In God, we trust — Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani

JAN 9 — Negaraku, tanah tumpahnya darahku,
These are the proud words that colour our love for the country.

Rakyat hidup, bersatu dan maju,
Rahmat bahagia, Tuhan kurniakan,
These are our promise that unites us as one nation regardless of race, creed and religion.

Raja kita, selamat bertakhta.
Rahmat bahagia, Tuhan kurniakan,
Raja kita, selamat bertakhta
These are our prayers for the country’s past, future, and present.

Malaysia's history began hundreds of years before Parameswara sat under that faithful tree and the golden age of the Muslim Malacca Empire. The iconic empire which has been used to represent the Malay spirit was originally a Hindu dynasty and so were the other great kingdoms in the country.

Other great “lost” Hindu kingdoms include the second-century Gangga Negara in Perak, the ancient Langkasuka founded in Kedah, third-century Pan Pan in Kelatan and the old Kedah kingdom of Kadaram.

Only then came the Muslim sultanates of Malacca, Kedah, Johor and Sulu.

The rich history of Malaysia proves that the country has always been a centre of trade and culture where people of different religions lived together without prejudice. Even the great ancient Greek scholar, Ptolemy, referred to the Malay peninsula as the Golden Chersonese or golden peninsula.

The Malay culture is a testament of the early kingdoms and modern Malaysia, a mixture of different religious and cultural practices.

The traces of our history could be seen through the influence of Sanskrit and Arabic in Bahasa Malaysia. Such influences include the Sanskrit word Tuhan.

Therefore it surprised me when some Muslims argue that if the Christians use the word "Allah", it will deviate the religion and its followers.

If this is true then is it blasphemous for Muslims to use the word Tuhan which is used to describe the Hindu deity?

Are our young Muslim children in danger of deviating from Islam when they the sing “Negaraku” and pledge the Rukunegara during the morning assembly?

Or have the imams all over Malaysia sinned when they recite, “Ya Allah, Ya Tuhanku,” in their doa during Friday prayers?

The hardliners have also argued that the Christians cannot use the word "Allah" because Muslims would not be able to differentiate Islam and the other religions.

How is this so? Islam is not about the literal emphasis but a deeper understanding.

Revered Muslim scholars and founders of Islamic schools of thought have emerged from a region where both Christians and Muslims use the word "Allah". Both the Bible and the Quran use Arabic in the region but what differentiates the two?

The meaning and teachings from the sacred revelations.

I think the fear is not Islam but Malay supremacy because religion and race have been intertwined in the country that the community believes that Islam is their right.

The lines between race and religion have been blurred that the Malays believe that their culture is Islam itself to the extent that social acts which were Hindu in origin have become Islamic.

The extremists believe that the non-Malays will use Islam to jeopardise Malay rights and standing in the country.

But Islam is not for a few but for all and preaches equality. This is best illustrated in the Prophet Muhammad's last sermon.

"All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has superiority over an Arab.

"Also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has superiority over white except piety and good action."

Even if the problem is Islam and the word "Allah", why is there such fear?

One of the leaders during the demonstration explained that the use of the word "Allah" is only the beginning and that "they will use Prophet Muhammad."

As a Muslim, is it not an honour that any religion would use the word "Allah" and our beloved Prophet to preach love and compassion?

It saddened me when three churches were attacked yesterday because Islam is not hate.

Islam's love can be seen through the Prophet's father-in-law, closest companion, advisor and first Caliph. Before each battle, Abu Bakar would warned his generals not to disturb any saints and worshippers of other religions and not to destroy any places of worship.

But yesterday, a group of terrorists decided to desecrate several places of worship in the name of "Allah."

Their actions do not only insult Islam but belittle the beautiful religion.

I urge all Muslims to deplore these unIslamic acts and show the world the true meaning of Islam.Assamualaikum. May peace be upon you and all of us. Amin.

In God, we trust — Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani