Note: This article was written some
time ago in response to the issue and became a part of my book above. Perhaps it is appropriate to re-post it today. The
article concluded that the real issue is about trust, not the technicality of
the word Allah. I am of the viewpoint that both sides are unwilling to deal
with this ‘trust’ aspect of the concern. Why?
Peace.
I
find it strange that in the discussions and debates about whether it is
acceptable to use the term ‘Allah’ to refer to God in the Bible, neither the
Malaysian Christians who are for using the term nor the Malaysian Muslims who
are against it, considered checking the
Quran’s position with regards to the issue.
While it is understandable that the Christians may miss this, for the Muslims not to do so is unacceptable.
Instead of basing on the Quran, a few of our Muslim brethrens are busy trying
to show that historically the Bible does not use the term Allah. They also use
civil laws to present their case. Muslims
must be careful not to fall into the category of people mentioned in
this verse of the Quran,
“And the Messenger cried out: O my
Lord! Surely my people have treated this
Quran as a forsaken thing.” - Quran 25:30
Muslims and Non-Muslims who want to discuss
matters of Islam must note that for a believing Muslim no evidence is greater than
the Quran,
“Say: “What thing
is most Weighty in evidence?” Say: “(Allah) is
witness between me and you; This Qur’an hath been revealed
to me by inspiration, that I may warn you
and all whom it reaches. …” - Quran 6:19
For
a Muslim, the Quran is the ultimate guide,
“And we sent down the Book to thee for
the express purpose, that thou should make clear to them those things in
which they differ, that it should be a guide and a mercy to those who believe.”
- Quran 16:64
And,
“Those who listen
to the Word and follow the best meaning in
it, those are the ones whom Allah has
guided, and those are the ones endowed
with understanding.” - Quran
39:18
A
Muslim who claims to follow Prophet Muhammad must firstly and ultimately be
guided by the Quran,
“So believe in
Allah and His Apostle the unlettered
Prophet, who believeth in Allah and His Words: Follow him
that (so) ye may be guided.” - Quran 7:158
And
those who fail to judge by the Quran is, at the end of the day no better than
unbelievers,
“If any do fail to judge by (the light
of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) unbelievers.” -
Quran 5: 44
The
above Quranic verses should be enough to show
that basing our discussion on the Quran is the logical Islamic approach.
If a Muslim or Non-Muslim were to prove that the Quran suggests
that
the term Allah can or cannot be used, all
Muslims must follow the decree. Period!
History of religion - Islam
To
put things in perspective, we must first understand the Quranic worldview about
religion and Allah.
The
Quran suggests that all religions came from
Allah as He has sent messengers (Jesus included) everywhere in the course of history; a few are named in the Quran mainly
those from the Abrahamic line while the rest are not mentioned at all. But
definitely there were other messengers sent to other geographical areas like
Asia, Europe and the Americas, etc. although the Quran strategically remains silent about the other geographicallocations
so as to be all inclusive.
Here
are clear examples. I will further elaborate this when dealing with the subject of the monopoly of Allah and
the Heavens.
“Of some apostles We have already told
thee the story; of others We have not;- and to Moses Allah spoke direct;” - Quran 4 : 164
“We did aforetime
send apostles before thee: of them there are some whose story We have related
to thee, and some whose story We have not related to thee. It was not (possible) for any apostle to bring a sign except by the leave of Allah…” - Quran 40:78. Also refer
to 21:25, 17:77, 43:6
In
fact, the Quran is uncompromising about this all inclusive approach that it
decrees that any Muslim, who does not accept
even one of the messengers, named or unnamed, ceases to be a believer!
Muslims also can’t make any distinction between any of them.
“Those who deny Allah and His
apostles, and (those who) wish to separate Allah from His apostles, saying: “We
believe in some but reject others”: And (those who) wish to take a course
midway They are in truth (equally) unbelievers; and we have prepared for unbelievers a humiliating punishment, To those
who believe in Allah and His apostles and make no distinction between any of the apostles,
we shall soon give their (due) rewards:
for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most
Merciful” - Quran 4:150-152. Also refer 2:136, 3:84
To stress this all inclusive approach deeper, the Quran makes it very
clear that Islamic and Muslim history must not be seen as starting from Prophet
Muhammad as the Prophet himself was made to
declare that he follows the religion of
Abraham.
