing...though this was part of the social contract and should not be discussed as a discrimination to anyone. In the first place, the British ruled Malaya at that time as colonial masters. That was why the need for Malaya to gain independence...so the British had the right to offer citizenships to anyone. Instead they allowed this to be discussed as part of the social contract in exchange for special positions of Malays.
They gave up Singapore...In history Stamford Raffles was known as the founder of Singapore. In modern history, Singapore was 'sacked' by Tunku Abdul Rahman - kicked out from Malaysia because of Lee Kuan Yew's concept on Malaysian Malaysia - and LKY's PAP was gaining grounds on Peninsular Malaysia, hence he became a threat to topple the Alliance government in the general election.
Now Malays gave up this term Allah...the Malays were originally Hindus as history tells us that Parameswara was a prince in Hindu's Srivijaya empire in Sumatra. Parameswara gave the freedom to Malays to choose their religion. It was later, perhals another sultan - that Malays were converted to Islam.
Allah is not a Malay word. It is Arabic. Before Malays became Muslims, Christians were already using this term Allah in Arab countries. When the Portugese came to Indonesia and Malacca, the missionaries used the term Allah. That is why the Bible in Indonesia since the beginning had used this term until today.
Common sense should prevail.
According to our constitution, anyone has the freedom to practise his or her religion without fear or persecution. Let's keep the status quo.
written by Hang Tuah 1, April 24, 2009
The status quo is preserved until...
The court approves the stay.
That Catholic Church can use the term Allah as it always has.
...as Christian Bumiputra has always use this term from the beginning when they frist became Christians. The Bible in Malay right from its first translation and publication has always used the term.
This term Allah has always been used by the Arab Christians for the last 2000 years...longer that Islam as introduced by the prophet.
The issue is not who can use the term Allah...
The issue is why not.
Why should anyone wants to exclude others by use of force, by use of law from others from using it??
The Malay Muslims use this term.
The Malay Christians also use this term. Many of them are found in Indonesia.
Why then we should quarrel when for so long since our independence this term was never an issue??
What is the motive?
What is the political motive?
What is the religious motive?
Some feel the Malays have given up so much...
They gave citizenships to pendatang asing...though this was part of the social contract and should not be discussed as a discrimination to anyone. In the first place, the British ruled Malaya at that time as colonial masters. That was why the need for Malaya to gain independence...so the British had the right to offer citizenships to anyone. Instead they allowed this to be discussed as part of the social contract in exchange for special positions of Malays.
They gave up Singapore...In history Stamford Raffles was known as the founder of Singapore. In modern history, Singapore was 'sacked' by Tunku Abdul Rahman - kicked out from Malaysia because of Lee Kuan Yew's concept on Malaysian Malaysia - and LKY's PAP was gaining grounds on Peninsular Malaysia, hence he became a threat to topple the Alliance government in the general election.
Now Malays gave up this term Allah...the Malays were originally Hindus as history tells us that Parameswara was a prince in Hindu's Srivijaya empire in Sumatra. Parameswara gave the freedom to Malays to choose their religion. It was later, perhals another sultan - that Malays were converted to Islam.
Allah is not a Malay word. It is Arabic. Before Malays became Muslims, Christians were already using this term Allah in Arab countries. When the Portugese came to Indonesia and Malacca, the missionaries used the term Allah. That is why the Bible in Indonesia since the beginning had used this term until today.
Common sense should prevail.
According to our constitution, anyone has the freedom to practise his or her religion without fear or persecution. Let's keep the status quo.
-
- +7
-
-
...
written by pttan, April 24, 2009
written by pttan, April 24, 2009
When groups suggested that Tuhan be used, they showed ignorance for the religion.
It is like using the term "father" only when you want to call daddy.
As usual, they will only see from their side and point of view, sad to say but true.
And this comment comes from a non Catholic.
It is like using the term "father" only when you want to call daddy.
As usual, they will only see from their side and point of view, sad to say but true.
And this comment comes from a non Catholic.
-
- +2
-
-
God is not Racist..
written by freedom pursuer, April 24, 2009
written by freedom pursuer, April 24, 2009
Universal God not exclusive for one particular Race..don't preach yo Racist propaganda in the name of God and religion!
