YB William Leong Jee Ken, Selayang MP on the occasion of this year’s Maulidur Rasul recently wrote addressing the Malaysians to reflect on the message that was revealed through the Holy Prophet (pbuh [1]) to find the light to resolve the “kalimah Allah” issue. (http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2014/01/14/time-for-good-sense-and-goodwill-to-prevail/)
He quoted slightly more than a dozen verses from the holy Quran to bring forth his arguments with the hope that good sense and goodwill shall prevail. I will not go into detail the Quranic verses that he had selected and I sincerely assume he quoted the verses with pure intention.
What YB William did not include in his letter however when quoting the holy Quran was Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) principal message through his dedication and sacrifice for the 23 years of his mission – worshipping Allah, the One and Only God and no other being should be associated to Allah’s divinity.
Thus, as Malaysians we should not only limit ourselves with the quoted verses but to understand further the central theme of the holy Quran that was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
The Quran is the final revelation from Allah swt [2] to all mankind. Among the recurring themes of the Qur’an are about the universe itself and its Creator. The subject matter of the Quran is essentially about human’s relation to his Lord and Creator, Allah. The aim and object of the revelation is to invite man to the right way of dealing with his Lord, with himself, and with Allah’s creation. Hence, the main theme that runs throughout the Quran is and has always been that Allah alone deserves worship and, thus, man should submit to Allah’s laws in his personal and public life. Or, in other words, the call to the belief in only Allah with no association to any other being and by doing the righteous deeds as defined by Allah.
Al-Quran is not a book that is restricted to only a presentation of historical events, problems of philosophy, facts of science or social laws, though all may be found woven together in the Quran. The Quran’s topics are all closely connected to its main theme and that the whole book is a well-reasoned and cohesive argument for this central theme. That is the true essence and absolute message that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) conveyed throughout his prophethood.
Some of the central theme verses are:
1. Allah is One and Only. He has no partner or any association
“Say (O Muhammad): “He is Allah, (the) One. Allah is Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, (He neither eats nor drinks). He begets not, nor was He begotten. And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him” Surah Al-Ahad 112:1-4 [3]
“And they say: “The Most Beneficent (Allah) has begotten a son (or offspring or children). Indeed you have brought forth (said) a terrible evil thing. Whereby the heavens are almost torn, and the earth is split asunder, and the mountains fall in ruins – that they ascribe a son (or offspring or children) to the Most Beneficent (Allah). But it is not suitable for (the Majesty of) the Most Beneficent (Allah) that He should beget a son (or offspring or children).” Surah Maryam 19:88-92
2. The best way to believe in Allah is to follow prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
“Say (O Muhammad to mankind): “If you (really) love Allah then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Qur’an and theSunnah), Allah will love you and forgive you of your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. Say (O Muhammad): “Obey Allah and the Messenger (Muhammad).” But if they turn away, then Allah does not like the disbelievers.” Surah Al-Imran 3:31-32
“O mankind! Verily, there has come to you the Messenger (Muhammad) with the truth from your Lord, so believe in him, it is better for you. But if you disbelieve, then certainly to Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth. And Allah is Ever All-Knowing, All-Wise. Surah An-Nisa’ 4:170
3.Quran also sends a harsh reminder to those who claimed that Allah has a son
“And to warn those (Jews, Christians, and pagans) who say, “Allah has begotten a son (or offspring or children). No knowledge have they of such a thing, nor had their fathers. Mighty is the word that comes out of their mouths [i.e. He begot (took) sons and daughters]. They utter nothing but a lie.” Al-Kahfi 18:4-5
“It befits not (the Majesty of) Allah that He should beget a son. Glorified (and Exalted be He above all that they associate with Him). When He decrees a thing, He only says to it, “Be!” and it is. [‘Iesa (Jesus) said]: “And verily Allah is my Lord and your Lord. So worship Him (Alone). That is the Straight Path. (Allah’s Religion of Islamic Monotheism which He did ordain for all of His Prophets).” [Tafsir At-Tabari] Surah Maryam: 19:35-36
4. The Quran made it clear that prophet Jesus (pbuh) is only a man
“O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say of Allah aught but the truth. The Messiah ‘Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), was (no more than) a Messenger of Allah and His Word, (“Be!” – and he was) which He bestowed on Maryam (Mary) and a spirit (Ruh) created by Him; so believe in Allah and His Messengers. Say not: “Three (trinity)!” Cease! (It is) better for you. For Allah is (the only) One Ilah (God), Glory be to Him (Far Exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belong all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is All-Sufficient as a Disposer of affairs.” Surah An-Nisa 4:171
5. The only religion accepted by Allah is Islam
Thus, any interfaith dialogue should be organized as a platform to seek this truth.