“So We have
taught thee the inspired (Message), “Follow the ways
of Abraham the True in Faith, and he joined
not gods with Allah.” - Quran 16:123. Also refer to 16:20, 2:135, 3:95,
4:125, and 6:61
From the Quranic standpoint Prophet Muhammad is not the founder
of the religion. He was the seal, the final one, the prophet who came to
conclude a long string of messengers from the very beginning of human history.
“Muhammad is not
the father of any of your
men, but (he is) the Messenger of Allah, and
the Seal of the Prophets: and Allah has full
knowledge of all things.” – Quran 33:40
To make it final that Islam must be inclusive, the Quran stressed that it is Allah – not Prophet Muhammad – who named Muslims, Muslim; long
before the birth of the Prophet.
“And strive in His cause as ye ought
to strive, (with sincerity and under
discipline). He has chosen you, and has imposed no difficulties on you
in religion; it is the cult of your father Abraham. It is He Who has named you Muslims, both before (and in this Revelation); that the Messenger may be a witness for you, and ye be witnesses for mankind! So
establish regular Prayer, give regular
Charity, and hold fast to Allah. He is your Protector -
the Best to protect and the Best to help!” - Quran 22:78
If we use the Quran as its own witness, almost all of the history
books on Islam, whether written by Muslims or Non-Muslims, that usually record Islam with the coming of Prophet Muhammad
and make the Prophet as the founder of Islam run contrary to the Quranic
stance. At best they are relating the history of the Arab people and how the
Arabs impacted the world and built an empire based on their ‘new faith’, Islam.
(Here is where the historian Albert Habib Hourani got it right by calling his
book “A History of the Arab Peoples”.)
The
Quran’s version of the history of mankind
started with Adam, the first civilized
homosapien, one who is endowed with
the power of conceptual
thoughts and language: our ability to talk (Quran 2:31). As such Islam’s
history is world history, not the history of the Arabs.
“When thy
Lord drew forth from the Children of Adam - from
their loins - their descendants, and made them testify concerning themselves,
(saying): “Am I not your Lord (who cherishes and sustains you)?”- They said: Yea!
We do testify!” (This), lest ye
should say on the Day of Judgment: “Of this we were never mindful” - Quran 7:172.
Also refer to 7:31, 7:70, 2:33, 2:37, 7:27
“O ye Children of
Adam! Whenever there come to you apostles
from amongst you, rehearsing My signs unto you, - those who are righteous and
mend (their lives), - on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve.” - Quran
7:35
It
is this myopic view and basic assumption of Islam’s history as beginning from
the time of Prophet Muhammad, that over the years has steered Muslims to deviate from having a universal
approach towards Islam and hence have grown to be more and more
exclusive rather than inclusive of all the other communities and spiritual
traditions. This in turn makes Muslim society monopolistic towards Allah and
the Heavens, creating a clear dichotomy and
an ‘us’ and ‘them’ approach negating the Quranic position that all who worship in the monasteries, churches,
synagogues, and mosques are in essence venerating Allah. (Refer Quran 22:40
below).
On
the other hand, the Quran suggests the following:
“And, verily, this community of yours
is one single community, since I am the Sustainer
of you all: remain, then, conscious of Me!” - Quran 23:52
Places of Worship
Since
all the messengers were Allah sent; the Quran equates all calls in every place
of worship must only be for Him.
And
that all places of worship whether they are mosques, monasteries or churches
honor Him,
“They are those who have been expelled
from their homes in defiance of right,- (for no cause) except that they say,
‘our Lord is Allah..’ Did not Allah check one set of people by means of another, there
would surely have been pulled down monasteries, churches, synagogues, and
mosques, in which the name of Allah is
commemorated in abundant measure. Allah will certainly aid those who aid
his (cause);- for verily Allah is full of
Strength, Exalted in Might, (able to enforce His Will).” - Quran 22:40
And
those who do not allow the name of Allah to be mentioned in places of worship
are considered unjust.
