Kuala Lumpur, Jan 6- PAS on Monday urged the National Fatwa Council to take a stand on the use of the word “Allah” as there are discrepancies in the permission to use it in Sabah and Sarawak.
PAS Information Chief Datuk Mahfuz Omar said the people were confused because exemption had been given to Christians in Sabah and Sarawak to use the term “Allah” in their religious ceremonies while those in Selangor were not allowed to do so.
“There are now two stands with the religious authorities in Selangor saying it cannot be used but the non-Muslims in Sabah and Sarawak saying it could.
“The people now want to know which is the truth and in line with the teachings of Islam,” he said at a press conference held at the PAS headquarters, here.
He said it was important that the National Fatwa Council made a stand on this issue to avoid a negative perception of Islam.
When asked about PAS’ stand on the issue, Mahfuz said the party still held to the decision made by the Syura Council that the usage of the term “Allah” by Christians was permitted as long as they do not abuse it.
The 82nd Conference for the National Fatwa Council on Muslim Affairs decided that Allah was a sacred term for Islam and Muslims and could not be used by other religions.
“As such, it is compulsory for Muslims to use it in the best way, and if there is any element of insult or misuse of the term, it has to be curtailed according to the law as provided by the Federal Constitution,” stated the council’s statement in its website.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had in October last year said that the decision by the Appeals Court to disallow the use of the term “Allah” did not apply to its usage in Sabah and Sarawak.
– Bernama
