TAKZIAH

Salam 2 all.

Sehari dua ini berita sedih kemalangan kepada kanak-kanak dan pelajar berlaku. Mutakhir semalam seorang kanak-kanak bernama A. Sanjef (4) meninggal dunia setelah terjatuh daripada Tingkat 8 Pangsapuri Larkin, Johor kerana dipercayai mencari ibunya setelah terbangun daripada tidor. Ibunya S. Saraswathy baru sahaja ke stesyen bas Larkin untuk ke Singapura menghadiri temuduga kerja. Saraswathy (29) baru sahaja kehilangan sumainya yang meninggal akibat kemalangan (berita lanjut saya lampirkan dibawah).

Sementara itu, enam orang pelajar mati lemas dalam latihan dayungan naga emas di Pulau Pinang. Mereka adalah Yong Xiang, 16, Cheah Zi Jun, 17 tahun, Brandon Yeoh, 17, Goh Yi Zhang, 15, Jason Ch'ng, 17 dan guru mereka Chin Ai Fang (20an). Mereka adalah antara 18 pelajar dari SMK Chung Ling Air Itam yang dijangka menyertai pertandingan perahu naga emas di Pulau Pinang bulan hadapan.

Saya mengambil kesempatan mengucapkan takziah kepada keluarga mereka yang telah pergi mendahului kita ini. Semoga mereka diberi kesabaran menghadapi dugaan dan ujian besar ini.

Zulkifli Bin Noordin

Selasa

03 Safar 1431

19 Januari 2010

*Gambar atas Puan Saraswathy yang meratapi kematian anaknya Sanjef, manakala keluarga dan rakan para pendayung perahu naga emas terlalu hiba dengan kematian 6 pelajar tersebut.

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(Petikan daripada Harian Metro bertarikh 19.10.2010)

Maut cari ibu
Oleh Rudy Fazrunisyam Samarudin rudy@hmetro.com.my2010/01/19

JOHOR BAHRU: Harapan seorang ibu berhijrah ke negeri ini untuk bekerja di Singapura bagi membesarkan anak tunggalnya tidak kesampaian apabila budak lelaki berusia empat tahun itu maut selepas terjatuh dari tingkat lapan Pangsapuri Larkin Idaman di sini, kira-kira jam 7 pagi semalam.
Lebih memilukan, kejadian terbabit berlaku ketika wanita itu yang juga seorang ibu tunggal dalam perjalanan ke negara jiran bagi melapor diri pada hari pertama bekerja. Dalam kejadian itu, A Sanjef, ditinggalkan berseorangan di unit kediaman di Blok C3 pangsapuri berkenaan kerana bapa saudaranya terpaksa keluar menghantar ibunya, S Saraswasthy, 29, ke stesen bas berdekatan untuk ke tempat kerja di Singapura. Bagaimanapun, sebaik kembali ke rumahnya tidak lama kemudian, lelaki berusia 26 tahun itu mendapati anak saudaranya tiada dalam bilik dan terkejut apabila pintu gelongsor balkoni rumahnya terbuka sebelum melihat tubuh kanak-kanak itu terlentang kaku atas tanah di bawah bangunan berkenaan. Ketua Polis Daerah Johor Bahru Selatan, Asisten Komisioner Zainuddin Yaacob, berkata ketika ditinggalkan bersendirian di unit kediaman disewa keluarga berkenaan, kanak-kanak itu tidur dan semua pintu utama dikunci dari luar.
Bagaimanapun, katanya, pintu gelongsor dan jeriji besi pada bahagian balkoni hanya dikunci dari dalam dan kanak-kanak itu membukanya sebelum keluar dan terjatuh.
Kanak-kanak itu dipercayai mencari ibunya sebaik bangun tidur.
“Siasatan awal polis mengklasifikasikan kes itu sebagai kematian mengejut dan disiasat mengikut Seksyen 33 Akta Kanak-Kanak 2001 atas kesalahan pengabaian.
“Mayat mangsa dihantar ke Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA) di sini untuk bedah siasat sebelum dituntut ahli keluarga petang tadi (semalam),” katanya ketika dihubungi. Sementara itu, seorang kenalan ibu kanak-kanak berkenaan yang enggan dikenali berkata, dua beranak terbabit baru tiga hari mendiami pangsapuri itu selepas berhijrah dari Pulau Pinang. Saraswasthy yang kehilangan suami kira-kira empat tahun lalu akibat kemalangan jalan raya berhijrah ke sini untuk mendapatkan pekerjaan bagi menyara anaknya. “Saya difahamkan dia baru saja mendapat kerja di Singapura dan hari ini (semalam) hari pertama dia melapor diri di tempat kerjanya itu,” katanya ketika ditemui di bilik mayat HSA. Mayat mangsa dilaporkan akan dibawa ke Alor Star, Kedah untuk disemadikan selepas selesai bedah siasat dijalankan kira-kira jam 5 petang semalam.

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(Petikan daripada MalaysiaKini bertarikh 19.01.2010)

Semua 6 mayat mangsa perahu terbalik ditemui
Jan 18, 10 8:53am
kemaskini 5:01pm Pasukan penyelamat menemui dua lagi mayat mangsa perahu naga terbalik - menjadikan enam orang disahkan terkorban dalam kejadian pagi semalam itu.
Dua mayat terakhir yang ditemui ialah Yong Xiang, 16, dan Cheah Zi Jun, 17 tahun.
Sebelum ini, mayat Brandon Yeoh, 17, ditemui dekat Tanjung Marina, Pulau Pinang satu kilometer dari tempat kejadian, pada 12 tengahari tadi. Manakala mayat pendayung perahu naga SMK Chung Ling Air Itam itu, Goh Yi Zhang, 15, ditemui di kawasan yang sama pagi tadi.
Semalam dua mayat ditemui iaitu guru mereka Chin Ai Fang, berusia 20-an ditemui kira-kira sejam setengah selepas kejadian dan mayat seorang pelajar yang dikenali sebagai Jason Ch'ng, 17, ditemui petang semalam. Mereka adalah antara 18 pelajar dari SMK Chung Ling Air Itam yang menjalani latihan mendayung perahu naga bagi persiapan menyertai Kejohanan Perahu Naga Antarabangsa pertengahan tahun ini. Perahu naga yang mereka naiki terbalik akibat dipukul ombak pagi semalam. Kejadian itu berlaku di kawasan kira-kira 100 meter dari pantai Lebuh Macallum, dan kawasan itu sememangnya menjadi tempat pasukan pendayung sekolah berkenaan menjalani latihan mingguan. Pasukan pendayung perahu naga lelaki sekolah itu terdiri daripada 18 orang iaitu seorang guru, dua jurulatih dan 15 pelajar. Mereka memulakan latihan pada pukul 8 pagi dan perahu naga mereka dikatakan terbalik akibat dipukul ombak sebelum berlanggar dengan sebuah tongkang pada pukul 8.45 pagi semalam. Sebanyak 12 pelajar lagi terselamat setelah sempat berenang dan dibantu oleh beberapa bot di kawasan berhampiran.- Bernama

kENYATAAN PERSATUAN PEGUAM MUSLIM

Salam 2 all.

Saya perturunkan kenyataan dikeluarkan oleh Sekretariat Penerangan, Persatuan Peguam Muslim dalam isu kalimah ALLAH. Dan saya ingin menyatakan sokongan saya sepenuhnya kepada kenyataan tersebut. Kenyataan ini telah dikeluarkan dengan izin dariapada Sekretariat PPM.

Wassalam.

Zulkifli Bin Noordin
Selasa
03 Safar 1431
19 Januari 2010

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On ‘Allah’ January 18, 2010 13:30 Herald Issue – I The Malays, as one foreigner once summed up, are a people who rest under the coconut tree with the sun shinning brightly and cheerfully upon them whilst the wind blow softly against their faces. This observation is meant as a compliment to the temperament of the Malay Muslims. As compared to Muslims of other countries, the Muslims of Malaya did not go through a period of great conflict and bloodshed to obtain independence. As a result, you have a Muslim community who is tolerant and receptive to other religion and races. The constitutional position of Islam and the Malays can be understood by making an analogy to a house owner who welcome visitors into their house and allowed their visitors the right to use the living room, dining room, the bedrooms, the garden, and all other areas, except, the house owner was to say, “Never ask for the right to use my own master bedroom. It is my special privilege.” After a few decades, the house owner has shared everything in his house except for his own master bedroom. He finds that his visitors, having enjoyed unlimited access and use of all the parts in his house are now knocking on the doors of his master bedroom, demanding for the right to use his own master bedroom, his last bastion. The case of the weekly Herald has jolted the largely Malay Muslim community into the realisation that their last bastion, their master bedroom (i.e. Islam and Malay privileges) is now very much at stake. The positive outcome from the Herald fiasco is the unity of majority of the Muslims coming to the fore to protect and defend a matter held dear to their very essence, their religion, culture and sense of identity. The Herald had since 1986, illegally used the words “Allah” to refer to God in its publication. Under Control of Undesirable Publications of the Printing Presses And Publications Act introduced in 1984, the Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN) (Ministry of Home Affairs) has the power to introduce the Garis Panduan Penerbitan Kementerian Dalam Negeri (“Guideline”) to regulate publications such as the Herald. According to the Guideline, words such as “Allah”, “Kaabah”, “Baitullah” and ‘Solat” are not allowed to be used by religions other than Islam. The KDN then issued a letter dated 19.05.1986 instructing and advising the weekly Herald not to use the words contained in the Guideline. Such words are deemed as sensitive to the Muslim community and may cause disharmony, disunity and confusion among the community especially the Malay Muslim community. However, instead of adhering to KDN’s instructions and advice to cease publishing the word “Allah”, the weekly Herald repeatedly breached the Guideline by reproducing the publication in the Herald containing the words “Allah”. The Archbishop of the Titular Roman Catholic Church (“the Church”) himself admitted in his Affidavit that a total of eight letters were sent to the Herald by KDN advising them to cease the use of the word “Allah” in their publication which went unheeded. The word “Allah” is banned for use by non Muslims under the anti propagation laws of states in its schedule of offensive words. Despite a clear statutory provision disallowing the use of Allah by non Muslims, the Herald continued in acts of infringement of the anti propagation laws and blatantly disregarded the Guideline since 1986 until 2007. Since no immediate and decisive action was taken by KDN in response to this transgression of state law and consistent breach of the Guideline, the Church was emboldened enough to file a Judicial Review dated 19.03.2008 for the following declarations:- 1. that the Church is entitled to use the word ‘Allah’ in The Herald, a weekly Catholic publication of the Church; 2. that the Guideline by the Kementerian Dalam Negeri is illegal; and 3. that the use of the word “Allah” is not exclusive for the religion of Islam. The Herald meanwhile, posted their publication online until it came to the attention of the Majlis Agama Islam Selangor (“MAIS”) and the Muslim Chinese Association of Malaysia (“MACMA”) who were deeply concerned on the effects of the publication on the Muslims in general, especially as they were made to understand by the Church that the publication was to be solely for internal circulation of members of the Church. With its posting online by the Herald however, meant that the general public and those outside of Kuala Lumpur including the world at large would have unlimited access to the Herald. The MACMA feared that the publication would cause confusion among converts due to the terminology used. It may also open the floodgates for other beliefs to challenge the Guidelines and use the word “Allah” in their practise. As a body entrusted with the protection of the rights and interests of Islam and the largely Malay Muslims, MAIS viewed these developments with alarm and concern. MAIS is empowered under state legislation to dispense their duties as the lawful representative of the Sultan of Selangor including to advise the Sultan of Selangor on any matter impacting the unity and interests of the Muslims. Having presented to the Sultan of Selangor the gravity of the matter, the Sultan of Selangor found the situation to be sufficiently compelling for MAIS’s intervention. With the blessings and unequivocal support of the Sultan of Selangor, MAIS filed applications to be admitted as interveners for both the Summons and Review. Their action was emulated by other Majlis Agama Islam of the States of Wilayah Persekutuan, Terengganu, Johore, Pulau Pinang and Melaka. Throughout the case, solicitors and MAIS officers handling the case attest to the ease by which they were able to advise and brief the Sultan of Selangor and to obtain further directions. The deeds of the Sultan of Selangor shall be crafted in our historical manuscripts as a monarch who has displayed a deep conscience and understanding of his role as protector and custodian of Islam and Malay rights, in the case brought by the Church. The intervener applications by MAIS, MACMA and Majlis Agama Islam of States were provided for by statutory provisions under the Rules of the High Court. Unfortunately, the Court did not allow their application even though MAIS argued for their inclusion under the various provisions in the Rules of High Court, including provisions for special entry to oppose the judicial review. The Court did not recognise the statutory duties of MAIS under state legislations as the lawful body to advise and aid the Sultan of Selangor in such matters of judicial review relating to the rights and interests of Islam and the largely Malay Muslims. The Court made a pronouncement that MAIS have no basis to justify that they have a direct interest in the case, in total disregard to MAIS’s statutory function as adviser and aid to the Sultan of Selangor in matters of Islam and Muslim rights. Thus, MAIS was denied the opportunity to put forth their arguments before the Court by the Judge presiding the case, Datuk Lau Bee Lan. This situation proved fatal to MAIS’s intervener application and was a major factor that led to a decision in favour of the Herald. The Court decision meant that the words “Allah” and consequently, “Allah’s Son” were allowed to be used in the Malay pages of the Herald weekly. The Court decision has also set a precedent that where it deems fit, parties who expressly transgressed and breached laws, may still come to Court challenging the authorities’ right to enforce laws under the guise of “constitutional rights”. This is one of the greatest mockeries to our judicial system. Consequently, the reaction of the Muslim community to the Court decision dated 31.12.2009 is largely one of disbelief, anger and humiliation; a deep wound that if it were at all to recover, would require a long healing process. Herald Issue – Part II The Judge presiding the case of the Herald, Datuk Lau Bee Lan, in her decision disallowing MAIS, MACMA and Majlis Agama of States as interveners, made special mention of the fact that the applicants in this case were unable to provide concrete evidence that the use of the word “Allah” is sensitive to the Muslim community and would cause disharmony, disunity and confusion among the Muslim community. As such, it may be inferred that the Judge was of the opinion that the usage of the word “Allah” by the Herald and the Church would not be of material consequence as far as the Muslim community is concerned. Events that unfolded during the days immediately succeeding the decision proved otherwise. NGOs, Islamic organisations and various other organisations whether politically connected and apolitical were greatly moved by this outright disregard of the Muslim’s community sensitivities. The government, initially unsure of the correct stand to be taken, followed the stance set by our former premier in this issue, where Tun Mahathir in his statement immediately after the Court decision was handed down stated that “….the word “Allah” is specific for Muslims..” and “…in Peninsular Malaysia we have never heard of Christians using the word Allah when referring to God in the Malay language, why are we using the word now?..”