Oh my Allah!
By Zan Azlee

This ‘Allah’ fiasco is not a new issue. In fact, it’s been talked about and highlighted publicly for some years now. The first time I commented on it was a short video documentary I was commissioned to do for a Dutch news agency called VJ Movement several years ago.

And that wasn’t the last either. I have also given my opinion on the issue several times in my columns and writings. For those who are familiar with my work (here’s a symptom of my illusions of grandeur – thinking that I have a following!), it would be no surprise what my opinion on the matter is.

Recently, the newly appointed Vatican envoy to Malaysia, Archbishop Joseph Marino, stated in an interview that he supported the call for the word ‘Allah’ to be used by non-Muslims in the country. I don’t see the problem in his comments. I support the use of the word ‘Allah’ by Christians in the country. In fact, there is proof that the word is used by many non-Muslims all around the world (even before Islam existed!).

It’s an Arabic word which means ‘God’. It’s like the Malay word ‘Tuhan’. It’s like the Cantonese word ‘San’. It’s like the Tamil word ‘Kadavul’. In fact, it’s all exactly the same. In all the Arabic speaking Arab countries that I have visited (Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia, UAE, Qatar, Lebanon), the people use the word ‘Allah’ to mean God no matter what religion they are.

Actually, one does not need to go so far. Just take a quick trip to Sabah and pay a visit to any church there and be prepared for a huge shock! And if you want to think about it, Christianity and Islam (along with that other Abrahamic faith – Judaism), have the same God, goddamit! [Click to read the full article at English.AstroAwani.Com]