IKIM's internet TV broadcast discussion on 'Allah'

Due to the continued polemic over the use of the word "Allah" in this country, the Institute of Islamic Understanding, Malaysia (Ikim), through its Internet TV, today broadcast a recorded expert discussion on 'Translation of God as Allah: Identifying the Source and Solution'.

Ikim director-general Datuk Nik Mustapha Nik Hassan said this first such programme broadcast by Ikim was to state the institute's stand and to explain on the wrong usage of the word "Allah" to mean God (by non-Muslims), so as to avoid public confusion on the matter.

"Ikim's stand is that this translation is unacceptable and goes against the grain of Islamic language, faith, history and law."

Nik Mustapha said the Malay language was categorised as part of the language of Islam and hence, the meaning of the word "Allah" should be that as found in the Quran and explained in the Islamic faith.

Besides, he said, the cabinet had on May 16, 1986 decided that four Islamic terms, namely Allah, Kaabah, Baitullah and Solat, must not be used in the Bible in whatever situation.

Nik Mustapha said the word "Allah" differed from the concept of God in Christianity which was based on the trinity of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.

He was commenting on the issue of using the word "Allah", which was recently raised again by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng in his Christmas Day message, in which be asked the federal government to allow its use in the Bahasa Melayu version of the Bible in the peninsula.