. Tun Mahathir’s sentiment is shared by many Muslim groups in Malaysia who questioned the motives behind the application by the Church to use the word “Allah” in the Herald which may, subsequently lead to the use of the word of “Allah” in a Malay language version of the bible. The other versions of the bible, which is the English, Chinese and Tamil language do not include the word “Allah” in their publications. As such, it seems that the word “Allah” and as such, “Allah’s Son” are meant to be used exclusively for a Malay language version and targeted for the largely Malay Muslim community. The demonstrations of opposition to the Court decision that took place all over the country culminated in sporadic attacks against Churches in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Perak, Malacca and Sarawak, hinting to possible civil unrest if left unabated. A news report dated 11th January 2010 in the Star which states “…Some 1,700 members of the Protestant Church packed the hall for the joint Mandarin and English services from early yesterday…” points blankly to the age old customary usage of English and Mandarin in their Church services, which reinforces the suspicion of the Muslim community towards the intention of the Church in using the word “Allah” in the Malay language pages of the Herald-Weekly and the Malay version of the bible. Members of Churches testify through at least one blog (http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/12096) as follows:- “It is for the use of ‘Allah’ in worship and publication in Bahasa, not in English…Yes, they had use God and will continue use God in English worship/publication but in Bahasa, they want to use ‘Allah’ back”. In respect to the attacks against the Churches, there have been notable efforts by the government to pacify the Christian community whereby monetary compensation and contribution to repair the Churches were offered. The Muslim community generally do not condone the attacks and belief that these attacks are isolated incidences and committed by extremist individuals. However, similar efforts by the government to pacify the Muslim community are wanting and the Christian community have not come strongly forward to state their disagreement with the application by the Titular Roman Archbishop to use the word “Allah” in Malay language pages of the Herald-Weekly. In order to contain extremist individuals and comfort the wounds of the Muslim community inflicted by the Church’s Court application, a more decisive stand has to be made by the government authorities. Although the stand by the government authorities in this issue is uncertain and lacking in direction, the King – Yang Dipertuan Agong Al-Wathiqu Billah Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin ibin Almarhum Sultan Madmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah (“Yang Dipertuan Agung”) came forward to point the direction that the government is supposed to drive in this issue. In the statement issued by the Yang Dipertuan Agung dated 9th January 2010, the Yang DiPertuan Agung reminded all parties to respect Islam as the religion of the Federation and emphatically stated that the use of the word “Allah” shall precisely follow that as understood and complied in the Islamic context. The statement made by the Yang DiPertuan Agung had to a certain extent, provided some semblance of relief from the black abyss that currently envelopes the muslim community. The statement by the Yang DiPertuan Agung that Islam is the religion of the Federation is of great significance in its meaning and effect. Under the Constitution, Islam holds a special position that is unquestionable. This special position is entrenched in Article 3 of the Federal Constitution that states, “Islam is the religion of the Federation; but other religions may be practised in peace in harmony in any part of the Federation.” Therefore, Article 3 establishes the sovereignty of Islam as the religion of the Federation and the rights of other religions to be practised shall not encroach on the rights of Muslims to practise Islam nor cause disharmony to Islam. The description of Islam as a religion above others under the Constitution is aptly described by Judge Mohd Nor Abdullah in a decided case in the year 2000 (Meor Atiqurahman bin Ishak & Ors v Fatimah Sihi & Ors [2000] 1 CLJ 393), where Islam is likened to a majestic tree known as the “Pokok Jati” which is tall, strong and luminous. It stands and walk before others, its presence is in the main arena with its voice heard loud and clear. If its nature is not as such, then it cannot be said to be a religion above others in the Constitution. The Yang DiPertuan Agung, in taking the office of Yang DiPertuan Agong, is subject to the Oaths he had pledged as stipulated in the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution. In accordance to the Oaths taken under the name of Allah, the Yang DiPertuan Agong has an undisputable sacred duty as custodian and protector of the religion of Islam and Malay rights. In the case of the Herald, the Yang DiPertuan Agong, having been advised by Constitutional experts, came instantly to the defence of the Islamic religion and being an institution by itself, was the first to pledge support for the Sultan of Selangor in the intervener application. The Majlis Agama of Terengganu, being the state directly under the Yang DiPertuan Agong was initiated as a party through its Majlis Agama Islam to the intervener application. For states that have no Sultan such as Malacca, Pulau Pinang and Wilayah Persekutuan, the Yang DiPertuan Agong took upon himself to instruct the Majlis Agama of these states to join in the intervener application. The Sultan of Johor, meanwhile, came into the intervener application through the advice of their Mufti. The main thrust of the Yang DiPertuan Agong’s and Majlis Agama States’ concern is the confusion that the misuse of the word “Allah” would cause among the Muslims and non Muslims alike. The concept of Allah as understood, embraced and practised by the Muslim community in Malaysia is totally distinct and separate from the concept as understood by the Church conceptually, culturally and theologically. Whereas, the concept of Allah embraced by the Muslim community in Malaysia as defined in the context of Muslim and Malay tradition is Allah in a MONOTHEIST (TAUHID) sense as opposed to the concept of TRINITY of God as understood by the Church. In the aftermath of the Church attacks, calls were made for the Muslim community to remain calm and not to disrupt harmony. Some opinions chided the Muslim community for their intolerant behaviour towards the Court Decision and even advised that the issue of the use of the word “Allah” in the Malay language pages of the Herald-Weekly has been unjustly magnified. The nation has forgotten one critical aspect in all of this mayhem; the Muslim community did not start the encroachment of the rights of other religious communities. Instead, the act of the Church in bringing the matter to Court is seen by the Muslim community as a belligerent and provocative act and this fact should be acknowledged by all, as a first step towards healing wounds.

