This letter to the editor of the Star was not published. -- K.A.
CONTROVERSY OVER “Allah”-word
I would like
to intervene briefly on the current controversy on the use of the “Allah”-word.
With due respect to the scholarship of Dr. Wan Azhar Wan Ahmad of IKIM and the
authorities he cited to defend the use of the word for Muslim God only (Star,
Feb., 19; p. 20), I am not
convinced. The word has been used by many religious communities before. It has
already been used by pagan Arabs in Mecca before Muhammad. The Quranic verses
2: 62 and 17: 40, among any others, testify to these.
To clinch the matter, please see Surah
17, verse 110 of the Quran, which states: “Say, ‘Call Him Allah, or call Him
the Most Gracious; whichwever name you use, to Him belong the best names.’”
This verse means that the word “Allah” is not the proper name of God, and that
God really has no name, He being Pure Spirit, “... the Ever-living, the Absolute,
Who Exists by Himself ... “ (See Quran, 2: 255). This settles the matter
conclusively. Strangely, Dr. Wan Azhar did not quote this crucial verse.
The word “Allah” is an Arabic word, (that
has entered the Malay language) literally meaning “the God”, formed from the
Arabic “ilah” (meaning “god” with a small letter) and the particle “Al” meaning
“the”, thus the One and Only God. It should not be a matter for argument,
except for some politicians and some fanatical Muslim clerics.
Yours truly,
Kassim Ahmad
012-4291152
1504 Persiaran Kulim Golf,
Kulim Golf & Country Resort,
09000 Kulim, Kedah.
3 comments:
Encik Kassim, since you're an expert in the Quran translation.Why don't you tell us the best quran translation should we read and believe? Its true that the arab pagan has been using the word Allah long before Islam but you have to understand the main reason why should we reserve the word Allah only for muslim is because we don't want our children to become confused.Imagine a boy name Ahmad who has 2 non-muslim friends by the name of Chan and Muthu. Chan is a Christian and Muthu is a Hindu and both of them tell Ahmad that their God is also come with the name Allah.Would not this confused Ahmad? Why does the christian in this country is so eager to use the word Allah but at the same time refuse His Word The Quran?
salam Pak Kassim,
Just would like to add this verse of the Quran in support of yr stance.
Q22:40 (Y. Ali) .... Did not Allah check one set of people by means of another, there would surely have been pulled down monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of Allah is commemorated in abundant measure..
rgds/-
mikat
All mankind have the right to use 'Allah' because He is the Most Kind. Only Islam claims all Muslim are relatives probably the rest of mankind are not from Adam .. MrDn
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