Why is the word "Allah" such an issue ?????? gosh ...

Gosh ... sometimes i just wonder ..
is this malaysia ??
the high court decision approving the use of the word in Herald...
and u noe wat .. the ministry appealed for the ban,..
gosh .. sometimes... it feels like this is 2Malaysia instead of 1..
This is indeed a serios issue.. but actually only a small matter... which is so unsignificant to a country's development.
Will they die bcos non muslim use Allah ..
perhaps .. i should say they are uncivilised...

as u can see from the word ALLAH
= ALL ah
it can be used be ALL-ah!!!
This is an unique word.. n in fact god create it .. with ALL in it ..
perhaps implying that it can be used by all !!!

Malaysian Muslims wake up!!! (no mean to offence)

The ‘Allah’ issue: A sociological approach

KUALA LUMPUR: The controversy over the High Court decision last week allowing a Catholic weekly to use the word “Allah” should be handled not only through legal proceedings but also sociologically, said a social scientist.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Professor of Social Anthropology Prof Datuk Dr Shamsul Amri Baharuddin said outlandish remarks made by certain quarters could worsen the situation.

As it is a delicate issue, he said it must be addressed carefully as it could lead to a far-reaching implication on ethnic relations and threaten public order.

On Wednesday, the High Court granted the Home Ministry a stay of execution on the ruling allowing the Herald weekly magazine to use the word “Allah” in its Malay-language edition, pending the hearing of an appeal.

Dr Shamsul Amri, who is also UKM Director of the Institute of the Malay World and Civilisation, said the solution could be found by determining the aspects that should be analysed and to what extent all quarters can discuss the matter rationally.

The question boils down to why Malay-Muslims oppose the court decision openly or quietly.

This must be seen from the historical-social reality, said Shamsul Amri, pointing out Article 160 of the Federal Constitution, which states that a Malay is a person who “professes to be a Muslim, habitually speaks the Malay language, adheres to Malay customs.”

Based on this clause and other related provisions including Article 3 and Article 11 (4), the Federal and state governments administer, plan and implement various governance policies, touching on every aspect of the Malay-Muslim’s religious life.

”This has become Muslims’ psychic unity, which is difficult to erase, that is Islam is Malays, Malays are Islam,” he said, adding that to Malays the world “Allah” is everything, from the pillar of religion to faith, norms and values in their life.

”The label Malay-Muslim is most apt to categorise the Malays in the country but it is seldom used as it has been generally accepted that Malays are automatically Muslims,” he said.

This is different from ethnic Malays in Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, southern Thailand, southern Philippines, Sri Lanka, South Africa and other destinations of the Malay diaspora where Malays are not automatically regarded as Muslims because of the difference in their social identity.

He said from a sociological standpoint, the Malays in this country were very sensitive on issues involving Islam as they felt that they owned Islam and the social proprietyship could not be questioned.

”As they feel that they own ‘Allah’, they feel that they know Allah and hold the rights to discuss it.

”They are born Islam or Muslim, live Islamic-Muslim life and die in Islam or as a Muslim.. This is the Malaysian historical-social reality,” he added.

The social reality complexity of Malays in leading the Islamic way of life becomes more difficult when Islam has been turned into a symbol and political ideology, he said, adding that it has brought political Islam into the global arena and further worsened the situation.

”For example, many Malay-Muslims do not know that the Palestinian struggle is a nationalist struggle, not an Islamic struggle, as not all Palestinians are Muslims,” he said.

Maybe this scenario explains why Malay-Muslims reacted negatively when a Catholic weekly was allowed to use the word “Allah” for “God” in its Malay publication. The weekly is published in four languages.

Before the High Court decision on Dec 31 and a stay of execution on the ruling on Wednesday, the Home Ministry barred the weekly from using of the word “Allah” for security reasons and to “prevent confusion among Muslims.”

UKM Institute of the Malay World and Civilization principal fellow Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria feels that the issue can be resolved through discussions and dialogues among religious leaders and the communities with the Government acting as mediator.

He said the Government must solve the issue wisely through the 1Malaysia concept by focusing on the principles of recognition, nationhood and social justice.

”All is not lost but the Government has to be really sincere in solving the root problem and mediating the issues,” he said, by linking the issue to the success of the 1Malaysia concept in restoring confidence in the people, including minority groups.

He said freedom of expression should be manipulated for political gains as it would could worsen the conflict. -- Bernama