by Sheila Musaji
Back in 2007 when Malaysia The Malaysian Catholic Herald, a publication by and for Catholics in the country, was told that it could no longer use the word “Allah” to mean God because Allah was a “Muslim” term for God, The American Muslim (TAM) published a number of articles about this ridiculous non-issue. It is amazing that both Muslim extremists and Islamophobes hold the same beliefs on so many issues including this one. It seemed likely at that time that the government of Malaysia would be so embarrassed by the world reaction to this ban that the case would be dropped.

Backgrounder on the word “God” in Arabic and English, Joachim Martillo

Do Malaysian Muslims understand what ‘Allah’ means?, Farish A. Noor

Do Malaysian Muslims understand what ‘Allah’ means? Part 2, Farish A. Noor

Islamic Marcionism in Malaysia: Is Allah Equivalent to God?, Joachim Martillo

Just this week, this sad saga has a new chapter - The publisher of the Malaysian Catholic Herald has been told that it cannot challenge the home minister’s prohibition on the use of the word “Allah” in its publication, the High Court heard today.

The Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) says it supports the Catholic Church’s fight to overturn a government ban on the use of the term ‘Allah’ to describe God in Christian texts. “I personally believe and PAS as well believe the way forward for a mutually respecting religious relationship, especially in a plural, multi-racial and multicultural society like Malaysia, is not to deny the right of others to use the name of Allah,” Zulfikar Ahmad, a PAS official, said.

The Malaysia High Court is to issue a final ruling on this Christian ‘Allah’ Case on December 30th. The government of Malaysia needs to hear from as many American Muslims as possible to let them know that there is no justification for such a ban. Please send them an email.

Embassy of Malaysia, Washington, D.C.

Malaysian Consulate, NYC

Malaysian Consulate, LA

Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the U.N.