As ‘Allah’ appeal nears, JAKIM calls for ‘holy struggle’ among Muslims

 

(MMO) – Just days before the “Allah” row returns to court, Islamic authorities today slammed their opponents for deigning to challenge for the use of the term, and called upon Muslims to unite in a “holy struggle” against enemies of the faith.

In today’s Friday sermon read out at mosques nationwide, the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM) also laid claim to a list of words asides from “Allah” that it purports to be exclusive to Muslims and prohibited to non-Muslims.

“It is only natural in life, something which is renowned and staunch will always suffer from threats and attempts to shake its superiority,” said the sermon uploaded online.

“Such as the position of Islam and its adherents today, threatened from every corner whether in social, jurisprudence or faith, including the use of the word Allah.”

Last month, the local Catholic Church failed to strike out Putrajaya’s appeal against the 2009 landmark High Court ruling that upheld Christians’ right to refer to God as “Allah”.

The appeal will be heard on Tuesday next week.

JAKIM stressed today that the ultimate goal of the group, which it failed to name, is to confuse Muslims and put every religion on equal terms, which will then lead to a “sea of apostasy”.

“The words Allah, solat (prayer), tauhid (oneness of God), Rasul (messenger), Kaabah, Haji (holy pilgrimage) are the rights of Muslims which cannot be invaded by any quarters as it will affect the thoughts and belief of Muslims,” it added.

Non-Muslims are barred from using up to 35 other Arabic terms, besides “Allah”, in every state except for Penang, Sabah, Sarawak, and the Federal Territory.

Malacca has reportedly banned the most number of Arabic words and phrases compared to the other states.

In Selangor, the Non-Islamic Religion Enactment 1988 (Control of Propagations Among Muslims) listed 25 words that cannot be uttered by non-Muslims either orally or in writing, including “Allah”, “firman Allah” (God’s decree), “solat” (daily prayers), “Rasul”, “mubaligh” (missionary), “mufti” (cleric), “iman” (faith), “Kaabah”, “Qiblat” (the direction in which Muslims pray), and “Haji”.

Non-Muslims are also banned in Selangor from using 10 other phrases such as “subhan-Allah” (Glory be to God), “insha-Allah” (God-willing), “astaghfirullah” (forgive me God), “masha-Allah” (God has willed it) and “Allahu Akbar” (God is great).

Non-Muslims found guilty of using the words may be fined up to RM3,000 or jailed for up to two years, or both.

 Read here at : http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/as-allah-appeal-nears-jakim-calls-for-holy-struggle-among-muslims