It is deeply unfortunate that once again Muslim Malaysians have shown their ignorance, not simply by showing their ignorance in court, and not accepting the verdict of their own judicial system but that a minority have chosen violence. For the most recent example see here:Malaysian Churches Attacked
It seems as the article pointed out that "Many Muslims in Malaysia have refused to accept the argument that ''Allah'' is an Arabic word that predates Islam, and that it is used by Christians in countries such as Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Indonesia regularly in their worship."
To a certain point I can understand that ignorance because on the surface some may be simply arguing for example, that the English word "God" and the Arabic word "Allah" are not interchangeable. They may be threatened and angered by the concept of a Christian saying that "Allah became incarnate in Jesus Christ." But what is clear is that some Muslim Malaysians are ignorant of the etymology, the pre-Islamic and non-Islamic history and the usage of the word "Allah."
I pray for the day when their ignorance is overcome by the overwhelming historical, textual, and archaeological evevidence that substantiates that the word "Allah" was a designation of deity before the time of Muhammad. I pray for the day when Muslim Malaysians listen to their own revelation in that Arabic speaking Christians and and Jews used "Allah" before Muhammad received his revelation. For example, by the Qur'an's own testimony, monotheists, known as hanifs used the the word "Allah" for the One True God.
It is unfortunate that some Muslim Malaysians are ignorant of the fact that Jewish people migrated into Arabia long before the birth of Jesus Christ. The numerous references to Jewish scriptures, practices and even dietary practices that appear in the Qur'an are ample proof that Muhammad had ongoing and sustained contact with Jewish groups throughout his life. Furthermore, the Christian presence in Arabia dates back as early as a brief visit on the way to India by the famous Alexandrian scholar Pantaenus in AD 180. By the 3rd century there were bishops among the Arab Christians particularly for the Christian ascetics seeking solitude and the Christians fleeing persecution.
And the first mission specifically targeting southern Arabia dates back to the 4th century, when Constantius (son of Constantine) sent the Arian deacon Theophilus to the southwest corner of Arabia, now known as Yemen. What word would that missionary have used but "Allah!"
It is clear that by the time of Muhammad, Allah was widely used by monotheistic Arabs (hanifs), Jews and Christians as the word for God. But perhaps the Muslim Malaysians who have turned to violence are not ignorant but instead threatened by that very fact that Christians have, will and can use the Allah to refer to the One True God. And because Christians have, will and can use Allah to refer to the One True God, the light of the revelation of the One True God through Jesus Christ will one day bring all to Allah.
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