The complexities of the 'Allah' issue

Just like the hudud issue that keeps cropping up every now and then, the ‘Allah' issue has hit the headlines again.

It seems like Pakatan Rakyat had scored an own goal after conflicting comments about this matter were made by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and PAS information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

In his Christmas message, Lim had urged the federal government to allow the use of the world ‘Allah' in the Bahasa Malaysia version of the Bible. Tuan Ibrahim responded by saying the word ‘Tuhan' should be used instead.

These contradictory messages became fodder for Pakatan's opponents, who claimed that this was the latest proof that the opposition coalition is a marriage of convenience and that DAP and PAS cannot work together.

DAP chairperson Karpal Singh clarified that Lim was referring specifically to the context of Sabah and Sarawak, where there is a long history of using ‘Allah' in the BM Bible.

Meanwhile, PAS deputy president Mat Sabu (left) clarified that PAS' stance was that non-Muslims could indeed use ‘Allah'. His party boss Abdul Hadi Awang also affirmed this. As did Pakatan leader Anwar Ibrahim.

But just as the issue seemed to be resolved, another development has prolonged it. The Sultan of Selangor has decreed that ‘Allah' may be used only by Muslims. The Council of Churches of Malaysia (an umbrella body representing Protestant churches) announced that all churches will continue to use the phrase as it is within their constitutional right to do so.

Even the Malaysian Gurdwaras Council (the umbrella body for Sikh temples) has stepped into the picture, saying any move to stop non-Muslims from using the word ‘Allah' in a religious text would be arestriction on Sikhs from practising their religion as the phrase also appears in Sikh scriptures.

I have privately spoken to Christian, Muslim and non-Christian/non-Muslim friends about this matter and the range of viewpoints are varied. Some simply don't care about it and think it's a case of making a mountain out of a molehill. Some though are very passionate about the matter.

'Allah' generally associated with Islam
The basic Christian argument is that Christians in the Middle East have been using this phrase for thousands of years. A quick check on Wikipedia shows that ‘Allah' is used by Sikhs, Bahais, Mizrahi Jews and even pre-Islamic, pagan Arabs.

So, it does seem that there are indeed other faiths that use that phrase. That said, it cannot be denied that to the average person, ‘Allah' is associated with Islam. If you doubt that, do a random survey with 10 people and ask them which religious group has ‘Allah' as its God. I'd be surprised if anyone actually said, "Christians in Sabah and Sarawak", "Bahais", "Sikhs", "Mizrahi Jews" or "pre-Islamic, pagan Arabs".

This is why to many Muslims and other non-Christians, it is puzzling why some Christians are so adamant about using ‘Allah' to denote God in the BM Bible (especially since the BM word for God is ‘Tuhan').

I've heard some arguments that in the Middle East, ‘Allah' is actually the generic term for ‘God'. I'm not sure that is entirely true but even if it were, that's certainly not the case in Malaysia. Imagine the outcry from non-Muslims (including some Christians, I'm sure) if the first item in the Rukun Negara were to be changed from ‘Kepercayaan Kepada Tuhan' to ‘Kepercayaan Kepada Allah'.

Now, why is that? For the very reason I highlighted earlier. The phrase ‘Allah' is generally associated with Islam, and is not generally seen as a generic word for ‘God'.

A non-Christian, non-Muslim friend put it best when he said that when you use the phrase ‘Allah', it seems to refer to a specific God of a specific religion (and he wasn't referring to Christianity). In contrast, ‘Tuhan' is more universal and is suited for everyone, include atheists.

"Some people worship money, so money can be their god," he said jokingly. He has a point.

Possible confusion

The main argument of opponents to the usage of ‘Allah' in the BM Bible is that it could lead to confusion.

Basically, the concern is that some Muslims might pick up the BM Bible and mistake it for the Quran. That is the polite way of putting it. What some people are actually concerned about is that a BM Bible containing the word ‘Allah' could also be used to secretly convert Muslims into Christianity.

While many Christians refute the "confusion/conversion" factor as ridiculous, such concerns are not irrational. Christianity is an evangelical religion (and so too is Islam). Everyone knows that.

And there are common stories in the Bible and the Quran that relate to the Old Testament. Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham - they all appear in both books. Even Jesus appears in the Quran, although in that context he is a prophet rather than the son of God.

Karpal Singh has pointed out that ‘Allah' appears 37 times in the Sikh holy book. Ever wonder why no one is explicitly calling for a ban of its usage there? It's because there is no way anybody would mistake the Guru Granth Sahib for the Quran.

But a BM Bible with the phrase ‘Allah' in it - there's certainly a possibility (if not a likelihood) for confusion. Imagine reading in BM a passage that says Jesus is the son of ‘Allah'.

That said, I also feel anyone should have the right call their god by whatever name they wish. If someone wants to refer to their god as ‘Mickey Mouse', why should anyone complain (except perhaps, The Walt Disney Company, which might object on copyright grounds).

So, strictly from a freedom of speech standpoint, Christians should be allowed to use the phrase ‘Allah' - a point that the High Court has ruled on (though it's being appealed by the Home Ministry).

What complicates matters is the fact that converting Muslims to any other religion is prohibited in Malaysia. A BM Bible which refers to God as ‘Allah' is going to be viewed with suspicion, whether or not there is actually any intent to convert someone using it.

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OON YEOH is a new media consultant.