“And who is more unjust than he who forbids that in places for the worship of Allah,
Allah’s name should be celebrated? - whose zeal is (in fact) to ruin
them? ….” - Quran 2:114
And
the only deity worth praising is Allah alone,
“All praise is due
to Allah alone the Sustainer of all the
Worlds.” - Quran 1:2
Is there a
Monopoly to Allah, Religion and Paradise?
Contrary
to popular understanding, Prophet Muhammad did not seek to destroy the other ways of
life/religions like Christianity, Judaism,
etc., but he constantly called on the Jews and Christians to agree that
we are praying to the same God, Allah.
Ironically
the Quran’s main argument against the Jews and Christians during the
time of the Prophet is their monopolistic claim to Allah and paradise.
“Verily Allah is my lord and your
lord: Him therefore serve ye: this is a Way that is straight.” - Quran 19:36
“Say: Will ye dispute with us about Allah,
seeing that He is our lord and your lord;
that we are responsible for our doings and ye for yours; and that We are
sincere (in our faith) in Him?” - Quran
2:139
“And they say:
“None shall enter paradise unless he be a Jew or a
Christian.” Those are their (vain) desires.
Say “Produce your proof if ye are
truthful.” - Quran 2:111
The
Quran suggests the Unity of religions and
the Quran was sent to confirm all the previous scriptures.
“Those who believe,
and those who follow the Jewish, and the
Christians and the Sabians, - any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and
work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be
no fear, nor shall they grieve.” - Quran
2:62. Also refer to 5:69
“And who believe in the Revelation
sent to thee, and sent before thy time, and (in their hearts) have the
assurance of the Hereafter.” - Quran 2:4
“It is He Who sent down to thee (step
by step), in truth, the book, confirming what went before it; and He sent
down the Law (of Moses) and the Gospel (of
Jesus)...” - Quran 3:3. Also refer to 5:48
It is part of Allah’s plan to provide mankind with multiple platforms to
achieve the ultimate goal that is to reach Him. How to reach Him, of rites and
ceremonies, it is open.
“To thee We sent
the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before
it, and guarding it in safety: so judge
between them by what Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires,
diverging from the Truth that hath come to
thee. To each among you have we prescribed a law and an open way? If
Allah had so willed, He would have made you
a single people, but (His plan is) to test you in what He hath given
you: so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to
Allah. It is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which ye
dispute.” - Quran 5:48
“To every People have We appointed
rites and ceremonies which they must follow: let them not then dispute with
thee on the matter, but do thou invite (them) to thy Lord: for thou art
assuredly on the Right Way.” - Quran 22:67
The
objective of the Quran is to make faith and deed as the criteria for salvation,
not religious affiliation to any particular
community. This criterion is not just for those who were born since the coming of Prophet Muhammad but also inclusive
of those from the very beginning of the history of man and till the end of
time.
The
Quran specifically identified righteousness as the best platform.
“O ye Children of Adam! We have bestowed
raiment upon you to cover your shame, as
well as to be an adornment to you. But the raiment of righteousness, - that is
the best. Such are among the Signs of Allah, that they may receive admonition!”
- Quran 7:26
And
what is righteousness in the Quran?
“It is not righteousness that ye turn
your faces towards East or West; but it is righteousness-
1. to believe in Allah
2. and the Last Day,
3. and the Angels,
4. and the Revelation,
5. and the Messengers;
6. to spend of your substance, out of
love for Him,
a.
for your kin,
b.
for orphans,
c.
for the needy,
d.
for the wayfarer,
e.
for those who ask,
f.
and for the ransom of slaves;
7. to be steadfast in prayer,
8. and practice regular charity;
9. to
fulfill the contracts which ye have made;
10. and to be firm and patient,
a.
in pain (or suffering)
b.
and adversity,
c.
and throughout all periods of panic.