-
- +0
-
-
...
written by CodeNameSomaliPirate, April 24, 2009
written by CodeNameSomaliPirate, April 24, 2009
To all believers!.
You always has the right to use 'ALLAH' as long as you might says' LA ILLAH HA ILLALLAH, MUHAMMADDAR-RASULLULLAH' means 'There's no God but Allah and Mohamed is the Messager'. Welcome aboard! U r MUSLIM now!, Prays to Allah.
You always has the right to use 'ALLAH' as long as you might says' LA ILLAH HA ILLALLAH, MUHAMMADDAR-RASULLULLAH' means 'There's no God but Allah and Mohamed is the Messager'. Welcome aboard! U r MUSLIM now!, Prays to Allah.
-
- +2
-
-
common era
written by common era, April 25, 2009
written by common era, April 25, 2009
Dear confused,
Be open minded, open yr heart and you will not be confused....
This is the common eras ie CE.....
Be open minded, open yr heart and you will not be confused....
This is the common eras ie CE.....
-
- -1
-
-
The main question is - Is the "Allah" of the Catholic Bible different from the "Allah" of the Quran?
written by Apostle, April 25, 2009
written by Apostle, April 25, 2009
If the "Allah" of the Catholic Bible is different from the Quran's than there should not be a reason why the government should ban them from using that word to describe the Catholic God. You don't see the Muslims stop using the word Isa for the Quran even if the they claims the Isa of the Quran is the same person as the Isa of the Bible!
So to prevent misunderstanding between the Catholics and the Muslims, The Catholic Church should explain if the "Allah" that they use for the Herald will also refer to the "Allah" of the Quran. And please make this available widely in Sabah, Sarawak and the Peninsula.
And to the Malaysian government, STOP PRACTICING DOUBLE STANDARDS. If you want to ban Allah from the Catholic publication, show that you are impartial and fair by banning the word Isa and all the other Catholic prophets from Quran also. It is this double standards that you are practicing that the rakyat is abandoning BN to support PR. If you can't remove corruption from your ministers, the least you can do is to ensure the policies you practice is fair to all Malaysians regardless of race, language and religion.
So to prevent misunderstanding between the Catholics and the Muslims, The Catholic Church should explain if the "Allah" that they use for the Herald will also refer to the "Allah" of the Quran. And please make this available widely in Sabah, Sarawak and the Peninsula.
And to the Malaysian government, STOP PRACTICING DOUBLE STANDARDS. If you want to ban Allah from the Catholic publication, show that you are impartial and fair by banning the word Isa and all the other Catholic prophets from Quran also. It is this double standards that you are practicing that the rakyat is abandoning BN to support PR. If you can't remove corruption from your ministers, the least you can do is to ensure the policies you practice is fair to all Malaysians regardless of race, language and religion.
-
- +0
-
-
Do Not Use My Name In Vain
written by Steven Ong, April 25, 2009
written by Steven Ong, April 25, 2009
This is the 3rd commandment from our God. We disobey God when we try to use His name for our own purpose other than for His glory. All ( Muslim, Christian , Buddist, Sikh, Hindus .... and others ) should keep this in mind, otherwise we have sin against God and will be punished accordingly.
We should concentrate our energy and time for the betterment of our lives and the world. There are so much killings and suffering in the name of God....... in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Palestine, Somalia and ...... If you really love God, go and sacrifies your life in those countries. No! not taking anymore lives, but to stop the killing and bring about peace. Surely God will bless you and greatly reward you. You who forgive your enemies and love them.
Stop wasting your time and others - ACT NOW. DO IT. Assurely I say to you ,'You are my good neighbours.'
We should concentrate our energy and time for the betterment of our lives and the world. There are so much killings and suffering in the name of God....... in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Palestine, Somalia and ...... If you really love God, go and sacrifies your life in those countries. No! not taking anymore lives, but to stop the killing and bring about peace. Surely God will bless you and greatly reward you. You who forgive your enemies and love them.
Stop wasting your time and others - ACT NOW. DO IT. Assurely I say to you ,'You are my good neighbours.'