Azril Mohd. Amin
Information Secretariat,
Persatuan Peguam Peguam Muslim Malaysia.
(Muslim Lawyers Association of Malaysia)

LAGU ALLAH JESUS PULAK DAH!!

Salam 2 all.

Saya makin bertambah hairan dengan segelintir puak-puak Kristian di Sabah/Sarawak yang berdegil mahu menggunakan kalimah 'ALLAH' sebagai ganti nama 'God' bagi tuhan triniti mereka-bahawa ALLAH itu Tuhan Bapak, Tuhan Anak & Roh Suci. Dan bertambah hairan saya dengan segelintir Melayu yang menyokong dan bersetuju dengan penggunaan kalimah ALLAH dalam bentuk syirik dan kufur ini!!

Satu soalan saya mahu tanya kepada mereka: apa yang kamu faham tentang nama 'ALLAH' itu? Tahukah kamu bahawa kamu telah terperdaya untuk mempercayai ALLAH itu adalah Tuhan Triniti: Tuhan Bapak, Tuhan Anak & Ruh Suci. Sebenarnya Tuhan ALLAH itu Satu. Dan itulah risalah yang dibawa oleh Nabi Adam, Nabi Ibrahim, Nabi Musa, Nabi Isa dan Nabi Muhammad saw. Kesemua para Rasul dan Nabi, daripada Adam a.s hinggalah ke Nabi Muhammad saw membawa risalah tauhid yang sama..ALLAH itu Tuhan yang Satu..sembahlah Dia.

Ulama' Yahudi 'Abdullah Bin Salam, dari kaum Yahudi Bani Israel, kaum yang telah beribu tahun menggunakan nama ALLAH tetapi mempercayai ALLAH punya anak bernama Uzair telah terus meninggalkan amalan kufur dan syirik itu apabila Nabi Muhammad menegaskan risalah bahawa amalan menyatakan ALLAH ada anak bernama 'Uzair adalah 'amalan syirik dan kufur! Abdullah bin Salam tanpa sebarang keraguan mengakui bahawa ALLAH itu Satu, dan terus menyembah ALLAH yang Satu itu.

Raja Kristian Maharaja Najasyi daripada Habsyah, ketua satu kaum yang beratus tahun lamanya menggunakan nama ALLAH sebagai Tuhan tetapi mempercayai ALLAH punya anak bernama Isa Al Masih @ Iesous @ Yesus @ Jesus. Tetapi apabila dakwah sampai kepada beliau oleh Ja'far Abi Tolib At Tayyar yang membacakan surah Maryam, menceritakan bahawa Isa @ Jesus itu bukanlah Tuhan Anak tetapi hanyalah seorang Nabi, lantas Raja Besar Kristian itu terus meninggalkan 'amalan syirik dan kufur itu dan mengakui ALLAH itu Satu dan mempertuhankan ALLAH yang Satu itu!

Adakah kamu tahu, Bishop Tiny Muskins, seorang Paderi Kanan daripada Gereja Roma Katolik Belanda berusia 71 tahun baru-baru ini mencadangkan penggunaan ganti nama 'God' kepada 'ALLAH' untuk tujuan penyatuan dan kesatuan manusia. Tetapi sedarkan kamu wahai Kristian Sabah/Sarawak apa jawapan pimpinan Kristian terhadap cadangan itu? Mereka menolaknya bulat-bulat.

Seorang paderi Kristian yang terkenal, Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., Presiden The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary menegaskan bahawa cadangan menggantikan nama 'God' kepada 'ALLAH' tidak boleh diterima sama sekali oleh dunia Kristian (sila baca kenyataan beliau dibawah). Jadi bagaimana pula kamu sebagai penganut agama Kristian boleh menerimanya? Apakah kamu sudah merujuk kepada Pope kamu di Vatican sana? Apa pandangan beliau? Sudahkah kamu baca kenyataan daripada Vatican bahawa nama Tuhan kamu ialah YHWH? Tetapi nama itu terlalu suci buat kamu sehingga kamu tidak dibenarkan menyebutnya?! Dan sebaliknya kamu memilih untuk mencemar kalimah suci ALLAH Yang Satu!

Saya juga mahu bertanya, tidak terfikirkah kamu mengapa nama tuhan kamu berubah-ubah mengikut kaum dan bahasa? Tidakkah itu sepatutnya membuka mata, jiwa, pemikiran dan hati kamu untuk mengenal tuhan yang lebih benar. Dan saya katakan kepada kamu Tuhan yang benar, yang berhak disembah ialah ALLAH Yang Satu. Kamu sendiri pun tahu, tidak mungkin Jesus yang mencipta kamu. Kamu sendiri pun tahu, tidak mungkin Jesus mencipta dunia ini. Kamu pasti tahu tidak mungkin Jesus yang menumbuhkan pokok-pokok, mendatangkan hujan, membuat gunung-ganang dan lain-lain. Pasti kamu yakin bukan Jesus yang menghidupkan dan mematikan!! Sudah pasti jawapan kamu bahawa ALLAH lah yang membuat itu semua. Kalau kamu akui ALLAH yang mencipta, yang menumbuh, yang menghancurkan, menjadikan, menghidupkan dan mematikan; mengapa kamu tidak mahu menyembah ALLAH Yang Satu itu?

Mengapa kamu hanya jadikan ALLAH soal istilah, sedangkan ALLAH itu wajib disembah! Ini bukan isu terminologi, ini soal aqidah dan kepercayaan! Sebab itu saya seru kamu, marilah akui ketuhanan ALLAH yang Satu, dan sembahlah ALLAH yang Satu itu. Kalau iktiqad dan aqidah kamu begitu, mempercayai dan mengakui ALLAH itu Satu, maka kamu berhak memakai dan menggunakan nama ALLAH itu tanpa sebarang batasan dan halangan. Tetapi kalau kamu masih berdegil mahu mencemar nama ALLAH dengan perbuatan syirik dan kufur, mendakwa ALLAH punya anak dan sekutu, maka kamu sebenarnya mengisytiharkan perang aqidah terhadap kami umat yang mengakui dan menyembah ALLAH Yang Satu!

Maka atas sebab itulah kami meragui niat kamu sebenarnya, apakah ada agenda halus dan terancang dikalangan kamu, untuk menimbulkan huru hara dan kaca bilau dari segi pemikiran dan aqidah Tuhan Yang Satu ini? Maka benarlah apa yang difirmankan oleh ALLAH Yang Satu kepada kami, "sesungguhnya kamu kaum Yahudi dan Kristian, selama-lamanya tidak akan setuju dan redho dengan umat Islam yang mempercayai dan menyembah ALLAH Yang Satu. Malahan kamu akan berusaha selama-lamanya untuk memesongkan kami supaya kami mengikut cara dan kepercayaan kamu bahawa ALLAH itu ada anak dan sekutu. Namun kami ingin memberitahu kamu, cukuplah bagi kami Al Quran itu. Kami tidak akan terpedaya dengan mainan kamu. Kami yakin dengan kepercayaan kami bahawa ALLAH itu Satu, dan kepercayaan itu adalah benar dan yang haq, dan kami pasti menang dan berjaya, walaupun kamu tidak menyukainya!".

Wassalam.

Zulkifli Bin Noordin
Isnin
02 Safar 1431
18 Januari 2010

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Is Calling the Christian God 'Allah' Wrong?

