RP Muslims condemn attacks on churches in Malaysia

By EDD K. USMAN
January 14, 2010 / Manila Bulletin


The 1.5-billion strong Islamic world called Ummah, through the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Thursday condemned the attacks and burning of churches in Malaysia, as it called for dialogue to resolve the conflict on the use of the Arabic word for God, “Allah.”

Muslim Filipinos also raised their voices to condemn the aggression on Christian houses of worship in Malaysia, as the Philippine Center for Halal Awareness (PCHA) chaired by Ustadhz Abdulhadie Daguit, said the attacks were against the teachings of Islam.

Abdulhadie said that in Islam, churches, synagogues, temples and other houses of worship are deemed protected.

“Islam prohibits attacks against houses of worship of any religion,” said the PCHA official.

In an e-mail to the Manila Bulletin, the OIC, composed of 57 Muslim and some non-Muslim states, quoted OIC Secretary General Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu who called for self-restraint and to use dialogue in resolving the Malaysians' conflict.

“OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu condemns the aggression on and burning of Christian Churches in Malaysia, insisting on the importance of the prevalence of peaceful co-existence among the members of the Malaysian people,” the e-mail said.

Ihsanoglu lauded the Malaysian government's “judicious treatment of the events,” referring to the Malay Muslims' vehement opposition to Christians' use of the word “Allah” to refer to God.

The dispute emerged after the Malaysian High Court lifted on December 31 a government ban on Catholics' use of Allah as translation for God in their Bible.

Some Malaysian Muslims oppose this, wanting exclusive use of the word Allah.

But Malaysian Christian communities claim they have been using Allah for over 300 years.

Majority of the Muslim world does not support the stand of their Malaysian fellow Islam adherents as the OIC, the PCHA, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) showed.

CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad urged American Muslims to help in repairing the damaged churches in Malaysia.

He said Arabic-speaking Christians universally refer to God as Allah.

“Muslims in America, Malaysia and worldwide must help protect all houses of worship, and thereby show the true spirit of Islam," Awad said in an e-mail.

“American Muslims, as a symbol of their commitment to interfaith understanding and peaceful coexistence, will take the lead in helping restore the damaged churches. Muslims cannot remain silent in the face of attacks on any houses of worship. Our community needs to take serious and prompt measures to reclaim the moral high ground established by Islamic principles,” said Awad.

He said CAIR has done the same action in defense of the American Muslim community against the same hate crimes, including vandalism committed on mosques.

Awad cited the story of Caliph Umar Bin Al-Khattab who was offered the keys to Jerusalem by the Christian patriarch Sophronius in the 7th century.

“When the Caliph was asked to pray in a Jerusalem church, he declined saying he did not want to provide a pretext for Muslims to appropriate a Christian holy site,” said Awad.

He also cited the Christian ruler of Abyssinia who provided refuge to early Muslims who escaped persecution and death in Makkah.