-
- +0
-
-
May the peace of God be upon us
written by Francis Ngu, April 25, 2009
written by Francis Ngu, April 25, 2009
I extract here what I recently wrote in my primordial blog, to share my thoughts:
"---an Iban (Dayak) showed me the the first lines of the Genesis in the Iban bible where clearly the word Allah was used from the very beginning that the Iban Bible was published. Anyone can figure out the implications of such a legal ban on the word Allah, for Christians in Malaysia using the local language Bible. Enormous distress, to say the least."
"--- in Indonesia, with the largest Muslim population among nations in the world, there is acceptance for Christians to refer to God as Allah.
With the gazetted ban on Christians in Malaysia using the the word Allah, would it follow that an Indonesian Christian would be banned from bringing the Indonesian language Bible into Malaysia?
Had Malaysian authorities foreseen that the gazetted ban may have extended repercussions beyond its own Christian citizenry ?"
And the following from another separate post:
"The great faiths, and would one dare to say scientific nontheist faith, are Divine gifts to humanity, different in form to suit different cultures, at different times of history. They are however very similar in substance, in the shared core values of love and humanity, and they should be universally shared in the globalised confluence of digital age civilisation.
That apparent differences in faiths may not lead god-created communities, and indeed the entire world, to self-destruction in nuclear-age conflicts, but that the shared universal values be the driving force bonding humankind, divinity and divine-created Planet Earth."
Blog N Francis Sarawakiana.
"---an Iban (Dayak) showed me the the first lines of the Genesis in the Iban bible where clearly the word Allah was used from the very beginning that the Iban Bible was published. Anyone can figure out the implications of such a legal ban on the word Allah, for Christians in Malaysia using the local language Bible. Enormous distress, to say the least."
"--- in Indonesia, with the largest Muslim population among nations in the world, there is acceptance for Christians to refer to God as Allah.
With the gazetted ban on Christians in Malaysia using the the word Allah, would it follow that an Indonesian Christian would be banned from bringing the Indonesian language Bible into Malaysia?
Had Malaysian authorities foreseen that the gazetted ban may have extended repercussions beyond its own Christian citizenry ?"
And the following from another separate post:
"The great faiths, and would one dare to say scientific nontheist faith, are Divine gifts to humanity, different in form to suit different cultures, at different times of history. They are however very similar in substance, in the shared core values of love and humanity, and they should be universally shared in the globalised confluence of digital age civilisation.
That apparent differences in faiths may not lead god-created communities, and indeed the entire world, to self-destruction in nuclear-age conflicts, but that the shared universal values be the driving force bonding humankind, divinity and divine-created Planet Earth."
Blog N Francis Sarawakiana.
-
- +0
-
-
There is No Other God But Allah
written by layman, April 25, 2009
written by layman, April 25, 2009
Surah Al-Ikhlâs - The Purity
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Say: He is Allah, the One and Only!
Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
He begetteth not nor is He begotten.
And there is none like unto Him.
Now, do you non-muslim understand why we muslim cannot allow you to use word Allah??
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Say: He is Allah, the One and Only!
Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
He begetteth not nor is He begotten.
And there is none like unto Him.
Now, do you non-muslim understand why we muslim cannot allow you to use word Allah??
-
- +1
-
-
There is No Other God But Allah
written by layman, April 25, 2009
written by layman, April 25, 2009
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Say: He is Allah, the One and Only!
Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
He begetteth not nor is He begotten.
And there is none like unto Him.
- translation by Abdullah Yusuf Ali
more details : http://wahiduddin.net/quran/ikhlas.htm
Now you non-muslim understand why we cannot allow you to use word Allah.
Say: He is Allah, the One and Only!
Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
He begetteth not nor is He begotten.
And there is none like unto Him.
- translation by Abdullah Yusuf Ali
more details : http://wahiduddin.net/quran/ikhlas.htm
Now you non-muslim understand why we cannot allow you to use word Allah.
-
- +0
-
-
...
written by mat, May 24, 2009
written by mat, May 24, 2009
"Eli Eli Lama Sabakh Tani" (O God why have you forsaken me)- when Jesus was on the cross (as seen on Passion of Christ the movie), he didnt say Allah did he? The original language of the Bible was Hebrew, given that Jesus was a Jew and was practicing the law of Moses. So why now the cheekiness now?
-
- +0
-
-
Write comment
Show/Hide comment form
