As for recent Christmas in the Muslim world, there seem to be some worldwide news collections positively or negatively by outsiders.
I, a researcher who worked at a Malaysian University for three years in the early 1990s and have focused on Malaysia only for more than 20 years, keep a habit of reading between the lines in these news reports and do not trust the contents on the surface.
For example, Indonesia seems to be suddenly taken up as a troubling nation by some so-called ‘specialists’ who have been actually writing about the Middle East for some time. However, I am of the view that Indonesia, a country with the largest Muslim population in the world, has received less influence historically, religiously, and linguistically from the Middle East than Malaysia. Therefore, it might be safely said that it is wrong for such analysts to blame Muslims in Indonesia just by picking up certain incidents related to Christians in the Muslim world. Actually, the situation is much more complicated than that. If you do not know any Muslim language and if you do not have an experience of living in any of these Muslim countries, then it would be wise for you to keep silence on these issues.
Malaysia has traditionally a kind of inter-religious celebrations on the Christmas day among the high-ranking Church leaders with invitations of the Malay-Muslim Prime Ministers and other Ministers as well as foreign ambassadors or diplomats. This has been considered as a good occasion for the Christian side to convey the good-will messages in Christmas spirit to the Muslim delegates. Always it holds a cordial atmosphere and is really a Malaysian-like. However, that has not been a guarantee of non-existence of tension among the people in Malaysia. Celebration is celebration, and the reality is another matter.
This is where long-term research activities based on each local context are required by outsiders. (Lily)
1. Malaysia Chronicle（http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com）
IS IT SO WRONG to wish a Christian MERRY CHRISTMAS - Sultanah Johor Featured, 20 December 2012
by Victor Lim
Below is a Christmas message from HRH the Sultanah of Johor which gives much hope to Malaysians that the super corrupt, evil and racist Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN) cannot continue to have the cake and eat it.
Instead of reforming and change to adapt to the new political era, Umno has since the March 8, 2008, political tsunami, stepped up its archaic racial and religious propaganda to try and rally Malays to continue supporting the party.
In pursuing its divide-and-rule agenda which had enabled the dominant BN-Umno to remain in power for 55 years, it is today fast alienating itself from a more informed society due to the borderless world of ICT (Information Communications Technology) in the 21st century.
Umno’s attempts to stir racial and religious hatred, through its outsourced Taliban-like Perkasa and Utusan Malaysia, are not having the same frightening and disastrous widespread effect on the rakyat (people) as it was in the 20th century.
Its evil intentions and effects are being neutralised by the ICT, with the majority of the people going to the internet for information, instead of the highly bias BN-controlled print and electronic media.
A turn-off for the moderate & rational
The growing number of educated and learned Malays, backed by the ICT, is slowly but surely changing the mindset of civil Malays, encouraging them to think rationally out of the box.
HRH, an Oxford University graduate, is open minded and full of logic and compassion. Her understanding of Islam, respecting Christianity and other religions is surely an eye opener to political parties and racist politicians who continuously use religion to cause hatred among Malaysians.
And it is so heartening to see that she is not alone on this issue (read this if you have yet to: http://victorlim1982.blogspot.com/2012/09/a-truly-malaysian-lady.html).
HRH’s Christmas message is certainly more valuable, sincere and close to hearts and minds of Malaysians than the worthless and hypocritical messages of BN-Umno prime ministers in the past three decades:
Sunday January 9, 2011
Season of goodwill
MIND MATTER
by Raja Zarith Idris
If Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Isa (Jesus), a prophet respected and revered in Islam, is it so wrong to wish a blessed day for those who celebrate it?
DURING the days before Christmas last year, I wished my friends who were celebrating it “Merry Christmas” in much the same way they would wish me “Selamat Hari Raya” or “Happy Eid”.
I find it rather sad that such a simple greeting – one which I grew up with and which I have never regarded as something that would compromise or de-value my own faith – is now regarded as something so religiously incorrect for us Malaysian Muslims.