(Rujukan: http://www.christianpost.com/article/20070823/is-calling-the-christian-god-allah-wrong/index.html)

One of America’s pre-eminent evangelicals is challenging the advice of a retiring Roman Catholic Bishop in the Netherlands who has raised eyebrows worldwide by suggesting Dutch Christians pray to “Allah.”
Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, argues that it is inappropriate for Christians to call God Allah based on irreconcilable theological differences associated with the name Allah and core Christian beliefs.
The key condition behind calling the Christian God Allah is that Allah must refer to the same God as the one in the Bible. However, this requirement presents “a huge problem for both Muslims and Christians,” contends M ohler.
The theologian pointed out that the Qur’an explicitly denies that Allah has a son, and Islam considers the idea of a triune God to be blasphemy.
“Thus, from its very starting point Islam denies what Christianity takes as its central truth claim – the fact that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father,” wrote Mohler on his web blog Wednesday.
“If Allah has no Son by definition, Allah is not the God who revealed himself in the Son. How then can the use of Allah by Christians lead to anything but confusion …and worse?”
Last Monday, during an interview with a Dutch TV program, 71-year-old Bishop Tiny Muskens promoted the idea of Dutch Christians calling God Allah, believing that it would ease much of the conflict between the Christian and Muslim faiths. Muskens contended that God doesn’t mind what He is called and the arguments over what to call Him is an invention of man.
“Allah is a very beautiful word for God. Shouldn’t we all say that from now on we will name God Allah? …What does God care what we call Him? It is our problem,” said Muskens, according to The Associated Press.
The retiring bishop was a former missionary to Indonesia – the most populous Muslim country in the world – for eight years, where he said priests used the name “Allah” while celebrating Mass.
In response, Mohler pointed out that it would be difficult to support the argument that “Allah” can be used as a generic term for God. The theologian said separation of Allah from the language, theology, and worship closely associated with it is difficult. Moreover, even non-Arabic speaking Muslims use Allah when referring to their god.
Another irreconcilable difference is that Jesus commanded his followers to baptize “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
“When this command is taken seriously and obeyed, the whole issue is greatly clarified – a Christian cannot baptize in the name of Allah,” stated Mohler.
“So Bishop Muskens is disingenuous at best when he suggests that God does not care about His name. This is not a matter of mere ‘discussion and bickering,’” said Mohler.
“If Allah has no son, Allah is not the father of our Lord Jesus Christ…This is no mere ‘discussion and bickering.’ This is where the Gospel stands or falls,” the theologian concluded.
Bishop Muskens in the past endorsed other controversial ideas which went against the Vatican leadership – such as those who are hungry can steal bread and that condoms should be permissible in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

TAHNIAH FUDZAIL

(Fudzail and family: Saifullah, Dr. Azma, Muhaimin and Faidhi di Bumi Al Anbiya')

Salam 2 all.

Saya ucapkan tahnia kepada sahabat saya Sdr Fudzail Mohd. Nor yang terpilih menerima Hadiah Sastera Perdana Malaysia ke 18 yang akan berlangsung hari ini Isnin 02 Safar 1431/18 Januari 2010 di Hotel Legend. Hadiah akan disampaikan oleh YAB Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yaasin.

Cerpen Sdr Fudzail bertajuk "Jerebu Dalam Blog Mak Andeh" diterbitkan dalam akhbar Berita Minggu pada 14.05.2006 (sinopsis ceritanya dibawah). Bagi sdr/i yang berminat dengan karya sdr Fudzail, sebuah antologi cerpen karya beliau telah diterbitkan oleh Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka Malaysia bertaju "DOTKOMANIA". Buku ini boleh didapati dikedai-kedai buku atau pun secara online. Untuk mereka yang berminat untuk mengenali sdr Fudzail dengan lebih dekat, sila layari http://1426.blogspot.com/ Saya secara peribadi mengenali sdr. Fudzail sejak 1983, dan mendapati karya-karya beliau sangat hidup kerana mengupas isu-isu semasa, dengan bahasa yang santai dan bersahaja. Memang banyak kata-kata sinis dilontarkan didalam karya beliau. Hanya yang makan budu akan terasa sodapnya!! Kalau dalam alam kartun kita ada Lat dan Zunar melakari kisah dan isu semasa, maka dalam penulisan dan cerpen, kita ada Sdr. Fudzail yang coretannya pasti akan menghiburkan dan membuka minda kita.

Tahniah sdr. Fudzail, dan selemat membaca "Dotkomania" kepada semua.

Adios amigos.

Zulkifli Bin Noordin

02 Safar 1431

18 Januari 2010

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Hadiah Sastera Perdana Malaysia ke 18
Pada hari ini diadakan penyampaian Hadiah Sastera Perdana Malaysia ke 18, di Hotel Legend Kuala Lumpur.Pemenang yang karya mereka diterbitkan pada 2004, 2005, 2006 dan 2007 dalam bentuk buku, karya eceran dalam akhbar, majalah, jurnal dan antologi serta skrip drama yang dipentaskan akan menerima hadiah masing-masing daripada Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.Menurut Ku Seman dalam Utusan hari ini, HSPM adalah satu-satunya anugerah berprestij bertaraf nasional bagi bidang kesusasteraan negara ini. HSPM menjadi pengukur turun dan naik mutu pengkaryaan dalam kesusasteraan, khususnya sastera Melayu.Dari segi pandangan umum, HSPM tidak sehebat Juara Lagu, Akademi Fantasia, Anugerah Skrin dsbnya yang meletakkan para artis seumpama bintang-bintang berkelipan dengan menawarkan hadiah-hadiah hebat.Bukan sahaja tiada siaran langsung, malah berita dalam akhbar pun sekadar berita kaki.Begitupun, buat karyawan, pengiktirafan seperti HSPM, walau sekadar dua tahun sekali, sudah cukup memberi sesuatu yang bermakna. Sastera adalah sebahagian dari tamadun yang perlu diteruskan. Para pejuang sastera merupakan kesinambungan warisan untuk generasi akan datang menilai kehidupan masa kini.Tahniah pada saya buat semua pemenang malam ini, nama-nama hebat dunia sastera yang menjadikan saya amat kerdil. Alhamdulillah, saya mewakilkan anak sulung, Saifullah dan ibu untuk menerima sijil dari TPM.Karya saya yang terpilih ialah cerpen , 'Jerebu dalam Blog Mak Andeh' yang tersiar dalam Berita Minggu 14 Mei 2006.Dibawah adalah sebahagian dari cerpen tersebut. Cerpen ini juga terdapat dalam antologi, 'Dotkomania'.

