Thursday, December 31, 2009

Ya Allah!

Today, the High Court in Kuala Lumpur ruled that the Catholic weekly magazine, Herald, can use the word "Allah" in its publications.

In this case, the Home Ministry and the government are respondents. Archbishop Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam had filed for a judicial review on the usage of the word "Allah" in the church's publications.
On Jan 7, the Home Minister approved the Herald's publishing permit for the period Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2009, on condition that the word "Allah" was not used in it and the words "Restricted" must be printed on the weekly's front page whereby it could only be circulated to Christians and at churches only.

The Home Ministry has 30 days to appeal.


Here's the rest of the Bernama report

Justice Datuk Lau Bee Lan, in her oral decision, held that the Herald had the constitutional right to use the word in the magazine to propagate the Christian religion but not Islam.

She said that pursuant to Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution, it was an offence for non-Muslims to use the word "Allah" to Muslims to propagate the religion.

But it was not an offence for non-Muslims to use the word to the non-Muslims for the purpose of religion, she added.

Pursuant to Articles 11 and 12 of the Federal Constitution, the Herald had the constitutional right to use the word in respect of instruction and education of the congregation in the Christian religion.

Article 10 allowed it to use the word in the exercise of its right to freedom of speech and expression, she said.

Lau said the decision by the Home Minister prohibiting Herald publications from using the word "Allah" in the magazine was illegal, null and void.

She said the minister had also failed to adduce evidence that the use of word would threaten national security and create misunderstanding and confusion among Muslims.

On Feb 16, Archbishop Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam filed for a judicial review on the usage of the word "Allah" in the church's publications, naming the Home Ministry and the government as respondents.

He claimed that the word 'Allah' was not exclusive to the religion of Islam.
On Jan 7, the Home Minister approved the Herald's publishing permit for the period Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2009, on condition that the word "Allah" was not used in it and the words "Restricted" must be printed on the weekly's front page whereby it could only be circulated to Christians and at churches only.

The Home Minister had justified the ban on grounds of national security and to avoid misunderstanding and confusion among Muslims.

After the decision, senior federal counsel Datuk Kamaluddin Md Said, for the minister and the government, asked the court for clarification whether the decision would affect the Herald publications for the period Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2010.

He said this was because the application was for this year and not for next year's publications.

The church's counsel, Porres Royan, informed the court that the minister had given a fresh permit early this month for next year's publications.

"The decision speaks for itself. The minister has given the fresh permit for next year. I believe the minister would abide by the decision," he said.

Kamaluddin told the court that he had to take instructions from the minister whether today's decision would affect the fresh perm it for next year's publications as it involved a very serious matter.

He also said he needed to get instructions from the respondents on whether to appeal or to apply for a stay of execution of the decision.
Lau said the respondents had 30 days to file the application.

17 comments:

ڤنا مينڠ / PENA MINANG said...

Astagfirullah...

Saya tak tahu nak cakap apa...Malaysia mungkin akan jadi macam Indonesia...kebebasan agama bebas ditafsirkan oleh sesiapa.

Baru-baru ini saya ke Indonesia. Dan dalam kesempatan yang ada saya sempat membaca bible yang tertulis dalam bahasa Indonesia. Dan ternyata ALLAH digunakan dalam bible berkenaan.

Ketika membaca bible di Indonesia, hati saya terdetik, akan terjadikah ALLAH digunakan dalam bible di Malaysia.

Dan Hari ini, 'kemenangan kepada pihak yang bukan Islam'. Saya hanya mampu terdiam. Apa nak buat. Kuasa orang Melayu semakin berkurangan. Yang Islam masih lagi boleh menyokong permintaan tak munasabah kaum Kuffar semata-mata atas kepentingan politik.

Semoga ALLAH menyelamatkan aqidah umat ISLAM di MALAYSIA.

Apa respon pemimpin Melayu dalam PAS, PKR, Dan UMNO?

Saya (rakyat) tunggu dan lihat

fs-86 said...

Ini bukan salah PAS, UMNO atau PKR kerana ianya diputuskan oleh mahkamah. Perkara ini adalah kerana kebodohan orang cerdik pandai di negara kita yang menggubal akan segala undang-undang tetapi lupa untuk menggubal undang-undang untuk meng"eksklusif"kan perkataan "Allah" hanya kepada orang Islam.

Sepatutnya kita mengambil iktibar dari Turki yang lebih kurang 90 tahun merdeka. Mereka meletakkan pada perlembagaan mereka yang turki adalah negara sekular selagi wujudnya Turki dan perlembagaan tersebut tidak boleh dipinda. Oleh itu, sesiapa memerintah pun tak akan timbul isu meng"Islam"kan Turki.