When I was at boarding school in England, I had to go to church every Sunday because it was part of the rules. My father advised me to consider it as part of my “education” and he had no doubt that the experience would strengthen rather than weaken my own faith.
I was able to see the similarities and differences between Christianity and Islam. I learned more than the average Malaysian Muslim would about Christianity. I learnt that just as we Muslims categorise ourselves according to the four different schools of thoughts of the four Imams (Imam Malik, Imam Al Shafi, Imam Abu Hanifa and Imam Ahmad Abn Hambal) and are either Sunnis or Shias, so Christians too are divided into different sects or churches.
Going to church did not make me less of a Muslim when I was a young girl, and neither does saying “Merry Christmas” make me less of a Muslim now. My faith has not been shaken just because I wished some friends a time of joy with their families. Neither will I suddenly suffer from amnesia and forget what my religion is.
What I do not wish to forget, however, is that there are good, kind people who are not of the same faith as me.
As Harun Yahya, the Turkish writer (he was selected last year as one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre of Jordan) noted: “Islam is a religion of peace, love and tolerance.
Today, however, some circles have been presenting a false image of Islam, as if there were conflict between Islam and the adherents of the two other monotheistic religions. Yet Islam’s view of Jews and Christians, who are named ‘the People of the Book’ in the Quran, is very friendly and tolerant.
“This attitude towards the People of the Book developed during the years of the birth of Islam. At that time, Muslims were a minority, struggling to protect their faith and suffering oppression and torture from the pagans of the city of Mecca. Due to this persecution, some Muslims decided to flee Mecca and shelter in a safe country with a just ruler. The Prophet Muhammad told them to take refuge with King Negus, the Christian king of Ethiopia. The Muslims who followed this advice found a very fair administration that embraced them with love and respect when they went to Ethiopia. King Negus refused the demands of the pagan messengers who asked him to surrender the Muslims to them, and announced that Muslims could live freely in his country.
“Such attitudes of Christian people that are based on the concepts of compassion, mercy, modesty and justice, constitute a fact that God has pointed out in the Quran.”
Self-centred Muslim
I do not wish to be a self-centred Muslim who expects friends of other faiths to wish me Selamat Hari Raya or, for those who are not Malaysians and therefore do not know about Hari Raya, a Happy Eid and yet do not return their goodwill when it is Christmas, Chinese New Year, Deepavali or Vesak Day.
Every year, friends who are Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs or those without any faith come to our home to celebrate Hari Raya with us. They do so with sincerity and as a mark of respect for one of the most important days in the Muslim calendar. Why should we not reciprocate their kindness, show them the same mark of respect for their religion and wish them the same joy on their holy days of celebration?
An Islamic scholar and lecturer also reminded me that as Muslims we must remember the importance of both the five Pillars of Islam and in the six Pillars of Iman (Faith), which are:
> Belief in Allah;
> Belief in the angels;
> Belief in the revealed Books (which include the Bible, the Torah and the Holy Quran);
> Belief in the Prophets (May Peace be Upon Them);
> Belief in the Resurrection and the events of Kiamah, the Day of Judgement; and
> Belief in the predestination (Qada’ and Qadar) by Allah in all things.
The prophets include not just Muhammad (May Peace Be Upon Him) as the last prophet and as the Messenger of Islam, but also in the 24 earlier ones who are mentioned in both the Bible and the Quran. Four of them are Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), Daud (David), and Isa (Jesus).
So, if Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Isa (Jesus), a prophet respected and revered in Islam, is it so wrong to wish a blessed day for those who celebrate it?
We are now in the second decade of the 21st century. Surely, we should, now more than ever, be far more enlightened at a time when information of any sort and of all kinds are so readily available to us.
What is most important is that we regard one another as fellow citizens and treat each other with respect, regardless of our race or religion.