JEREBU DALAM BLOG MAK ANDEH

Dalam banyak percakapan atau perbualan atau dialog biasa dengan mereka yang biasa, kekadang ada perkara yang mungkin terkeluar dari norma. Sememangnya kebiasaanya, manusia terlalu banyak mengambil tidak endah dengan banyak perkara. Kesibukan, prioriti berlainan dan kekalutan mengejar impian menjadikan banyak perkara sekadar catatan nota kaki.Seperti dalam keadaan berjerebu yang begitu teruk, saya terperangkap di hujung minggu. Tidak dapat bermain golf seperti biasa. Isteri, Rohaya dan kakak ipar yang bergelar ibu tunggal, mengambil kesempatan untuk pergi ke majlis reunion kelas sekolah berasrama penuh mereka.Begitu gembira keduanya untuk bertemu kawan-kawan sekelas tahun 75-80 setelah 25 tahun meninggalkan sekolah. Old girls network yang semuanya sudah menjadi makcik-makcik, kalau tidak bertaraf datin-datin.Meninggalkan anak-anak dibawah jagaan saya. Lima anak perempuan dan empat anak lelaki di sebuah rumah teres empat bilik. Paling tua dalam tingkatan lima dan paling muda dalam darjah satu. Biarkan saja mereka dengan aktiviti masing-masing.Ada menonton TV, ada bermain dengan Gameboy, playstation, membaca novel terbaru Harry Potter, membaca novel cinta Melayu, mendengar muzik, bermain catur, ada yang asyik menghantar sms dan ada yang sibuk melayar Internet."Pak Ngah tak ada blog?" Pertanyaan itu memecah kebekuan bila saya menjenguk ke arah skrin PC. Suara Daniel yang berusia 12 tahun itu sudah pecah. Sudah akil baligh rupanya budak tembam dan sihat itu.Saya hanya tersenyum sambil menggeleng. Ramai kawan-kawan yang sebaya, empat puluhan begini turut menyusur arus blog. Selalu juga sekiranya kebosanan di pejabat, saya melayari blog mereka yang mempunyai pelbagai variasi. Dari humor, politik, merapu ke taraf jurnal profesional."Tak happening lah Pak Ngah...mak kita pun ada blog...!"Kata-kata itu menyambar imaginasi. Kak Fidah ada blog sendiri? Sejak bila dia menjadi Internet-savvy?Saya memandang ke arah skrin. Terpampang dalam warna-warna ceria."Blog Mak Andeh".

(Ikuti selanjutnya dalam 'Dotkomania').

ALLAH KRISTIAN:SATU PENGALAMAN NGERI

Salam 2 all.

Saya menerima satu kisah dari seorang Melayu yang pernah hidup di Indonesia. Dan pengalaman beliau benar-benar suatu iktibar dan pengajaran yang sangat berguna untuk kita di Malaysia. Walaupun peristiwa yang diceritakan itu berlaku di Indonesia, saya tidak hairan bahawa suatu hari nanti ia akan berlaku di Malaysia, tambahan melihat ada haprak dikalangan Melayu yang begitu beriya-iya nak menyokong puak-puak Kristian ini.!!

Saya lihat apa yang beliau ceritakan benar-benar menepati konsep 'uruf al balad yang menjadi dalil saya menentang penggunaan kalimah ALLAH oleh segelintir Kristian di Malaysia ini. Iaitu kita mesti melihat isu ini dalam konteks masyarakat setempat..iaitu masyarakat Malaysia sendiri.

Satu perkara yang jelas, bagi puak Kristian ini, nama ALLAH hanyalah satu terminologi; tapi bagi kita umat Islam ianya satu aqidah! Terminologi boleh ditukar ganti, tapi aqidah tetap sebati.

Puak Kristian berkeras mahu mengguna nama ALLAH sebagai satu terminologi ketuhanan Triniti-Tuhan Bapak, Tuhan Anak & Roh Suci. Itu adalah perbuatan syirik dan kufur kepada ALLAH. Dan bagi Melayu. Yang menyokong, ini bermakna kamu setuju dan redho dengan perbuatan mensyirik dan menyengutukan ALLAH. Dan "Arridho bil kufr..kufr: redho dengan kekafiran itu kafir namanya".

Amaran dan peringatan saya kepada Melayu yang menjadi penyokong dan pendokong para Kristian ini, kamu mungkin sudah melakukan suatu perbuatan syirik dan kufur atas keredhoan kamu. Dan kata Dato' Dr. Harun Din, itu kafir namanya!! Na'uzubillah min zalik.

Zulkifli Bin Noordin
Sabtu
29 Muharram 1431
16 Januari 2010

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(Catatan suatu Pengalaman)

Just nak kongsi pengalaman sepanjang lebih 5 tahun tinggal dan belajar di
Indonesia. Saya tidak berniat memburukkan Indonesia..They have my respect,dan saya tahu orang2 Indonesia tidak seburuk yang disangkakan di sini.(orang Indonesia baik dan ramah, pintar dan rajin.. that's a fact!)

Pengalaman ini saya kongsi supaya orang ramai boleh tahu dan membayangkan implikasinya jika penggunaan nama Allah oleh non-muslim dibiarkan. Di satu sisi memang agak lucu, tapi di sisi lain terdapat keseriusan di dalamnya

Aku ingat satu hari aku bukak TV perdana dia pastu tengok satu program.. Aku ingat ceramah agama lah.. dia punya penceramah punya semangat berkobar2.. "Kita semua sudah berdosa! Allah Maha Kuasa! Allah Maha Penyayang! Kembalilah kita semua ke jalan Allah! (aku dalam hati, Alhamdulillah.. bagus!) pastu tak pasal2 dia sambung "Kembalilah ke Yesus Kristus dan Bunda Maryam!" aku langsung tergolek... astaghfirullah! ceramah Kristian rupanya.

Satu lagi kenangan aku kat Indonesia, kalo baca surat khabar sana nanti ada slot obituaries: "Telah Kembali ke Rahmat Allah, Sdr. XXX pada XXX Semoga ruh beliau dicucuri rahmat Allah" Bila tengok balik nama yang mati Eduardus, Kristus, Paulus, etc. (nama org Kristian) pastu ada salib diikuti tulisan kecik "ash to ash, dust to dust, fade to black"... tergolek lagi aku.. wakakaka..

Satu lagi cerita aku kat Indonesia, satu hari aku 'bermusafir' lah ke daerah Jawa Barat naik motor, pastu nak berhentilah solat.. aku toleh ke kiri kanan jalan cari masjid..Pastu aku nampak ada signboard kalimah Allah (dlm arab!) pastu ada banner "Ayuh kerjakan kewajipan kita kepada Allah dan agamanya!" aku pun pergilah dekat.. tup2 aik,.awat lain macam tempat ni, siap ada patung jesus kena salib??!! Tergolek lagi aku.. lah..gereja Kristian rupenye.

Satu lagi kat sana nak beli buku-buku agama kena hati-hati.. Aku dulu pernah 'usha' buku kat kedai buku..Ada satu buku aku tak ingat persis tapi tajuk buku dia lebih kurang camni: "Memantapkan Iman Anda Kepada Allah" bila bukak2 browsing per helai aku start confuse, amacam lain macam aje ayat2 dan hadis dia.. Aku tengok balik lah.. ayat2 kutipan dari Bible.. tergolek aku lagi.. lah, buku dakwah Kristian rupanya..risau gak kalu jadi camni kat M’sia

Di tengah tengah bandar bandung juga terdapat sebuah geraja yang dinamakan "rumah Allah"...mcm mcm lagi isu akan timbul lepas ni selagi Malaysia mengamalkan demokrasi-sekular!

GEREJA ALLAH?

(Gereja "ALLAH")

Salam 2 all.

Sebagaimana yang telah saya nukilkan semalam didalam tulisan bertajuk "Makin Kurang Ajar", saya menyatakan akan ada segelintir puak-puak Kristian akan mengambil kesempatan dari kemelut yang berlaku. Saya menjangkakan mereka akan mula buat pelbagai tuntutan. Tak sampai 24 jam, muncul tuntutan baru.

