IF YOU ARE IN MALAYSIA - IN THE STATE OF SELANGOR (the most prosperous state in Malaysia) SPECIFICALLY, OR EVEN IN PENANG, AND YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN, BE ADVISED NOT TO USE THE WORD "ALLAH" OR YOU RUN THE RISK OF BEING STERNLY PUNISHED.
"Allah" has been used by Indonesians and Malaysians to refer to God which was used in the traditional translations of the Christian Holy Bible dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries.
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| Sultan Sharafudrin Idris Shah of Selangor |
But be informed the Sultan of the Malaysian state Selangor himself -- Sultan Sharafudrin Idris Shah (shown in picture), has issued a decree that ‘Allah’ can be used only by Muslims and those who violate the ruling will receive stern punishment.
We have reported about this Sultanate of Selangor ruling recently. In fact, we also reported that a Catholic Bishop had taken the Malaysia Sultan of Selangor to court for arbitrary ruling on freedom of religion but there has been no judgement yet.
In our view, Malaysia Courts will find it difficult to reverse the Sultan of Selangor ruling. High reverence for sultans across Malaysia, where Islam is the religion practised by more than 63% of the population, is something that Malaysia courts will find hard to ignore. The Sultan of Selangor is one of the nine hereditary sultanate rulers of Malaysia who take turns to become King of Malaysia and Malaysia Courts will be hard put to go against the decision of one of the hereditary monarchs.
According to a Muslim Exclusive report, “Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah made a decision and decreed that the word ‘Allah’ is a sacred word specific to Muslims and it is prohibited to be used by any non-Muslim in Selangor.”
No less than the the Islamic Affairs Council of Selangor state released the Selangor sultan's decision. The Islamic council also warned that "a stern action" was ordered against those questioning the new fatwa.
But Malaysia's Council of Churches also said it will continue to use the word “Allah” in the Malay version of the Bible and issued the following statement: “Many indigenous communities in our nation have incorporated this word in their everyday language. That being the case, we shall continue this practice, and call on all parties to respect this fundamental right guaranteed to them in the country's Federal Constitution.”
