"There is no simple solution to this complex situation, but a solution will surely be found if all are willing to solve the issue," the Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) legal adviser during a question-and-answer session after delivering a lecture on ‘Federal-state relations in Malaysia' at the UiTM campus in Kuching.
Shad Faruqi said non-Muslims in Sarawak had been using the word ‘Allah' for a very long time and Muslims in the state were not offended, pointing out that peninsular Malaysians could learn from their East Malaysian counterparts on how to live together.
"Communally, Sabahans and Sarawakians are far ahead of the Peninsular Malaysians.
"Intellectually speaking, it is quite funny for someone to prescribe to someone else how God should be addressed.
"This argument contradicts with our freedom of religion and free speech. Many so-called religious experts argue that the word ‘Allah' is unique to Islam and that it must not be used by others.
"With all due respect, this argument hasn't a leg to stand on. The word ‘Allah' is used by people in the Arabic world, including Christian Arabs.
"In Arabic countries, words such as ‘Bismillah', ‘Alhamdulillah' and so on are used by Christian Arabs because they are part of the Arabic language," he said.
Not unique to Islam
Shad Faruqi pointed out: "The argument that the word ‘Allah' is unique to Islam basically reflects a lack of knowledge of history. Arguments that Muslims will be misled by the use of word ‘Allah' by Christians are unacceptable.
"Muslims are not gullible or unintelligent," he said, adding that a Muslim would not be easily misled to follow another religion just because the word ‘Allah' was also uttered by non-Muslims.
Those making such arguments, he said, had a very weak knowledge of Islamic teachings and its history.
On Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali's (right) urging the burning
of copies of Bibles containing the term ‘Allah', Faruqi said that it
was an extreme measure that had no room in a country like Malaysia,
which had worked hard to strengthen solidarity and harmony in its
multi-racial society."This kind of extremism must be condemned at all costs. The nation should not heed the call but work at achieving a solution to maintain peace and unity.
"For 55 years, Malaysia has become a unique country that has become a model for inter-religious, inter-communal, inter-regional and inter-linguistic relationships to the rest of the world.
"There is no room for extremism in Sarawak, like in the peninsula as shown by the call for Muslims to seize Bibles using the word ‘Allah' and burn them. Don't listen to them. Keep this country peaceful," Shad Faruqi concluded.
The writer, who uses a pseudonym, is based in Sarawak.
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