Kam Weng Ng

Refutation of Muslim Scholars’ Argument in the Allâh Controversy. Part 2/3

Refutation of Muslim Scholars’ Arguments in the Allah Controversy. Part 2/3 Allâh is Certainly Not a Proper Noun/Personal Name Introduction: Allâh and Other Loan Words in the Quran for God The fundamental and contested presupposition in the present dispute on the use of Allâh is whether there are words so exclusively defined by a single … Continue reading “Refutation of Muslim Scholars’ Argument in the Allâh Controversy. Part 2/3”

Refutation of Muslim Scholars’ Arguments in the Allah Controversy. Part 2/3

Allâh is Certainly Not a Proper Noun/Personal Name

Introduction: Allâh and Other Loan Words in the Quran for God
The fundamental and contested presupposition in the present dispute on the use of Allâh is whether there are words so exclusively defined by a single linguistic system that their usage is reserved for that linguistic system alone. In this regard, scholars like Dr. Mohd Sani Badron, Prof Khadijah Mohd Hambali and Mohd Aizam operate on the assumption that Quranic Arabic and subsequently, Bahasa Malaysia have sole proprietorship over certain words (especially the word Allâh) since these words been ‘purified’ (Islamicised) for the purpose conveying Islamic truths. As such, they call for Christians to be banned from using the word Allâh as improper usage of the word by Christians will lead to corruption of revealed truth. Continue reading “Refutation of Muslim Scholars’ Argument in the Allâh Controversy. Part 2/3”

Refutation of Muslim Scholars’ Arguments in the Allah Controversy. Part 1/3

Refutation of Muslim Scholars’ Arguments in the Allah Controversy. Part 1/3 (Part One of Three Parts) The Court of Appeal may appear tardy in taking up its review of the High Court decision that ruled in favour of the Catholic Herald (and Christians) concerning the right to use the word Allah. However, the government has … Continue reading “Refutation of Muslim Scholars’ Arguments in the Allah Controversy. Part 1/3”

Refutation of Muslim Scholars’ Arguments in the Allah Controversy.

Part 1/3 (Part One of Three Parts)

The Court of Appeal may appear tardy in taking up its review of the High Court decision that ruled in favour of the Catholic Herald (and Christians) concerning the right to use the word Allah. However, the government has been actively mobilizing its scholars to disseminate arguments to buttress its position of banning Christians from using the word Allah. Presumably, their arguments will influence judges to favor the government in future hearings in the Courts . Continue reading “Refutation of Muslim Scholars’ Arguments in the Allah Controversy. Part 1/3”

Allah or Tuhan in the Rukun Negara?

Allah or Tuhan in the Rukun Negara? – A Separate Issue from Allah in the Alkitab Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang was reported by Bernama (22 March, 2010) to have called on the government during a debate in the Dewan Rakyat, to amend the first Rukun Negara from belief in God to belief … Continue reading “Allah or Tuhan in the Rukun Negara?”

Allah or Tuhan in the Rukun Negara? – A Separate Issue from Allah in the Alkitab

Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang was reported by Bernama (22 March, 2010) to have called on the government during a debate in the Dewan Rakyat, to amend the first Rukun Negara from belief in God to belief in Allah since the Quran did not bar followers of other religions from using the word Allah. LINK Continue reading “Allah or Tuhan in the Rukun Negara?”

Allah Word: The Bare Historical Facts Presented

Allah Word: Facts and Time-line “Why do you want to fight the Malaysian government over the use of the word Allah?” This question crops up now and then in our discussion groups. The inquirer may be well intentioned, but he is obviously ill-informed. The best answer to this question is to present the facts of … Continue reading “Allah Word: The Bare Historical Facts Presented”

Allah Word: Facts and Time-line

“Why do you want to fight the Malaysian government over the use of the word Allah?” This question crops up now and then in our discussion groups.

The inquirer may be well intentioned, but he is obviously ill-informed. The best answer to this question is to present the facts of history which show clearly that it is not the Malaysian Church that wants to fight the government; it is rather the case of the government pushing the Church with one demand after another until the Church’s back is facing the wall. The Church has no option left but to appeal to the Court to seek redress and justice.

READ the complete article at RELIGIOUS LIBERTY WATCH LINK

Christian-Muslim Dialogue: Building a Common Society

Christian-Muslim Dialogue: Building a Common Society Published in Christianity Today LINK I wrote this article as a response to Chawkat Moucarry, “A Lifelong Journey with Islam.” LINK You may note the other responses by David W. Shenk, Evelyne A. Reisacher and Sunday Agang. These articles are part of the collaborative project between Christianity Today and … Continue reading “Christian-Muslim Dialogue: Building a Common Society”

Christian-Muslim Dialogue: Building a Common Society

Published in Christianity Today LINK

I wrote this article as a response to Chawkat Moucarry, “A Lifelong Journey with Islam.” LINK You may note the other responses by David W. Shenk, Evelyne A. Reisacher and Sunday Agang. These articles are part of the collaborative project between Christianity Today and The Lausanne Movement, The Global Conversation. Continue reading “Christian-Muslim Dialogue: Building a Common Society”

