Brahma instead of Allah?

By admin-s On Feb 17, 2014

What happens if the Hindu claims that Brahma belongs to their exclusive use just like the Malaysian Muslims are claiming now?

Nehali, The Malaysian Insider

I refer to letter published in a news print media on 8th February, 2014 by Abdullah Ismail, Secretary-General, Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organisation urging Christians to use Brahma for God instead of Allah.

I would like to respond with the hope of promote communication and great understanding among Muslims and Christians.

First of all, thanks, En. Abdullah for the suggestion but no thanks.

Concept of God

Although both Islam and Christianity believe in one God, their concepts of God differs as Abdullah rightly pointed out.

Islamic concept of God is a simple oneness while Christian concept of God is a complex oneness.

Muslims misunderstood Christian concept of God, thinking God physically gives birth to a son called Jesus. And Christians worship three gods.

Nothing is further from the truth. However, this is not the appropriate place to explain the concept of Trinity.

Instead of burning bridges, Christians and Muslims must realise that Islam and Christianity share many common attributes of God.

For example both religions believe that God is Almighty, All Loving, All Merciful, Omnipresent and so on.

Provocations and insults

Abdullah cited a situation whereby a Christian quotes a bible verse from Indonesian Bible: “Karena begitu besar kasih Allah akan dunia ini, sehingga Ia telah mengaruniakan Anak-nya yang tunggal, supaya setiap orang yang percaya kepadaNya tidak binasa, melainkan beroleh hidup yang kekal.”

Abdullah mentioned that Muslims would feel provoked and insulted upon hearing such quotation.

Understandably, this would be the case based on their understanding about Allah.

I would urge the Malaysian Muslims not to feel that way because the quotation is not meant to provoke them or to insult their God.

Rather, it is a Biblical quotation to convey sacrificial love of God (or Allah in the context of Indonesian or Malay translation)

The Indonesian Bibles contain the word Allah and are used freely in Indonesia. The Indonesian Muslims are not feeling provoked or insulted.

Similarly, the Arab Muslims in Middle East are not offended when the Arab Christians used Allah to mean God.

By the way, the Christian Arabs used the word Allah long before Islam came into existence.

So why should the Malaysian Muslims feel offended when others use the word Allah?

Why must Malaysian Muslims monopolise its use whilst the rest of the Muslim world does not have this compulsive need? Are Malaysian Muslims so unique?

Can we not celebrate our differences and diversity rather than seeking boring and regimented uniformity of views?

Brahma instead of Allah?

Abdullah urges the Christians to use Brahma instead of Allah claiming that it is closer in concept to Christian God. It reflects his ignorance of both Christian and Hindu concept of God.