Inilah akibat pemimpin yang pandai cakap.

Mereka yang kafir mahu mengkristiankan umat Islam di negara ini dengan menggandakan bahan bacaan menggunakan perkataan Allah. Umat Islam akan terkeliru lalu terpesonglah akidah mereka. Oleh itu, menjadi tanggungjawab kerajaan yang memerintah serta alim ulama seluruh Malaysia menggandakan usaha dakwah Islamiah.

Allahu Akbar, Allah itu tidak beranak dan tidak berbapa.

Anonymous said...

http://www.quranexplorer.com/quran/
Please go to Surah 29:46
Hopefully our muslim brothers and sisters are guided accordingly. The message is clear....he is Rabb Alamin. Think and understand it.
Habib RAK

Anonymous said...

Ya Allah the father
Ya Allah the son
Ya Allah the Holy Spirit

now which one is your Allah?

I guess he is no longer the one and only!

hak55 said...

The Sikh religion's Holy Book is called the Guru Granth Sahib and in it, 'Allah' is mentioned many times.

I have never read this holy book but I got the above information from my some of my Punjabi friends who are Sikhs. Mr Bulbir Singh, who is a regular contributor to the loccal press viz. The Star and NST and who officially visited the Masjid Negara not very long ago after publicly complaining that mosques are 'out-of-bounds' to non-Muslims, said the same thing in one of his regular letters.

So, actually, I don't understand what's the fuss about if 'The Herald' wants to use the term 'Allah' or even 'Kaabah' and 'Mekah' in their publication even if they are published in Bahasa Malaysia. They have used them before anyway and only in the last couple of years, this thing became a 'sore' to certain people.

I believe, many other non-Muslim holy books also mention 'Allah' in them and that's it! So, why didn't JAKIM and the courts go and sue all of them and ban them from using the term 'Allah'.

To me, this has become more of a political issue than a religious one.

JAKIM and the Malaysian courts will be better off handling more important matters especially matters pertaining to corruption and mishandling of state funds.

As Muslims, if you correctly practise the religion, have 'iman' 'akidah' and continuously, consistently and religiously maintain them, those things will not affect you at all.

Best regards.

Azlan said...

I am not sure what is the issue here?
Arab Christians have been using the term Allah in their publications and sermons for centuries - even before Islam came to Malaya. And it is not an issue to Muslims in those countries from Saudi Arabia to Morocco.
What makes us different? Are we somehow more special than our Muslim and Christian brothers and sisters in the Arab world?

NURAINA A SAMAD said...

people have asked me what i think of this whole thing.

it is such a sensitive subject. you can't argue with that.

the fact is the high court has ruled that the herald can use the word "Allah", for all the reasons that the judge had given.

whether or not i agree that the herald should be allowed to use the word, is unimportant.
they have gone to court and a decision has been made.

for me, i am simply wondering why the insistence on wanting to use the word "Allah".

that's all.

Like, why do you want to use the word "Allah"?
really. why?

Anonymous said...

First, the ruling is from the High Court, not the Syariah Court. This means the Syariah Court may interpret it differently.

Second, Tok Guru and his band of Ulama may agree because he is now trying to win over the non-turbaned.

Third, who says our courts are for kangaroos? The kangaroos are rejoicing the decision with 'bottoms up' at the bars way past the new year.

Finally, someone should register, patent or copyright the word in question, before America does it. The Yanks have already applied for exclusive rights for many things such as Basmathi Rice and Coconut Water. Hurry up and don't waste time appealing as the Yanks will beat the Muslims to it.

A GOOD MAN DOES NOTHING.

jacob said...

if muslims take exception to this whole episode, it's not because they want exclusive right to the word "Allah".
It makes us so suspicious of, as you say, the insistence, to use the word.
whether or not there is a motive, really we wouldn't know.
but the fact that the archbishop gone to such trouble to take the government to court does make us wonder, WHY?
is it for the love of the word "Allah"? and since when? oh -- since they discovered that it is a good word to use.
and please, let go that tired argument that arab christians have used it for a long time.
Allah is God in arabic? I'm not sure. perhaps. regardless.
But Allah is not God in Malay. The translation is "tuhan".
but, forget this argument.

i am questioning too. WHY this insistence and going to great length to be allowed to use the word?

will confusion reign with the use of Allah in bibles which i presume will be written in bahasa malaysia?

i'm sure there will be some confusion. Come on...don't plead ignorance.

but whether this confusion will cause (some) malay muslims to be converted, remains to be seen.
for now, this is unimportant.

for sure, there is unpleasantness, to put it mildly, because the use of Allah in holy books other than the quran or books on Islam in this country, will not go down well with malay muslims who incidentally account for the majority of the population.

even right-thinking, level-headed muslims are wondering WHY...