“Truly, the religion with Allah is Islam. Those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) did not differ except, out of mutual jealousy, after knowledge had come to them. And whoever disbelieves in the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah, then surely, Allah is Swift in calling to account.
So if they dispute with you (Muhammad) say: “I have submitted myself to Allah (in Islam), and (so have) those who follow me.” And say to those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) and to those who are illiterates (Arab pagans): “Do you (also) submit yourselves (to Allah in Islam)?” If they do, they are rightly guided; but if they turn away, your duty is only to convey the Message; and Allah is All-Seer of (His) slaves.” Al-Imran 3:19-20
6. Allah also promised to double the reward to those among the Jews and Christians who turned to Islam
“And indeed now We have conveyed the Word (this Qur’an in which is the news of everything to them), in order that they may remember (or receive admonition). Those to whom We gave the Scripture [i.e. the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel), etc.] before it, – they believe in it (the Qur’an).
And when it is recited to them, they say: “We believe in it. Verily, it is the truth from our Lord. Indeed even before it we have been from those who submit themselves to Allah in Islam as Muslims (like ‘Abdullah bin Salam and Salman Al-Farisi, etc.). These will be given their reward twice over, because they are patient, and repel evil with good, and spend (in charity) out of what We have provided them.” Surah Al-Qasas 28:51-54
Invitation to Islam
To conclude, we should remind ourselves that all the Quranic verses quoted by YB William revolves around the central theme of the Oneness of Allah. By really reflecting Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) fundamental message, accepting it and finally submitting to Allah, as how He is worshipped in Islam is indeed the simplest solution there is to resolve the “Kalimah Allah” issue.
If YB William is asking Malaysians to reflect on Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) message to resolve “Kalimah Allah” issue, he should not have ignored the central theme of Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) message to mankind – Allah alone deserves worship and Allah Absolute Oneness. Based on this, how can then any Malaysians allow any person to spread or accept any form of falsehood that is totally opposite than Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) central mission?
Finally, as YB William have taken the effort to read and quote the Quran, I’m taking this opportunity to humbly invite him to embrace Islam and worship Allah the way He should be worship with no association to any other being as demonstrated by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Let me end with Surah Al-Imran 3:58-64, the verses that was revealed to prophet Muhammad (pbuh) during the encounter with the Christian clergies from Najran.
58. This is what We recite to you (O Muhammad) of the Verses and the Wise Reminder (i.e. the Qur’an).
59. Verily, the likeness of Jesus before Allah is the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust, then (He) said to him: “Be!” – and he was.
60. (This is) the truth from your Lord, so be not of those who doubt.
61. Then whoever disputes with you concerning him (Jesus) after (all this) knowledge that has come to you, [i.e. (Jesus)] being a slave of Allah, and having no share in Divinity) say: (O Muhammad) “Come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves – then we pray and invoke (sincerely) the Curse of Allah upon those who lie.”
62. Verily! This is the true narrative [about the story of Jesus], and, La ilaha ill-Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, the One and the Only True God, Who has neither a wife nor a son). And indeed, Allah is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.
63. And if they turn away (and do not accept these true proofs and evidences), then surely, Allah is All-Aware of those who do mischief.
64. Say (O Muhammad): “O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians): Come to a word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but Allah, and that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah. Then, if they turn away, say: “Bear witness that we are Muslims.”
There is no other God but Allah and Prophet Muhammad is His final messenger – this is the absolute truth, this is the true light.
Wallahua’lam [4].
Footnote:
[1] pbuh: peace be upon him
[2] swt: Glory to Him, the Exalted
[3] Based on Interpretation of the Meanings of the Noble Quran by Dr. Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din Al-Hilali, Ph.D. & Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan
[4]: Wallahua’lam: Allah knows best
Abu Ameen
ISMA Activist
