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| Can the pig know it is dirty? |
I think by now, most Malaysians already know how silly the government is for making an issue out of the word Allah. I just wonder if those in the government feel as stupid for themselves. But I guess a dirty pig that grew up in the dirty mud pool would never realize what the meaning of being dirty is. I suppose when one is used to being in a supportive circle of stupid associate, one is not in a position to see stupidity for what it is.
But for me, there is a good side to this ruckus being raised. It caused me to start investigating into something that I would otherwise have taken for granted, and that is, “Does “Allah” really refer to the one and same God?”
Let’s say I happen to meet 2 young children. Both say “My father is Ishmil”. Does it automatically means that it is the same Ishmil? Here is where we must consider the characteristics of Ishmil as described by the children themselves. And so, the little girl says “My father is a very fair and tall and man. His hair is black and he is soft spoken, loving, hates pornography and violence”. But the young boy says “My father Ishmil is a short man, stout and very muscular. He hair is white. He has a loud voice and is always shouting. He beats me and my mother all the time, drinks and love to read dirty comics”. Are they speaking of the same Ishmil? I would think not. I think we have 2 Ishmils here.
I first note that the Koran made this claim in chapter 29:46, which says that the Muslim god and Jewish and Christian God are the same one..
“Do not argue with the people of the scripture except in the nicest possible manner - unless they transgress - and say, "We believe in what was revealed to us and in what was revealed to you, and our god and your god is one and the same; to Him we are submitters."
( All Koran verses are taken from http://www.submission.org ).
Now, you will not find any agreement to this Surah in the bible. It is a one-sided claim. But at the same time, I have read of people like the Roman Catholic pope, Rick Warren, Paul Cho Yonggi agreeing that the Muslim Allah is actually also the Christian Yahweh ( just google for their names with the word Allah ).
So I got curious I need to know whether this is true. And when you need to know the truth, you search and seek. You don't sit down and meditate on what you have been spoon-fed by your pastors.
So I got curious I need to know whether this is true. And when you need to know the truth, you search and seek. You don't sit down and meditate on what you have been spoon-fed by your pastors.
What I found out, I detail below below for you. These are the characteristics of the 2 Allahs. You make the final conclusion for yourself if we are talking about the same Allah after all.
Christian Allah's Teachings | Muslim Allah's Teachings |
You must love your wife and she should submit to you | The men are made responsible for the women, …. If you experience rebellion from the women, you shall first talk to them, then deserting them in bed, then you may beat them. If they obey you, you are not permitted to transgress against them. GOD is Most High, Supreme. (Surah 4:34 ) |
Hates divorce ( Malachi 2:16) , allows divorce only in the event of adultery ( Matthew 19:9 ) | Does not encourage it (Surah 4:35, 65:2 ), but allows divorce for any reason ( Common knowledge ) |
Leaders can only have only one wife ( 1Timothy 3:2, 3:12, Titus 3:16) | Any can marry up to four wives, and anybody with 4 wives can still be a leader ( Common knowledge ) |
Loves sinners, hate the sin ( John 3:16 – 18 ) | GOD condemns usury, and blesses charities. GOD dislikes every disbeliever, guilty. (Surah 2:276) Proclaim: "You shall obey GOD and the messenger." If they turn away, GOD does not love the disbelievers, (Surah 3:32 ) |
Once a divorced woman remarries another man, she may not remarry the previous husband. ( Deuteronomy 24:1-4 ) | If he divorces her it is unlawful for him to remarry her, unless she marries another man, then he divorces her. The first husband can then remarry her, so long as they observe GOD's laws. (Surah 2:230 ) |
Definitely forgives all who confess their sins and repent before Him ( 1John 1: 9) | Not believer is sure that he will be definitely be forgiven, even sincere believers will have to depend on the weight of good and bad deeds ( Koran 7: 8-9, 23:102-103). Everyone, including Muslims must enter hell first anyway (Surah 19:70-72) and forgiveness depends on Allah’s mercy |
Came into this world, took on the form of man, and died for sins of man and ascended to heaven | No such thing ever happened |
Any form of lying is not allowed ( Rev 21:8 ) | Various forms of deception and lying is allowed (Surah 3:28, 16:106, 66:2 etc) |
“takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked” (Ezekiel 33:11) |
The list is actually much longer than the above. I just want to keep this short, so I cut them out.
Now, I see two totally contradictory natures. Can the 2 Allahs be the same one Allah?
In this connection, I understand that many educated and wise Malaysians also like to say that “Why quarrel over religion? All religions are the same.” We are not quarreling here. We are just doing some comparisons to support personal decision-making. And in making the comparison, we merely ask “How can 2 things so contrasting and contradictory be the same thing?” Maybe they are not so wise after all, huh?
Someone might say “Why do you want to highlight the differences? You should highlight the similarities, because similarities unite”. To this I reply “Protestants drowned Protestants, Roman Catholic burned Protestants, Muslims kill Muslims over doctrines, Buddhist country shoot at Buddhist country over a temple”. What say you now to the “similarities unite” idea? We like to parrot wise cliches without thinking, thinking that is a smart thing to do.
In life, we make choices. Choices are always based on discerning the differences. Do I choose a Nikon camera over an Olympus because Nikon has 20% similarity to Olympus, or will I look for differences? Or do you just choose a camera as long as it can take pictures? That would be nonsensical. Do I vote between 2 political parties because of the similarities of one to the other? That’s nonsensical, too. Of course I look for the differences, and I make my decision based on what I think I like more.
In life, we make choices. Choices are always based on discerning the differences. Do I choose a Nikon camera over an Olympus because Nikon has 20% similarity to Olympus, or will I look for differences? Or do you just choose a camera as long as it can take pictures? That would be nonsensical. Do I vote between 2 political parties because of the similarities of one to the other? That’s nonsensical, too. Of course I look for the differences, and I make my decision based on what I think I like more.
So I conclude. Maybe it is better to admit that the 2 Allahs are not the same after all. But Rick Warren doesn't know it. The Pope doesn't know it, and Paul Cho Yonggi doesn't know it either.
Now if you would just accepted this truth, then there is no more confusion. And then, you can decide for yourself which Allah is the right one for you according to your own likes and dislikes, or your value system. For example, if you want to be practical and have authority to beat your wife into submission and have peace in the family, you know which Allah to choose.
Now if you would just accepted this truth, then there is no more confusion. And then, you can decide for yourself which Allah is the right one for you according to your own likes and dislikes, or your value system. For example, if you want to be practical and have authority to beat your wife into submission and have peace in the family, you know which Allah to choose.
And should Christians do away with the term “Allah”? Personally I would, if I had a choice. But I don’t. For one, the government’s education policy turned me and my children into Malay language educated people. Many Malaysians have a better command of the Malay language than any other. So we need to read the bible in the Malay Language. For another, the Malay language bibles and Christian books had to be imported from Indonesia, and these publications have always been using the term Allah for the English word God. In fact, I was told that Munshi Abdullah translated the first New Testament into the Malay language, and he also used the word Allah. And finally, it is already common knowledge to Malaysians and the whole world that Allah is not an original Malay word, nor the original word for God in Arabic. Apparently it is an English corruption of the Arabic word al-ilah. Allah is found even in the English dictionaries. So what nonsense is this government spewing. But when you are an extremist you wouldn’t want to reason.
The unpleasant truth is "You have not been checking".
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
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