・The writer is Royal Fellow, School of Language Studies and Linguistics, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), and holds a BA (Honours) degree in Chinese Studies, University of Oxford. – The Star
2. The Star Online (http://thestar.com.my)
(1) Najib gives assurance to Malaysian Christians, 25 December 2012
by Razak Ahmad (razak@thestar.com.my)
PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has assured the country's Christians that he will remain open to hearing their concerns, hopes and ideas.
In his Christmas message, the Prime Minister acknowledged the country's Christian community for its role in Malaysian society especially in Sabah and Sarawak.
“We are very fortunate that Malaysia continues to enjoy peaceful relations between different faiths and races.
“This doesn't happen without our continued efforts to keep it that way, so I will always be open to hearing any hopes, concerns and ideas that members of the Christian community may have,” Najib said in his message that was posted on his blog (1malaysia.com.my/blog/).
Wishing all Malaysian Christians a Merry Christmas, Najib said that he would be having the pleasure of joining members of the faith in a Christmas Day tea party today where he will listen to their views.
He said that although Malaysia was a Muslim-majority country, some people might not realise that around one in 10 Malaysians was a Christian.
Since becoming Prime Minister, Najib said he had placed much emphasis on the unifying concepts of 1Malaysia and the Global Movement of the Moderates.
While the concepts were partly about establishing a dialogue, Najib said he was also determined that they lead to real action.
They include his meeting with Pope Benedict XVI last year, after which Malaysia formally established diplomatic relations with Vatican City.
“I very much enjoyed meeting Pope Benedict XVI in person, and now look forward to following his tweets!” said Najib, referring to the Pope who recently set up a Twitter account to communicate with his followers.
Najib said another step forward came last week when the Government announced that it would ensure any Malaysian Christian who wishes to travel to Jerusalem for a pilgrimage would be able to do so.
Tracing the roots of Malaysia's Christians, Najib said Persian and Turkish traders brought Nestorian Christianity to the country as early as the 7th century. They were followed by the Portuguese who brought Catholicism in the 15th century and the Dutch who spread Protestantism in the 17th century.
“As Christmas comes in the last week of the year, it is also a good time to reflect on what has been and will be,” said Najib.
(2) Najib: Govt has done a lot to engage Christian community, 26 December 2012
PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has urged Malaysian Christians to join in the journey of change and renewal for a better Malaysia.
Speaking at a Christmas reception organised by the Christian Federation of Malaysia, Najib said he understood that the community might have felt despondent at times, feeling that not enough was done by the Government to engage them.
“But I must in good conscience state that we have in fact achieved quite a lot through subtle engagement away from the glare of publicity and the latest decision to lift restrictions on Christians to carry out pilgrimage in Jerusalem is one of the results.
“This is the inclusivity that I am seeking because I believe there is a place for all of us under the Malaysian sun.
"This country is large enough for all our aspirations and we must work together to make this a reality.
“I am also here today to once again offer the hand of friendship of the government, to embrace the Christian community and share your goodwill,” he told the gathering which was hosted by the Lutheran Church in Malaysia.
Several DAP leaders led by secretary-general Lim Guan Eng also attended the reception.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed his commitment to the Christian community, adding that they should not feel that they have been forgotten.
“The countless personal interactions I have had with church leaders show that I have not forgotten the Christian community as some had alleged, in fact, every community, be it ethnic or religious, is important to my government and I because we cannot exclude anybody,” he said.
Najib stressed the need for dialogue and discussions and continuing to engage with one another constructively, noting that for the past three years, a permanent dialogue mechanism in the Committee on Promoting Harmony and Understanding Amongst Religious Adherent had been in put in place for the purpose.
3. The Malalysian Insider (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com)
(1) Church leaders happy with Najib’s pledge, but wary it won’t trickle down, 26 December 2012
by Zurairi AR
TALING JAYA, Dec 26 – Church leaders are happy with Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s pledge to the Christian community, but expressed concern that the prime minister’s message will not filter down to conservatives and extremist elements in his party and government.