Sacred Language and Vernacular Translation of Scriptures

Sacred Language and Vernacular Translation of Scriptures: Why Some Muslims Just Cannot Understand/Accept the Use of “Allah” in the Alkitab (Bahasa Bible) I. Sacred Language and Religion of Diffusion Some Muslim activists have repeatedly charged Christians for having ulterior motives when they use the word “Allah” which include attempting to “deislamize Malay language” and to … Continue reading “Sacred Language and Vernacular Translation of Scriptures”

Sacred Language and Vernacular Translation of Scriptures:

Why Some Muslims Just Cannot Understand/Accept the Use of “Allah” in the Alkitab (Bahasa Bible)

I. Sacred Language and Religion of Diffusion

Some Muslim activists have repeatedly charged Christians for having ulterior motives when they use the word “Allah” which include attempting to “deislamize Malay language” and to proselytize confused Muslims. It is significant that these activists have not denied the fact that the Malay speaking churches have been using the word “Allah” in their liturgy and instructional materials for centuries. Still, these Muslim activists simply brushed aside the historical fact and the charge of ulterior motives is repeated ad nauseum. Wherein lies this visceral reaction that overwhelms, if not precludes rational discussion in the dispute over the use of “Allah”? Continue reading “Sacred Language and Vernacular Translation of Scriptures”

Foreign Vocabulary and Loan Words in the Quran: Historical Facts

Foreign Vocabulary and Loan Words in the Quran: Historical Facts One repeated assertion by Muslim scholars defending the government’s ban on the use of the word ‘Allah’ by Christians is that Quranic Arabic is the ‘purest’ and most appropriate language of divine revelation. As such, Christians are not allowed to use the word ‘Allah’ on … Continue reading “Foreign Vocabulary and Loan Words in the Quran: Historical Facts”

Foreign Vocabulary and Loan Words in the Quran: Historical Facts

One repeated assertion by Muslim scholars defending the government’s ban on the use of the word ‘Allah’ by Christians is that Quranic Arabic is the ‘purest’ and most appropriate language of divine revelation. As such, Christians are not allowed to use the word ‘Allah’ on the assumption that improper usage of the word by Christians will lead to corruption of language – to use the emotive words of a Muslim scholar – it amounts to raping the soul of their race (“Pemerkosaan Jiwa Bangsa”).

Such an assertion is intellectually questionable. It is evident that there is no such thing as a pure language which would presuppose a self-contained and self-sufficient linguistic community, hermetically sealed from interactions with neighboring linguistic communities – a historical impossibility by any account. Indeed, the Arabic language coexisted and dynamically interacted with other cognate Semitic languages like Nabatean, Hebrew and Aramaic (Syraic) in its early history. We only need to point out the phenomenon of loan words in (Quranic) Arabic to prove the point. Continue reading “Foreign Vocabulary and Loan Words in the Quran: Historical Facts”

High Court Judgment on Allah controversy: Home Minister Wrong in Four Crucial Areas

High Court Judgment: Home Minister Wrong in Four Crucial Areas The High Court ruling on the Allah controversy on 31 Dec 2009 by the learned judge Lau Bee Lan is a model of acute and coherent reasoning. The learned judge 57-page judgment found the government wrong in four crucial areas : 1) The Home Minister’s … Continue reading “High Court Judgment on Allah controversy: Home Minister Wrong in Four Crucial Areas”

High Court Judgment: Home Minister Wrong in Four Crucial Areas

The High Court ruling on the Allah controversy on 31 Dec 2009 by the learned judge Lau Bee Lan is a model of acute and coherent reasoning. The learned judge 57-page judgment found the government wrong in four crucial areas :

1) The Home Minister’s ban is illegal

2) The Home Minister’s ban is unconstitutional

3) The Home Minister’s ban is irrational

4) The Home Minister’s claim that the ban was to safeguard public security and order is without merit

Read full report at Religious Liberty Watch LINK

Allah and Conversions in Malaysia: The Facts!

Allah and Conversions in Malaysia: The Facts! Muslim activists have claimed repeatedly that Christians in Malaysia refuse to drop using the word Allah because they want to confuse and convert Muslims, thereby posing a threat to national security. The claim is both groundless and insincere.

Allah and Conversions in Malaysia: The Facts!
Muslim activists have claimed repeatedly that Christians in Malaysia refuse to drop using the word Allah because they want to confuse and convert Muslims, thereby posing a threat to national security. The claim is both groundless and insincere. Continue reading “Allah and Conversions in Malaysia: The Facts!”

Why Use Allah and Tuhan? Official Explanation from Indonesian Bible Society

An Official Explanation from Indonesian Bible Society LINK (English Version) Why are the terms “Allah” and “TUHAN” used in our Bible? Penjelasan Rasmi Daripada Lembaga Alkitab Indonesia LINK (Malay Version): Versi Melayu Berikut Di bawah The Indonesian Bible Society, which speaks for 25 million Malay/Indonesian Christians should be the most authoritative reference on translation of … Continue reading “Why Use Allah and Tuhan? Official Explanation from Indonesian Bible Society”

An Official Explanation from Indonesian Bible Society LINK (English Version)
Why are the terms “Allah” and “TUHAN” used in our Bible?

Penjelasan Rasmi Daripada Lembaga Alkitab Indonesia LINK (Malay Version): Versi Melayu Berikut Di bawah

The Indonesian Bible Society, which speaks for 25 million Malay/Indonesian Christians should be the most authoritative reference on translation of the Malay Bible! Continue reading “Why Use Allah and Tuhan? Official Explanation from Indonesian Bible Society”