There is a great deal of misunderstanding about this issue. Arabic-speaking Christians have used the word “Allah” for the God of the Bible for centuries — some sources say since before the advent of Islam. But a Malaysia court now says the word is the property of Muslims only.
Islamic Tolerance Alert and an update on this story: “Malaysia court refuses to let Church use “˜Allah,– from Dawn, May 28 (thanks to all who sent this in):
KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian court refused to let the Roman Catholic Church use the word “˜Allah” even temporarily Thursday, upholding a government ban that has become a symbol of religious tensions in this Muslim-majority country.
The federal government blocks non-Muslims in Malaysia from translating God as “˜Allah” in their literature, saying it would confuse Muslims in this multiethnic, Muslim-majority country.
Christian groups say the ban is unconstitutional, arguing that the word “˜Allah” predates Islam.
The High Court rejected an appeal by the church’s main publication in Malaysia, the Herald, to have the ban suspended while waiting for a court decision on the ban’s legality, said Herald lawyer Porres Royan….