Najib had reassured the Christian community in Malaysia on Christmas Day yesterday that the government recognised them the as an essential part of the nation. Christians form about nine per cent of the country’s 28 million population.
“I hope that was not only from him alone, but it (also) has to be from the other part of the government,” Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) chairman Datuk Ng Moon Hing told The Malaysian Insider yesterday.
CFM, the umbrella body of all Christian denominations in the country, organised its annual Christmas Day party attended by all political leaders.
Ng’s view was mirrored by the Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam, Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, who said the prime minister needs courage, determination and consistent effort to accomplish his promises.
“Hopefully he can get his whole team to (work at it),” Pakiam said.
The church leaders agreed that Najib’s attendance in the Christmas event was a nice gesture towards the Christian community, but would be for naught if he failed to confront extremists elements in his party and the government.
“What’s troubling to Christians is that the government has not spoken up to the extremists what its views are,” said Hermen Shastri, the general secretary from the Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM).
The CCM is an ecumenical fellowship of churches and Christian organisations that are part of the larger Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) representing 90 per cent of the country’s 2.8 million Christians.
Last year, Umno-owned daily Utusan Malaysia published a report entitled Kristian Agama Rasmi? (“Christianity the official religion?”), where it was alleged that DAP leaders and Christian clergymen were conspiring to take over Putrajaya, abolish Islam as the religion of the federation and install a Christian prime minister.
In the aftermath of the report, Malay supremacist group Perkasa and its president Datuk Ibrahim Ali threatened Christians nationwide with a holy war against any move to usurp Islam with a Christian state.
Najib then meet church leaders to clear the air but the Home Ministry had only slapped the daily with a warning letter for publishing the unsubstantiated report.
Shastri warned that by not taking any action on extremists, it will undo and make difficult the plans that the PM wants to accomplish.
“(This will happen) as long as some groups keep on saying that Christians are a threat,” Shastri said.
The church leaders have listed several issues affecting the Christian community that has yet to be addressed by the government, with the issue of insufficient land for religious sites chief among them.
“What we felt previously is that there are certain issues that the government could be more upfront (with) when dealing with them,” confessed Philip Lok, a bishop with the Lutheran Church of Malaysia.
“I think a lot of time, (we are facing) a struggle against bureaucracy. Some difficulties looked like it was (a problem with policy), but then the policy is interpreted in a different light,” Ng explained.
According to Ng, churches receive no land allocation from the government, which makes it hard for them to build more cemetery sites and buildings to cater to a growing number of Christian population.
The Anglican bishop also revealed that the lease for some sites of missionary schools have expired, yet their application for lease extension had not been entertained.
“The government is not paying for the schools actually, the mission schools belong to the mission board,” he said, adding that the government refused to consult the board when appointing headmasters and principals for the schools.
“It reflects bad on the government,” Ng said.
Pakiam claimed that infringements against Christians’ right are happening with alarming regularity.
“The Allah issue of course we have some sort of agreement and hopefully it will not flare up again in the future,” spoke Lok.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng had urged the federal government on Monday to allow the use of the word “Allah” in the Bible, to prove that the authority are really putting the people first.
“It looks small, it looks petty but it affects people on the ground,” Ng stressed.
Lok however, was more upbeat on what the Christian community should expect from the prime minister.
“The speech was very comforting ... his presence shows that the government is sincere in building up relationship with the Christian community.
“As long as we’re open to dialogues, open for conversations, we can come up with solutions to these challenges. It is normal in a country as diverse as Malaysia,” Lok said.
“It takes time, we can understand, but he has to determinedly go at it,” encouraged Pakiam.
In recent years, the Christian and Muslim religious communities have been engaged in a tug-of-war over the word “Allah”, with the latter group arguing that its use should be exclusive to them on the grounds that Islam is monotheistic and the word “Allah” denotes the Muslim god.
Christians, however, have argued that “Allah” is an Arabic word that has been used by those of other religious beliefs, including the Jews, in reference to God in many other parts of the world, notably in Arab nations and Indonesia.