Dalam isu Herald, mereka menuntut menerbitkan risalah menggunakan nama ALLAH hanya untuk penggunaan segelintir Kristian di Sabah/Sarawak, konon atas alasan mereka berbahasa Melayu. Dua hari lepas, satu lagi permohonan difailkan di Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur menuntut supaya mereka dibenarkan membawa masuk bahan bacaan dan penerbitan dari luar yang jelas menggunakan nama 'ALLAH' sebagai nama Tuhan yang punya anak.

Hari ini, didalam satu wawancara yang disiarkan di thenutgraph.com, sebuah media siber tempatan, Chrisane Chin (Moderator Hal Ehwal Belia Majlis Gereja Malaysia) dan (Sivin Kit (pastor Gereja Lutheran Bangsar) membuat kenyataan bahawa penggunaan nama ALLAH bagi Kristian sepatutnya dibenarkan diseluruh Malaysia dan tidak hanya terhad ke Sabah/Sarawak sahaja. Rasional mereka? Kerana ada Kristian Sabah/ Sarawak yang tinggal dan bekerja di Semenanjung yang tidak faham bahasa selain Melayu!! Malah lebih kurang ajar, mereka dengan sombong menyatakan Kristian Malaysia tidak akan berganjak daripada menuntut menggunakan nama 'ALLAH' sebagai gantinama 'God' dalam bentuk triniti-Tuhan Bapak, Tuhan Anak & Roh Suci.

Mungkin selepas ini mereka akan menuntut Gereja Melayu dengan nama ALLAH dibenarkan! Alasan; sebab ramai Melayu Indon beragama Kristian yang tinggal dan bekerja di Malaysia. Dan inilah yang telah berlaku di Indonesia, saperti gambar diatas. Bersepah Gereja ALLAH muncul di Indonesia sekarang ini. Dan semuanya kerana dasar pancasila yang menyamaratakan semua agama. Memandangkan semua agama sama, maka dibenarkan Kristian di Indonesia menggunakan perkataan-perkataan yang sama dengan Islam.

Setelah berpuluh tahun 'amalan syirik ini dibenarkan, akhirnya generasi Indonesia menjadi bangsa yang cacamerba dan rojak. Apa tidaknya, gadis Melayu berjumpa dengan pemuda Kristian tidak nampak lagi perbezaan diantara mereka. Nama sama, yang Muslim pun "Hartono", yang Kristian pun "Hartono". Yang Muslim pun tuhannya "ALLAH", yang Kristian tuahnnya pun "ALLAH". Yang Muslim "solat" di masjid, yang Kristian "solat" di gereja ALLAH. Yang Muslimnya mengejar "syurga", yang Kristian pun mencari "syurga"! Bagi si gadis Melayu Muslim ni, apa beza Hartono Muslim dan Hartono Kristian..sama saja dong!! Jadi kita tidak hairan ada pasangan suami isteri, dimana si isteri Islam, si suami Kristian. Mula nikah di masjid, lusa nikah pula di gereja..kita serupa dong!!

Apakah kita umat Islam di Malaysia yang sudah begitu sebati dengan Islam redho dengan perkara ini? Kesebatian umat Islam Melayu dengan agama begitu intim, hinggakan British semasa menggubal Perlembagaan terpaksa mengakui hakikat ini, dan menyediakan satu peruntukkan khas di dalam Artikel 160 Perlembagaan bahawa syarat menjadi Melayu itu mestilah dia seorang Islam. Ini tidak ada bagi Melayu Indon, Melayu Filipina, Melayu Siam, Melayu Afrika; malah tidak adfa bangsa didunia ini yang keujudan bangsanya dikaitkan dengan agama, kecuali bangsa Melayu.

Sedarlah saudara ku umat Islam bangsa Melayu, kerana Islamlah bangsa Melayu menjadi hebat dan bertamaddun. Kata Saidina 'Umar radhiallah hu 'anh, "kita dahulunya kaum yang hina (Melayu dahulu asalnya Hindu!). ALLAH swt telah memuliakan kita dengan Islam. Andainya kita mencari kemuliaan selain daripada apa yang telah ALLAH muliakan kita dengannya, maka kita akan dihina oleh ALLAH!".

('Umar ibnul Khattab semasa pembukaan Masjidil Aqsa riwayat yang sanadnya dinilai sahih oleh Al Hakim dan disokong oleh Az Zahabi dalam kitab "Al-Mustadbrak" 1/237, Beirut Darul Ma'rifah).

Apakah selepas ini akan mula muncul gereja-gereja dan salib-salib yang menulis nama 'ALLAH'?! Saya jangka kalau nak muncul pun mungkin bermula di Shah Alam, sebab nampak gaya ada segelintir orang Melayu di Shah Alam yang cukup kuat semangat bertolak ansurnya. Hindu minta bina kuil di kawasan perumahan Islam pun ok; jadi kalau Kristian minta nama Gereja 'ALLAH' pun mungkin juga ok kot!! Na'uzubillah min zaalik.

Wallahua'lam, wassalam.

Zulkifli Bin Noordin

Khamis

28 Muharram 1431

14 Januari 2010

DR. FARUQI: KALIMAH ALLAH

Salam 2 all.

Saya perturunkan disini tulisan Professor Datuk Dr. Shad Saleem Faruqi* mengenai isu penyalahgunaan kalimah ALLAH. Dr. Faruqi seoarng yang dikenal sebagai pakar perundangan khususnya dalam bidang perlembagaan. Pandangan dan pendapat beliau selalu digunakan oleh puak-puak Islam Liberal dan para penyembah agama hak asasi kemanusiaan.

Sebenarnya kalau dilihat pandangan Dr. Faruqi tidak jauh bezanya dengan pandangan Datuk Dr. Siddiq Fadzil yang mengambil pendekatan 'uruf al balad; melihat kepada keadaan setempat dalam menilai masalah penyalahgunaan kalimah ALLAH ini.

Moga pandangan yang beliau kemukakan akan memperbetulkan kembali mentaliti segelintir puak-puak Kristian dan para penyokong dan pendokong mereka termasuk dikalangan Melayu sendiri.

Zulkifli Bin Noordin
Rabu
27 Muharram 1431
13 Januari 2010

*Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr. Shad Saleem Faruqi is a Malaysian Senior Professor of law who has served Universiti Teknologi MARA in Shah Alam, Selangor in various capacities from 1971 onwards. He served as the Head of the Diploma in Law programme (1979 - 1984), as Assistant Rector (1996-1999), Assistant Vice Chancellor (1999 - 2001) and Legal Advisor (1996 - 2006).
He has also served on the faculties of law at the International Islamic University Malaysia, part time at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and a visiting professor at Universiti Sains Malaysia.
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At the age of 19, Dr Shad Faruqi graduated from the Wesleyan University in the United States with a degree in Government Administration. He went on to complete his LLB (First Class) and LLM (First Class) from Aligarh Muslim University, India and his PhD from International Islamic University Malaysia.
Dr. Shad Faruqi has served as a consultant to many countries including Maldives, Fiji, Timor Leste, Afghanistan and Iraq, advising them on their constitutional documents. In 1991 as part of an Asia Foundation Project he drafted the constitution of the Republic of Maldives.
On behalf of Institut Teknologi MARA he drafted the Institut Teknologi MARA (Amendment) Bill 1996 that went on to become an Act of Parliament. In 1999 he drafted the Universiti Teknologi MARA (Amendment) Bill that was enacted by Parliament as Act A1073. The Act converted Institut Teknologi MARA into a full-fledged university.
At the end of 2004, the Barisan Nasional Back-Benchers Club of the Parliament of Malaysia appointed him as a consultant to advise them on reforming and empowering Parliament in the face of the executive branch's dominance of the Malaysian government.
In 2006 the Minister of Education appointed him Chairman of a Committee to propose amendments to the Universities and University Colleges Act 1972 [Act 30]. The Committee's recommendations were adopted as law in early 2009. He is also a member of the Apex University Initiative; Distinguished Fellow of the Institute of Strategic Studies; and one-time member of the Human Rights Commission's Education Sub-Committee.