Anonymous said...

Hi Nuraina,
You are asking why? Do you feel that there is something sinister or there is an hidden agenda? A sarawakian fren (a christian) told me that she always used Allah and it only became an issue of late when the Home Minister banned it for them. It appears to me that they are simply trying to maintain status quo. All the same, as a muslim, im guided by the Quran and several surahs in the Quran guides me to know that this is not an issue.

hak55 said...

Haven't you all come across jokes making fun of Gods? The numerous Gods that different people and religions pray to. Gods depicted in pictures, photos and videos having hands as many as the millipedes and centipedes, noses that look exactly like an elephant's and ears as large as an elephant's too. There are Gods who look more like ghosts and monsters to me but what the heck, they are still some people's Gods. There are Gods made of stones, steel, timber, paper and and even plastic. Gods that look like clowns, etc., etc. Then, the numerous jokes about St Peter, Noah and Abraham, well they are not Gods but Gods' lackeys. People also make fun of Gautama Buddha; well, he's a God to some.

If you read some publications in the West, they have always, since a very long time ago, make fun of 'Allah' and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Many of these literature have found its way here.

I bought a book on Islamic History in Kuala Lumpur published by Reader's Digest some time ago and in it is shown a drawn picture of the Prophet (PBUH) full face and in full gear with his beard, no moustache and his famous gilded sword, looking at a map of areas and territories showing the spread of Islam. As a devoted and staunch Muslim, It (the picture) didn't affect me a bit.

Did Hisham or JAKIM, or the people holding the respective appointments before them, sue all these publications? No, they didn't!

Anyway, if KDN and JAKIM want to file an appeal on the recent verdict on the use of 'Allah' by the Herald - The Catholic Weekly that didn't come their way, fine, go ahead with it. I think the higher court with a totally different set of owl-like learned judges will deem the verdict wrong and then give the benefit to the plaintiff and the whole thing will start all over again, and there will be no end and becomes fodder for us writers and bloggers both local and foreign, like you and I, for as long as the case continues. That's the way the Malaysian Judiciary System works, if you all had observed it carefully.

Personally, I think, this whole issue has been wrongly handled from Day 1. In the first place, it shouldn't have gone to a Civil Court because it is an issue pertaining to religions, viz. Islam and Christianity. So, it should be handled by our Ulamaks and for them to have a dialogue with the Archbishop and his trusted senior aides and and at best, go to the Syariah Court, or any other better forum, if they exists. There, these people should try to amicably settle the issue and remain friends in the spirit of 1Malaysia. The Council of Ulamaks can then come out with a Fatwa that please the majority, otherwise, refer it to the Grand Imam at Al-Azhar, among others, for his grand opinion. We can then move on to better things after that.

One day, a boy asked a Catholic Priest after completing Sunday Mass, 'other than praying and preaching, how do you have fun?'

The Priest answered,' Nun, Nun and Nun.'

Best regards.

arah said...

My dear Nuraina

Eloklah kita kembali mengamalkan Al Quran dan Sunnah, bukan sekadar belajar Tajwid tetapi mesti belajar Tauhid di Sekolah dan Universiti.

Mari kita kongsikan ayat ayat berikut kepada kekawan Islam dan belum Islam

3:64 (Malay) "Katakanlah: ""Hai Ahli Kitab, marilah (berpegang) kepada suatu kalimat (ketetapan) yang tidak ada perselisihan antara kami dan kamu, bahwa tidak kita sembah kecuali Allah dan tidak kita persekutukan Dia dengan sesuatu pun dan tidak (pula) sebagian kita menjadikan sebagian yang lain sebagai tuhan selain Allah. Jika mereka berpaling maka katakanlah kepada mereka: ""Saksikanlah, bahwa kami adalah orang-orang yang berserah diri (kepada Allah)""."

Say: O People of the Scripture! Come to a common word between us and you: that we shall worship none but God, and that we shall ascribe no partner unto Him, and that none of us shall take others for lords beside God. And if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are they who have surrendered (unto Him). (Aal ‘Imran 3:64)




5:17 (Malay) "Sesungguhnya telah kafirlah orang-orang yang berkata: ""Sesungguhnya Allah itu ialah Al Masih putra Maryam"". Katakanlah: ""Maka siapakah (gerangan) yang dapat menghalang-halangi kehendak Allah, jika Dia hendak membinasakan Al Masih putra Maryam itu beserta ibunya dan seluruh orang-orang yang berada di bumi semuanya?"" Kepunyaan Allah-lah kerajaan langit dan bumi dan apa yang di antara keduanya; Dia menciptakan apa yang dikehendaki-Nya. Dan Allah Maha Kuasa atas segala sesuatu."