Conservative Muslim groups have also accused Christians of attempting to convert Malays, resulting in heightened tension between followers of the two religions.
(2) DAP, PAS send mixed messages on ‘Allah’ issue, 26 December 2012
by Ida Lim
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 26 — In a fresh debate over the word “Allah”, PAS says that Christians should not use it to describe their god in the Bible, while its political ally DAP insists that Christians in East Malaysia should be allowed to use the Arabic word.
PAS information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said today the use of the word “Allah” in the Alkitab, the Malay-language translation of the Bible, would not reflect the original text’s meaning.
“PAS’ stand is that the Bahasa Melayu Bible should replace the ‘God’ term with ‘Tuhan’ and not ‘Allah’ to mirror the actual meaning of the original text,” he said in a press statement.
Tuan Ibrahim said both Christians and Muslims could be confused when the word “Allah” is used in the Alkitab.
“Since the Bahasa Melayu Bible is a translation from the original English text, the term ‘God’ does not mean ‘Allah’, because the accurate translation is ‘Tuhan’. It should be translated according to original meaning. Translating ‘God’ to ‘Allah’ will confuse Christians and create unease among the Muslims and can confuse Muslims,” he said.
He said “Allah” was a sacred name for the Muslims and should be used appropriately.
“In relation to that, (the) request to use Allah’s name in the Bahasa Melayu translation of the Bible is not wajar (suitable), even the society in the West, they don’t use Allah’s name to refer to God whether in speech, writing of films. The word that is often used is ‘Lord’,” said Tuan Ibrahim, who is also Pahang PAS commissioner.
On Monday, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng had raised the controversial “Allah” issue in his Christmas message.
“For this reason, DAP urges the BN Federal government to allow the use of the word ‘Allah’ on the Bahasa Malaysia version of the Bible as has been allowed in Sabah and Sarawak for the last 50 years and practised in the Middle East for more than a thousand years,” Lim wrote in a statement on December 24 in English and Mandarin.
Zairil Khir Johari, DAP’s assistant publicity secretary, said today that Lim’s words have been “twisted”, saying that the Penang chief minister had only asked Putrajaya not to deny the rights of Christians in East Malaysia to use the word “Allah”.
According to Zairil, several news reports had falsely accused Lim of urging the federal government to allow Christians in Peninsula Malaysia to use the word “Allah” in the Alkitab.
“He (Lim) only asked that it be allowed in the Bahasa Malaysia version of the Bible that is used by Christians in Sabah and Sarawak.”
“Furthermore, the Bahasa Malaysia version of the Bible can only be found in Sabah and Sarawak and not in Peninsula Malaysia.
“Therefore, the issue of usage of the word “Allah” in Peninsula Malaysia does not arise at all,” Zairil said.
Zairil pointed out that the word “Allah” was commonly used by Christians in neighbouring Indonesia and has been used for decades by the Bumiputera Christians in East Malaysia that converse in the Malay language.
Christians form 9.2 per cent of Malaysia’s 28.3 million-strong population, with many of them in east Malaysia using the Malay language and the word “Allah” to refer to their God.
In recent years, the Christian and Muslim religious communities have been engaged in a tug-of-war over the word “Allah”, with the latter group arguing that its use should be exclusive to them on the grounds that Islam is monotheistic and the word “Allah” denotes the Muslim god.
A legal tussle over the use of the word “Allah” remains unresolved, with the Catholic Church still barred from publishing the word in its weekly newspaper, despite winning a High Court decision on December 31, 2009.
This is due to the Home Ministry filing an appeal in 2010 against the High Court’s decision, which have since stagnated in the courts as no date has been set for its hearing.
Last year, shipments of the Alkitab, the Malay-language Bible catering to the Bahasa Malaysia-speaking Bumiputera Christians, were blocked or confiscated at ports, before the government finally bowed to pressure and released them.
（End）
