It's Not Just A Name

9th January 2009.

Salam..

I was speechless. Shock and disappointed.

It was after seconds I got online and had clicked on New Straits Time bookmark on my Google Chrome window.

On 31st December, High Court judge, Datuk Lau Bee Lan ruled that Catholic weekly magazine Herald had the constitutional right to use the word ‘Allah’ in respect of instruction and education of the congregation in the Christian religion.

He stated that, every individual have their constitution right to use the word and it is not exclusively to Muslim.

I read the news twice or triple as I can’t believe it. How come that was the result of this case? It is totally unbelievable!

It was a very bad circumstance as it got protests from Muslim all over the country, pushing Catholic Church lawyer, Derek Fernandez to make up mind with Attorney General Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Patail on behalf of Home Ministry to stall the order.

It was a relief that The Kuala Lumpur High Court granted a stay in favor of the Home Ministry to stop Catholic weekly magazine Herald, from using the word pending an appeal.

This is a serious issue.

Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful

Personally, I don’t mean to discuss about the hukum of using the word in this post. Better make references on ulama’ in this issue. But then, I really like to comment some on this circumstance.

Responses and Feed Back

I read on the newspaper about three churches were bombed by Molotov cocktail yesterday. One of the church, Metro Tabernacle Church, Desa Melawati was severely damaged when the other two bombs at Assumption Church Assunta, Petaling Jaya and Chappel Church, Damansara were not erupted.

According to Dr MAZA, these incidents most probably done by:

1. Muslims who are fanatic but less concern on other religion worship place.
2. Christians those want to make provocation.
3. Politic idea from third people for their own good.

Who knows?

Personally, I’m too feeling the anger on this issue. How can people judging on using ‘Allah' word? Worst, it was judged by a civil court. Then, where is the power circle of Syariah Court?

I can’t imagine how I want to explain to my child in the future. For example we crossed by a church with ‘Allah’ word displayed on it,

“Ayah, kenapa ada nama Allah kat situ?”

Hmm.. I’ll tell him,

“Nak, Tuhan kita Allah. Kristian ada God.. maksudnya dalam Bahasa Melayu, Allah..”

Imagine his reply..

“Kalau gitu sama la Islam dengan Kristian? Sebab Tuhan sama,”

What can we say at that time?

Astagfirullah..

But then, it is unnecessary to act with vandalism or terrorism. This makes the circumstance worst. If it was done by Muslim, where is the peace promised by Islam? People can ask that.

We saw a peace demonstration at Masjid Negara. It was a demonstration, yet with peace. No vandalism, no harm. That’s one of better way.

That’s why I said, it is not just about name. Name shows who we are.

Don’t mean to close eyes on using word ‘Allah’ issue, but why can’t we act professionally? Our Rasulullah had showed the way.

For example, he released all the musyrikin after Fathu Makkah. Why didn’t he just slaughtered them all? In fact, they were the people whose had brought enormous problem to him before.

Because.. Cruelty is not Islam way.

But now, we, the Muslims ourselves bring trouble to Islam. How? By not practicing Islam completely. Then, when it comes to a trouble like this now, we failed to act according to what our deen taught us.

"O you who have believed, enter into Islam completely [and perfectly] and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy."

Al-Baqarah : 208

Name Reflects Us

Surely, everyone is known with their own name and title. The names we’ve reflect who we are. How are our personality, and how are our characteristics.

For example, as a ‘Muslim’.

Fair or not, to judge how Islam and how the way of Islam, people around the world look at the Muslim.

So, how we, the Muslims nowadays? That is how Islam?

Honestly, sometimes I feel ashamed.

We forget about our brothers and sisters. We are selfish. Common example, how far we think about Palestinian at their land? Do Palestine exists on world map now?

“Kita kecil lagi nak fikir pasal tu. Kalau fikir banyak-banyak pun bukan boleh buat apa-apa sekarang. Belajar dulu betul-betul.”

So, let us look into smallest scope I think. We and our friend. The best friend is the one who love his friend just like the way he love himself.

Very hard to do. We have our own ego. That’s normal.

Looking into Muslim leaders, are we leading our men to mardhatillah and His Jannah? Are we guiding them to better life according to Syariah? Do we amanah with our responsibility? Think about it.

Looking into Muslim workers area are we doing job according to what Allah told us? Are we doing our best? Do we sincere with our job? Think about it.

Looking into Muslim students, are we learning to grab better job in the future or lillahita’ala? Are we doing enough responsibility? Do we think about our future which is in our hand? Think about it.

So, friends..

Whoever we are, whatever we do, as long as we are Muslims.. realize that we bring the title of our religion, Islam.

A leader? Be a true Muslim leader. How? Act like one.

A worker? Be a true Muslim worker. How? Act like one.

A student? Be a true Muslim student. How? Act like one.

That is the only way people will understand how Islam really is.

Wallahua’lam. Wassalam..