I would like to add a small correction to Arif's statement. In Buddhism there is no mention of God since Gautam Buddha felt that human beings did not understand the concept of man he refused to answer any questions regarding God. As far as Hinduism is concerned they have many Gods and they refer to them as Bhagwan. They believe that Gods that they have are the manifestation of the same one God who they something like Paramatma. Since the civilization of India is much older than Arabic something like 10000 years old and they have a different base of language like Pali, Ardhamagadhi, Sanskrit etc. it is not likely they would call their God as Allah. The same is true of Chinese they have their own spiritual discoveries like Dao or Tao, Shinto, Confuscism. Even their culture is quite developed and very interesting.
It would be very interesting to know what the ancient Red Indian Americans called. Recent historical findings suggest that the original Americans had a very astaounding culture before the Europeans in their imperialistic approach destroyed them. Love to all, Rashid. --- In islamcity@yahoogroups.com, Arif Bhuiyan wrote: > > Salaam and thanks for this article. I knew this, in Bible, Torah, and in all religious books, including Hindooism and Booddaism, God was written as Allah. Later, some people changed it to God. It is true there is no God but Allah! Sadly, some Muslims translate this sentence as - there is no God but God, which does not make any sense! Christians and Jews living in Arabia speak Arabic. I met some of them in the UK who used to say Soobhanallah, Alhamdolillah, even some do use Bissmillah before they start anything! All of them agreed that these are not only Isslamic terms but also Arabic, related to Arabic language and culture. All of them agreed that Allah was the term used in their religious books at first! > The fact is whether we believe or not, there is no God but Allah! This is universal truth and denying this is just acting against the law of nature! > The funniest thing is, those who have deliberately misled their fellows are not able to stand for the responsibilities and mishaps have happened. Also, those who realised that they were misled and are not embracing the truth will remain responsible for their own acts! > - Arif Bhuiyan > From the UK > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: Erooth Mohamed > Sent: Sunday, 18 May, 2008 10:21:12 AM > Subject: Dutch Bishop: Christians should refer to God as 'Allah' > > > > > Muskens believes that God knows His name in all languages > > > > Dutch bishop: Call God 'Allah' > Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:25:52 > Source: Agencies > http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=10124 > > > Dutch Bishop: 'Allah' is a very beautiful word to use instead of the word 'God' > A Roman Catholic Bishop in the Netherlands has proposed people of all faiths refer to God as Allah to foster understanding among religions. > > Amsterdam, Aug 15, 2007 / 09:15 am (CNA).- Bishop Martinus Muskens of Breda, Netherlands, suggested in an interview with Radio Netherlands that Christians should refer to God as Allah, which would promote better relations with Muslims. > > The 71-year-old Bishop, Tiny Muskens, told Radio Netherlands that God did not mind what he was named and that in Indonesia, where he had spent eight years, priests used the word "Allah" while celebrating Mass. > > > Bishop Muskens > "Allah is a very beautiful word for God. Shouldn't we all say that from now on we will name God Allah?" > > The bishop, who had worked in Indonesia, noted that even Christians use the term Allah for God there. The Dutch should learn to get on spontaneously with different cultures, religions and behavior patterns: > "Someone like me has prayed to Allah yang maha kuasa (Almighty God) for eight years in Indonesia and other priests for 20 or 30 years. In the heart of the Eucharist, God is called Allah over there, so why can't we start doing that together?" he was quoted as saying. > > Some Dutch Muslims welcomed his comments as a valuable gesture of support coming just days after a far-right Dutch politician insulted the Holy Quran. Geert Wilders called for the Quran to be banned in the country. > > Wilders, whose new party won nine seats out of the 150 in parliament in last November's elections, is well known for his negative remarks on Islam. > > Bishop Muskens admitted that he did not think his suggestion would be welcomed readily and that it would take about 100 years before Catholics would feel comfortable calling God "Allah". > > In an interview broadcast on Monday's edition of current affairs show "Netwerk," Muskens said he had worked in Indonesia where God is referred to as Allah in Christian services. > But a spokesman for one of the capital's leading mosques said he was not happy with the statement. > "We didn't ask for this, a spokesman for the Moroccan Mosque in Amsterdam told De Telegraaf. "Now it is as if we have a problem between Muslims and Christians." > > Gerrit de Fijter, chairman of the General Synod of the Dutch Protestant Church, also rejected Muskens' suggestion. "I applaud every attempt to encourage dialogue with Muslims, but I doubt the sense of this maneuver," De Fijter told De Telegraaf. > > Neither De Fijter nor Muslim community leaders returned calls seeking comment Wednesday. > > Speaking to a local television network Wednesday, Muskens said he was pleased his comments had sparked debate. "That they are interested in how to get along with God, that is a positive result," he told Omroep Brabant. > > Muskens is known for controversial statements. In 1996, he declared that it was acceptable for the hungry to steal bread. He also advocated condom use to prevent the spread of AIDS and urged the abolition of celibacy for priests. > > In June, Muskens requested Pope Benedict XVI to grant him retirement from the bishopry. Muskens, aged 71, was appointed Bishop of Breda in November 1994. > +++++++++++ > > Allah > > http://www.godallah.com/index.php > > > The word "Allah" is the perfect description of the "One God" of monotheism for Jews, Christians and Muslims! > > Is "Allah" only for Islam and Muslims? > [No! It is for All Three Abrahamic Faiths.] > > "Allah" is the same word used by Christian Arabs and Jewish Arabs in their Bible, centuries before Islam came. > > On page one [1] of Genesis in the Old Testament, we find the word "Allah" seventeen [17] times. > > Every hotel and motel has a Bible. Next time you see one look in the introduction, you will find samples of the different languages they have translated. For Arabic they have translated the verse in the New Testament in Arabic from the famous verse in the Gospel John 3:16 - > > "For God so loved the world . . . " > - and the word the translators used in Arabic for "God" is the very same word used by Muslims around the planet, "Allah." > > Where Does the word "Allah" Come From? > > "Allah" comes from the Arabic word "elah"a god' or something worshiped. - (Arabic) means ' > > This word (elah) can be made plural (gods), as in "aleha" and it can be male or female just as the word in English can be "goddess." > > "Allah" comes from "elaha" but it brings more clarification and understanding. > > Allah= Has no gender (not male and not female) - "He" is used only out of respect and dignity - not for gender > Allah = Always singular - Never plural - "We" is used only as the "Royal WE" just as in English for royalty > Allah =Means "The Only One to be Worshipped" > +++++++++++ > > The word "Allah" in the Arabic Bible: > http://www.answering-christianity.com/allah5.htm > [Genesis 1:1 - Arabic Bible] > > [John 3:16 - Arabic Bible] > > > [Luke 1:30 - Arabic Bible] > > > The word "Allah" exists in the Book of Genesis: > > > __________________________________________________________ > Sent from Yahoo! Mail. > A Smarter Email http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html >