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(Petikan daripada akhbar The Star Rabu 13.01.2010)

Finding the middle path



REFLECTING ON THE LAW
By SHAD SALEEM FARUQI

It is not always right to use our rights. In matters of religion, history, logic and reason must not apply exclusively. Emotions must be regarded.
THE desecration of several places of Christian worship must be condemned as a shameless and mindless atrocity. A democratic society does not resolve disputes through violence.
It is obvious that we have in our midst a lunatic fringe that has no understanding of religion or of the Constitution or of the traditions of tolerance and multi-culturalism that made Malaysia an exemplar for all other plural societies.
In the midst of gloom it is heartening to note that a large number of Muslims, including the Prime Minister, have joined grieving Christians to condemn this outrage.
Church leaders have shown exceptional restraint and have been true to their faith by condemning the sin but forgiving the sinners.
We have to put this national shame behind us and to move on to resolve the “Allah issue” in a spirit of compassion, moderation and accommodation.
Through the looking glass of the Christians, I can clearly see that although the word Allah has obvious reverence for Muslims, no one can deny that Allah is also a term of language.
For centuries, in the whole of Arabia, followers of all semitic religions have used the word Allah to refer to their own God. Arab-speaking Christians use Allah al-ab (God the father), Allah al-ibn (God the son), Allah al-quds (God the Holy Spirit).
Such transcendence of common symbols and vocabulary must be commended, not condemned. In any case the Muslim belief in one and only one God necessitates acceptance that Allah is for everyone and not just for Muslims.
There is also the constitutional dimension of freedom of religion in Article 11(1) and the right to free speech in Article 10(1)(a). These Articles are broad enough to permit any one to invoke whatever language or sentiment he wishes to invoke in order to open his heart and soul to God.
Muslim leaders must also acknow­ledge their role in this imbrogilo. They banned local translations of the Bible into Malay. This forced Malay-speaking Christians, especially in Sabah and Sarawak, to import Bibles from Indonesia.
Bibles in Bahasa Indonesia use Allah to refer to the Christian God.
The Muslim argument that use of the word Allah by non-Muslims will confuse the Muslim population is demeaning.
It paints the Muslims as an extremely ignorant and gullible lot. It ignores the fact that Islam took deep roots in Malaya hundreds of years ago and became the identifying feature of the Malay persona.
The Islamic faith was not shattered during British rule. Why should it be so easily shaken now after 52 years of Muslim rule, 52 years of Islamic education and a vigorous dakwah movement?
However, looking at the issue through Muslim lenses, many issues tug at my conscience. First, it is not always right to use our rights. Freedom per se has no value. It is what freedom is for. It is the use to which it is put. It is the sense of responsibility and restraint with which it is exercised.
Take the one hundred million Muslims in India for example. Despite their rights in secular India’s Constitution, they refrain from butchering the cow because the cow is regarded as sacred by the majority Hindus.
In the British case of Humphries vs Connors, 1864, a Protestant lady was marching in a predominantly Catholic area with an orange lily in her buttonhole. For historical reasons that evoked painful memories for the Catholics.
A police constable plucked the lily away. In an action against the officer for assault, the court held that the officer was within his duty to prevent breaches of the peace.
Similar considerations apply in Malaysia. The constitutional right to freedom of religion is subjected by Article 11(4) to restrictions on proselytisation. Article 11(5) subordinates religion to public order, public health or morality.
A relevant law on public order is section 298 of the Penal Code which punishes the offence of wounding religious feelings.
These feelings are likely to be wounded if there is a claim that Allah was born in the manger; that Allah was born of Mary; that Allah was crucified on the cross.
The Muslim doctrine is that Allah does not beget and cannot be begotten. He cannot be depicted in any physical form. He cannot be part of the Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
To argue that the word Allah is central to the Christian faith and that any restriction on its usage would hinder freedom of conscience of the Christians requires a willing suspension of disbelief.
Other than in the Arab Peninsula and in Sabah and Sarawak, the word Allah has never been part of Christian discourse or sermons. Certainly in west Malaysia the word was not part of Christian vocabulary up to now.
The Herald’s new found love for Arabic words is indeed very touching but one cannot fail to note that the import of Arabic words is rather selective.
Tan Sri Dzulkifli of USM has pointed out that in the Malay translation of the Bible, the word Allah is used to refer to the Lord God but Mary, Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Michael and other revered figures are not given their Arabic names.
One must also remember that Malaysia is not Arab-speaking and Christian sermons in Malay could just as well use words like Tuhan, Dewa, Dewata and Betara without any diminution of freedom of conscience.
The plaintiffs in the Herald case must also take note that there is suspicion, unjustified though it may be, that the use of the word Allah is an indirect attempt to proselytize Muslims contrary to Article 11(4).
The argument that the Church will be using the word Allah only privately is credible but we all know that it does not take much to put a private publication in the public domain.
All in all it can be said that in relation to the Herald case, the general Muslim reaction is too emotional and is based on lack of knowledge.
The Herald, on the other hand, has lots of facts but no tact. Its arguments rely on cold logic, history and rationality but there is total disregard of local context and of religious sensitivities.
It is submitted that in matters of religion, history, logic and reason must not apply exclusively. Emotions must be regarded. Sometimes rights must give way to the need for social harmony. We need to find a middle path.
The case of Sabah and Sarawak Christians who have a long tradition of using the word Allah without any inter-religious problems needs to be sympathetically considered.
In the long range, encouragement must be given to replace Indonesian translations of the Bible with Malaysian renditions. All restrictions on the printing of Bibles in the Malay language must be lifted.
In relation to west Malaysian Christians, there is no need to use the sledgehammer of the Printing Press­es Act to impose prior restrai­nts. A Home Ministry advice on the consequences of violating Articles 11(4), 11(5) and section 298 of the Penal Code will be sufficient. If this advice is not followed, prosecutions can be commenced.
The judicial process should be allowed to continue without any intimidation. However neither judicial decisions nor executive proclamations can make this heart-wrenching problem go away.
We need inter-faith dialogue to find comprehensive political and administrative solutions for our tattered fabric of inter-religious relationships. There are many painful issues and piece-meal solutions will not be enough.
Fair and moderate solutions will require leadership and sacrifice. As the Rev Jesse Jackson said “leaders of substance do not follow opinion polls; they mould opinion, not with guns or power of position but with the power of their souls”.
> Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi is Emeritus Professor of Law at UiTM and Visiting Professor at USM.