Such are the people of truth, the
Allah fearing.” - Quran 2:177
The Quran and the Christians
The Quran does
not reject nor accept Christianity
wholesale. The Quran disagrees with
Christianity’s interpretation of history
mainly about who Jesus was. In the Quran, Jesus was a prophet and he is
not the son of Allah and as such the Quran disagrees with the concept of Trinity (refer Quran 4:171).
In
the Quran, Jesus did not die on the cross nor was he Resurrected. The Quran
suggests that Jesus survived the crucifixion and later died just as all the other prophets before him (refer Quran 5:75, 4:157). Jesus is similar to Prophet Muhammad
and all the previous Messengers (refer Quran 3:144, 21:7-8, 25:20) who came,
did their job and died (refer Quran 3:185).
The
Quran is also opposed to any religion be it Judaism, Christianity or any other
Tradition, who suggest that followers other than theirs are doomed; that is, if Christianity seeks to
monopolize Allah and Salvation (refer earlier Quranic quotes).
As for Christians, again there is no wholesale acceptance or rejection.
There are bad Christians who are unjust and selfish (refer Quran 5:51-52) and
good ones who fight for what is right.
“Not all of them are alike: Of
the People of the Book are portions that stand (For the right): They rehearse
the Signs of Allah all night long, and they prostrate themselves in adoration.”
- Quran 3:113
And among the good Christians are those
similar to good Muslims, men of understanding, who care about the hereafter and are
not arrogant.
“Strongest among
men in enmity to the
believers wilt thou find the Jews and Pagans; and nearest among them in
love to the believers wilt thou find those who say, “We are
Christians”: because amongst these are men devoted to learning and men who
have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant.” - Quran 5:82
The Conclusion
It
is clear that it is not only permissible to use the term Allah to refer to God
in the Bible, it is exactly what the Quran wants us to do. What an irony.
I
would like to thank my Christian brothers and
sisters in their effort to make Allah the universal name of God and wanting the name to be the preferred reference
of God in the Bible.
But,
you must not stop there.
You
must also strive hard to ensure that not just
the Bahasa Malaysia and Bahasa Indonesia Bibles use the term Allah but all the other translations in the world regardless if they
are in Mandarin, Tamil, Japanese, English, Russian or Hindi uses the same term. Malaysian
Christians can lead the world of Christianity to make Allah the universal name
of God with the solid support of their
Muslim brothers and sisters. Anything
that can bring us closer together
must be supported. A shared universal name
to call our God Allah seems a most appropriate place to start.
Failing
to do so will create mistrust because the correct term for God in Malay is Tuhan.
The Muslims will question your consistency
and sincerity. Because the real issue here is Trust. Not the
technicality of the term Allah, Tuhan, Elohim, Elah etc. This is where we need
to focus. This is what we need to pay attention to.
There
are three levels of trust missing
Firstly we do not trust each other. The Muslims perceive the inconsistency
of Christians wanting to use the term Allah in the Malay Bible and not the
other translations as a plot to convert Malay Muslims
to Christianity. And, the Christians perceive the Muslims rejection of
the usage of the term as another strategy to block the spread of the Christian faith to Muslims in Malaysia. This
feeling is deep in the Christian
psyche as they find the lopsided law
on conversion in Malaysia to be unfair (check what the Quran says about
this at 83:1-3 and 5:8).
Secondly,
we do not trust ourselves. The Muslims lack confidence of fellow Muslims and
feel that just by using the term Allah, their faith towards Islam can be
shaken. The Christians lack confidence that
being Christ-like is enough to attract others to the faith. That when
you turn the other cheek, you win.
Yet the deepest rot is the lack of trust in Allah or God or Tuhan or
any other name with which you want to call
upon Him! Both Muslims and Christians fail to trust that Allah will be
with those who are true and love those who trust Him. If we do so, we have
nothing to fear and nothing to grieve.
Failing to trust Him, we become weak, insecure and misguided.
“Nay, God is your protector, and He is
the best of helpers.” - Quran 3:150
