Kalimah "Allah"

This post was initiated due to my personal reflection of the Origins of Religion discussed previously in class. After reading this article and that article from Dr Mohd Asri Zainal Abidin, I understood his intent and where he is coming from - evaluate the maslahat against the mudarat and make an informed decision such that one preserves the true image of Islam while defending one's a'qidah.

I also understood where Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas is coming from when he discusses about kalimah Allah - in theological, epistemological and ontological sense. That Christians are not using it in the same manner as the Muslims use it (similar to what Dr Mohd Asri Zainal Abidin's comment about Trinity) because Allah SWT prescribes the kalimah exclusive for the use of Muslims all over the world.

I agree when Syeikh Abdul Halim cautioned us to be mindful and be able to distinguish the intent of the scholars and which school of thought they belong to:

"O Allah! Let us see the good as good, and bless us with following it. And show us the falsehood as falsehood, and bless us with staying away from it, with Your mercy, O Most Merciful!"

I also will heed mum's advice not to be taksub (following blindly any school of thought without question) but hold firmly to the al-Quran (wahyu Allah SWT) and Hadeeth (RasululLah's guidelines).

Truly in Islam, there is the concept of Unity that the Quran emphasises upon, commanding the Ummah not to disunite and become scattered groups:

“And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember Allah's favour unto you: how you were enemies and He made friendship between your hearts so that you became brothers by His grace; and (how) you were upon the brink of an abyss of fire, and He did save you from it. Thus Allah makes clear His revelations unto you, that haply you may be guided.” [Surah al e-Imran: 103]

May Allah SWT bestow us with hikmah (wisdom), protects us from the whispers of Satan and the wrath of the Hellfire, insya Allah.