I read with interest Look.Observe’s letter No one can order me how to call my God .
When I wrote about the matter in my blog, I chided Johari only because he said the word ‘Allah’ is exclusive to Muslims . The exclusivity was wrong. We all know that is not the case as Arab Christians use the same word. But the concern raised by Johari and some Muslims on the use of ‘Allah’ by Herald is another matter. Johari said that the use of the word ‘Allah’ here would cause confusion.
We all agree that Arab Christians or Arab-speaking Christians have no other word for God except ‘Allah’ because they only speak Arabic. God in Arabic is after all, Allah. No brainer. Maybe if they spoke Indonesian, they would call God ‘Tuhan’ or ‘Dewa’. However, they are the exception. Ask any American who is not well-read and has never been out of the country and he’d say, "Allah? Muslim God, ain't it?"
But here in Malaysia, the mention of Allah is synonymous with God as revered by the Muslims. I don't think many Christians would ever think that the mention of Allah refers to Jesus nor would they pray or begin their prayers with "In the name of Allah..." Are there that many Malaysian Christians who speak Arabic? If that were the case then highlight that fact to Malaysians at large.
Prior to this, Muslim Malaysians truly did not know that Christian Malaysians pray to Allah. They have always thought that Christian Malaysians referred to their God as ‘Our Lord’, ‘Our Lord Jesus’ or ‘Christ’. I dare say that it is only now Muslim Malaysians are aware that Christian Malaysians pray to Allah. If that is indeed the case then just confirm the fact. Muslims can be taught to accept that, if indeed that is the case.
After all, Muslims accept Prophet Isa as one of their prophets and accept that Christians call him Jesus and pray in his name. No confusion or argument there. They never said that Jesus cannot be prayed to or that Jesus cannot be translated as ‘Nabi Isa’. Muslims just want to avoid confusion when ‘Allah’ is used in the Malay section of Herald .
In other Christian literature, ‘Jesus’ is translated as ‘Isa’, ‘Lord’ has always been translated as ‘Tuhan’. So, now it is ‘Allah’. Never mind the Muslims, it would definitely raise eyebrows amongst other non-Muslims in Malaysia! Do Christian Malaysians, in all honesty, when they speak about Christianity in Malay call or refer to God as ‘Allah’?
The writer, Look.Observe wrote that "... no one has the right to tell me how to address my God because my relationship with God is between me and God." Nobody is ordering you how to address your God. If you call your God, Allah, so be it. Nobody is stopping you. People just need some clarification.
In fact, the word ‘Allah’ is so commonly used across the world in English, Malay and even Swahili. It could have been used in the English section of Herald too, couldn't it? No need to translate it in either the English or Malay section. Just use it in both sections. Children can happily be taught that Muslims and Christians alike pray to Allah. Is that okay?
My question to Look.Observe, to those who rant and rave about the right to use ‘Allah’ as the Christian God's name and to those behind Herald , did you really mean it when you said that you call God ‘Allah’? Honestly? Herald , did you truly have no intention to cause confusion by using ‘Allah’ as your translation of ‘Jesus’ or ‘Christ’ or ‘Our Lord’? If so, aver to the same. If it is indeed commonly used amongst Christian Malaysians then I am sure there would be no more complaints.
And I need to ask Look.Observe, do you truly pray to Allah? Would you?
