Malaysiakini:
A church has been fire-bombed in an attack that gutted its ground floor, church officials said, escalating a dispute over the use of the word ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims.
Al least four other churches are also believed to have been attacked in the last 12 hours in the Klang Valley, including the Assumption Church in Petaling Jaya.
A fire department official said all stations were on alert for more blazes at religious buildings, ahead of planned nationwide protests today by Muslim groups angry over the use of the word as a translation for ‘God’ by Christians.
Truly this is the work of hate and evil.
Once again, the issue has long departed from being one of religious differences.
This has clearly transitioned into an issue of select parties or individuals who are bent on creating chaos in the country.
No true Muslim, or any religious person, would attempt to defend his faith by such cowardly acts of violence – striking without daring to show their face.
I refuse, and I humbly feel you should too, to see this as some Muslim vs Christian or Muslim vs others conflict. To do so would be to fall for exactly the trap that they are laying out for us.
The fundamental conflict here is between peace and hate.
Who then is behind it all? I really don’t know. If Najib and gang are not responsible, then they damn well better do their part in putting an end to it.
Under such circumstances, are they still willing to give their tacit approval to today’s protest?
If so, then I believe the death knell for Najib’s 1Malaysia gimmick will have sounded.
I consider it an utter failure of BN to truly address this issue – the same way they have failed for most almost all of Malaysia’s history to wisely negotiate differences in Malaysia society, while truly recognising, celebrating and building on Malaysia’s diversity.
Want to see how Pakatan compares? See Pakatan’s Common Platform, especially sections 3A and 3B.
Hate is never the answer. Nabi Muhammad (saw) understood this so well, and I end with two quotes demonstrating his immense wisdom and statesmanship (quotes courtesy of Malaysians Unplugged and Marina Mahathir).
A) The Promise of Prophet Muhammad (pbh) to the Monastery of St. Catherine and to All Christians
“This is a message from Muhammad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them.
Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by God! I hold out against anything that displeases them.
No compulsion is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries.
No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims’ houses.
Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God’s covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate.
No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight. The Muslims are to fight for them.
If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray.
Their churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants.
No one of the nation (Muslims) is to disobey the covenant till the Last Day (end of the world).”
(B) A Letter from the Prophet Muhammad To The Assyrian Christians
“God has told me in a vision what to do, and I confirm His command by giving my solemn promise to keep this agreement.
To the followers of the Islam I say:
Carry out my command, protect and help the Nazarene nation in this country of ours in their own land.
Leave their places of worship in peace; help and assist their chief and their priests when in need of help, be it in the mountains, in the desert, on the sea, or at home.
Leave all their possessions alone, be it houses or other property, do not destroy anything of their belongings, the followers of Islam shall not harm or molest any of this nation, because the Nazarenes are my subjects, pay tribute to me and will help the Muslims.
No tribute, but what is agreed upon, shall be collected from them, their church buildings shall be left as they are, they shall not be altered, their priests shall be permitted to teach and worship in their own way-the Nazarenes have full liberty of worship in their churches and homes.
None of their churches shall be torn down, or altered into a mosque, except by the consent and free will of the Nazarenes.
If any one disobeys this command, the anger of God and His Prophet shall be upon him.
The tribute paid the Nazarenes shall be used to promote the teachings of Islam and shall be deposited at the treasury of Beth Almal.
A common man shall pay one denar (piece of money), but the merchants and people who own mines of gold and silver and are rich shall pay twelve denars. Strangers and people who have no houses or other settled property shall not have taxes levied upon them.
If a man inherits property he shall pay a settled sum to the Baitulmal treasury.
The Christians are not obliged to make war on the enemies of Islam, but if an enemy attacks the Christians, the Muslims shall not deny their help, but give them horses and weapons, if they need them, and protect them from evils from outside and keep the peace with them.
The Christians are not obliged to turn Muslims, until God’s will makes them believers.
The Muslims shall not force Christian women to accept Islam, but if they themselves wish to embrace it, the Muslims shall be kind to them.
If a Christian woman is married to a Muslim and does not want to embrace Islam, she has liberty to worship at her own church according to her own religious belief, and her husband must not treat her unkindly on account of her religion.
If any one disobeys this command, he disobeys God and his prophet and will be guilty of a great offense.
If the Nazarenes wish to build a church, their Muslim neighbors shall help them. This shall be done, because the Christians have obeyed us and have come to us and pleaded for peace and mercy.
If there be among the Christians a great and learned man the Muslims shall honor him and not be envious of his greatness.
If any one is unjust and unkind to the Christians he will be guilty of disobeying the Prophet of God.
The Christians should not shelter an enemy of Islam or give him horse, weapon or any other help.
If a Muslim is in need the Christian shall for three days and nights be his host and shelter him from his enemies.
The Christians shall, furthermore, protect the Mohammedan women and children and not deliver them up to the enemy or expose them to view.
If the Nazarenes fail to fulfil these conditions, they have forfeited their right to protection, and the agreement is null and void.
This document shall be entrusted to the Christian chief and head of their church for safe keeping.”
The peace of God be over them all!
This agreement is written by Moavijah Ben Sofian, according to the dictates of Muhammad, the Messenger of God, in the 4th year of the Hegira in the city of Medina.
