PETALING JAYA: Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah of Selangor has decreed that non-Muslims in the state cannot use the word “Allah” which is a holy word specific for Muslims.

The Ruler said this is in accordance with the fatwa (edict) which was gazetted on Feb 18, 2010, Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) secretary Datuk Mohd Misri Idris said in a statement issued yesterday.

Misri said the Sultan was shocked and regretful over the Christmas message from DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, urging the federal government to allow the word to be used in all Bibles in Bahasa Malaysia.

However, the DAP later clarified that the statement only referred to Bibles shipped to Sabah and Sarawak.

“Following this, the Sultan called for a special meeting with several Mais members, the Selangor mufti and top officials of Mais and the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) on Sunday,” Misri said.

The Sultan has expressed regret that the fatwa has been ignored by certain people and instructed Mais and Jais to act accordingly.

“In fact, the Sultan has issued the same statement on the usage of the word “Allah” three years back when the issue was first raised.

“He is deeply saddened because his statement has been taken lightly by certain parties and the issue is being raised again now,” Misri said.

The Sultan said Mais and Jais must take strict action against those who still question the fatwa or have belittled it, be it non-Muslims or Muslims.


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