By Syed Jaymal Zahiid and Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani
KUALA LUMPUR: Small groups of Muslims rallied after Friday prayers today to protest against Christians using the word "Allah" for God after a spate of attacks on churches that threatened to stoke racial and religious tensions.

The groups proceeded with small protests after Friday prayers at a number of major mosques in the city amid strong police presence following the arson attacks earlier today.

In Kampung Baru, where organisers had wanted to hold a major protest against the recent High Court ruling allowing the word "Allah" to be used by a Catholic weekly in its Bahasa Malaysia section, about 200 members of Muslim NGOs held a brief demonstration.

The protesters carried banners with the words "Don't challenge Islam", "Do not test our patience" and "Allah is only for us" while some group leaders gave emotional speeches.

Zaim Shari, a leader from the Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia, in his speech, said the ruling was akin to an "invasion" by foreign forces. "Our soil has been invaded, our faith threatened, we must not let this happen," shouted Zaim in the middle of the protest which was held immediately after Friday prayers.

Later at a press conference, Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia leader Mohd Raimi Ab Rahim said the use of the world “Allah” by non-Muslims is a highly sensitive issue and many Muslims had grown uneasy.

Temperatures have soared and the country's security was tightened following the shocking arson attacks on three churches in the Klang Valley early this morning.

Leaders from both sides of the political divide have condemned the attacks, triggering a blame game with opposition leaders pointing fingers at their political rivals in Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) for nurturing the rising tension. BN leaders have vehemently denied any role in the fiasco.

Mohd Raimi and his peers from other Islamic NGOs, commenting on the attacks, said it was too early to conclude if the arson was done by Muslims.

"We do not condone the attacks but let the police do their investigation first before we come to any conclusion. We still do not know if the attacks were done by Muslims.

"There are also Christians who disagree with the usage of ‘Allah’," he said. "In the meantime, we will take the peaceful approach of engaging the Catholics to resolve this matter," he said.

Malaysian Muslims are divided over the issue, with some saying there was nothing wrong in allowing the church to use the word "Allah," as is the practice in other Muslim countries.

Even among the grassroots, Muslims are polarised in opposite groups. This was reflected at the protest in Kampung Baru when a group of Muslims had called on others to ignore the protest and blamed the group for the attacks on the churches.

"These people are fanatics and their teachings are wrong. Ignore them," said one unidentified man.

At the National Mosque, the Friday sermon today warned Muslims not let outsiders to insult and manipulate Islam and word “Allah”.

“We must see the true reasons behind the struggle by certain parties that want to use the sacred word of Allah to weaken the Islam.

“They are supported by concerning Muslims who are only liberals.

“Some of them would also like to use the Qur’an and word Allah to confuse Muslims and Islam,” he said.

He added that the word Allah is different from the Holy Trinity.

He also urged all Malaysian not bring up sensitive issues like the word “Allah.”

“They only want to weaken and taint Islam morality and way of life,” he said.

While the Imam was giving his fiery sermon, 50 uniformed police officers were waiting at mosque’s main compound.

Several banners were hanged around the mosques.

“Don’t insult Islam,” “We promise to defend Islam and Malay King,” and “Don’t sell out Islam because of politics,” were written on the banners.

After the prayers, a crowd of 300, mostly Perkasa members, gathered at the front entrance while 30 lined up at the balcony.

However people only walked pass them when leaving the mosque while bystanders stood around.

The crowd then began exclaiming “Allah is great” while raising their fists.

Selangor Perkasa chief Amran Azhar Abdul Hanafi began speaking through the speakerphone at the mosque balcony surrounded by his supporters.

“Today we stand as Muslims and Malays for Islam for the first time. Let this be a warning to them not to insult Islam because Allah is from Muslims and we will fight till the end.

“We warn them not to insult Islam because Allah is Muslims and we will fight till the end!” he said.

The crowd began repeating “Allah is great” and “We will die as Muslims.”

However he stressed that they are peace-loving Muslims and are represented several Islamic NGOs.

“We do not burn churches. This is a peaceful demonstration to show that we are peaceful Muslims.

“But do not test us because we will unite and fight till the end,” he said.

The speaker then attempted to cry and claimed that Muslims are scared that Islam is in jeopardy.

“We should not migrate because this is our land! Islam is the constitutional religion!

“They cannot use the word ‘Allah’ because Islam is protected by constitution as the country’s official religion,” he said.

Amran then pledged to the Masjid Negara with the crowd repeating after him.

“We call on the Catholics to use the word Tuhan for their God.

“We ask them to bring any matters related to Islam to the Syariah court and not the civil court.

“We also urge the council of rulers to be proactive in matters relating to Islam,” he said.

The crowd began shouting “Allah is great” again and soon left without further ado.

The police did not have to move in as the leaders of the various NGOs urged them to leave.

“Everybody, please leave. Even though you all are going to different places, we are all leaving with one heart,” he said.