Al-Ma'idah (The Table Spread)
5:17 (Y. Ali) In blasphemy indeed are those that say that Allah is Christ the son of Mary. Say: "Who then hath the least power against Allah, if His will were to destroy Christ the son of Mary, his mother, and all every - one that is on the earth? For to Allah belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between. He createth what He pleaseth. For Allah hath power over all things."

As exclaimed by Moses (pbuh): “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” Deuteronomy 6:4.


“I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from Me there is no God.”
Isaiah 45:5.


“You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God.”
Exodus 20:3-5


Jesus Christ (pbuh) said the following in the Bible:
“This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”
John 17:3


“How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?”
John 5:44


“The most important commandments,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, is one Lord’”
Mark 12:29

59:24 (Y. Ali) He is Allah, the Creator, the Evolver, the Bestower of Forms (or Colours). To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names: whatever is in the heavens and on earth, doth declare His Praises and Glory: and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.

The name of God is Allah even in the Bible

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHhyu61f-wo&feature=related

Banyak lagikan kita perlu belajar tentang Islam walaupun kita di lahirkan Islam.

hak55 said...

Now the PM's Department is getting interested in this matter and they will be appealing as announced by the Minister, a retired Maj Gen in charge of KAGAT, Mindef.

Lawyers out there: Can they appeal when they are not even the plaintiff in the first place or is this a stupid question?

I like Tun M's comments about the verdict. He says,'Place some very strict conditions on the use of the term 'Allah'...' or words to that effect.

Best regards.

Anonymous said...

sigh ! humans O humans ...SIGH !
beware of 21-12-2012 !!

Anonymous said...

Allah : "sigh...sigh...SIGH !!"
satan : '...hehehihihaha...!'
humans : '...fight @#$%^&* fight ..!'
awas, 21-12-2012, awas !

Anonymous said...

Salam

Let not confused between the God in the bible with the God of Abraham, Moses, Jesus,Muhammad and all mankind.

Can be called the God in the bible as Allah?

Let us compare the Almighty God in the Quran vs the God in the bible.

Almighty God in the Quran
2:255 (Y. Ali) Allah. There is no god but He,-the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth? He knoweth what (appeareth to His creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He willeth. His Throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth, and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory).
YUSUFALI: (he is) the creator of the heavens and the earth: he has made for you pairs from among yourselves, and pairs among cattle: by this means does he multiply you: there is nothing whatever like unto him, and he is the one that hears and sees (all things).Surah 42:11

Let us study the God in the bible

God had finished the work by the seventh day, so on the seventh day he rested

Genesis 2:2
By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.
The seventh day is holy because on it God rested from all the work

Genesis 2:3
And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
The Lord rested on the seventh day and blessed it and made it holy.

Exodus 20:11
For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
The Lord abstained from work and rested.

Exodus 31:17
It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested.’
the Lord our God rest upon us

Psalm 90:17
May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us- yes, establish the work of our hands.
On the seventh day God rested from all his work

Hebrews 4:4
And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “And on the seventh day God rested from all his work.”

OOOp God in the bible rest on the seventh day???

Allah never ever rest.

Surah 50:38
SHAKIR: and certainly We Created the heavens and the earth and what is between them in six periods and there touched us not any fatigue
PICKTHAL: and verily We Created the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, in six days, and naught of weariness touched Us.
YUSUFALI: We Created the heavens and the earth and all between them in six days, nor did any sense of weariness touch Us.

More about God in the bible

“And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the son of man had built. And the Lord said, ‘Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they can do; and nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down; and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of the earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore its name was called bable, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.”
Genesis 11:5-9.

HOWEVER THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD THE CREATOR WE CALLED ALLAH.

21:22 (Y. Ali) If there were, in the heavens and the earth, other gods besides Allah, there would have been confusion in both! but glory to Allah, the Lord of the Throne: (High is He) above what they attribute to Him!

Happy reading

http://www.evilbible.com/May.htm#May 6
http://www.submission.org/god-bible.html

Anonymous said...

nazri : the judge is salah , she should judge whether the HM ada kuasa
or tidak to ban the usage of 'Allah'
by the non-muslims ....
Nazri, r u sure wat u talk talk !!??