An Indonesian scholar says Muslims who believe the term “Allah” is exclusive to Islam are “confused”.
Ulil Abshar Abdalla said the word predates Islam and is a general Arabic term used to refer to God.
Malaysia has declared the word “Allah” should only be used by Muslims, exclusively.
Ulil was denied entry into Malaysia earlier this month.
“The term ‘Allah’ comes from two words which are ‘Al’ ‘and ‘Ilah’ which means God. . . . The people of Mecca also used the word ‘Allah’ before Islam came,” Ulil said in a recent interview.
Ulil’s view of the “Allah” controversy echoes that of Muslim scholars and clerics, both in Malaysia and worldwide, who have criticised the ban of the use of the word among non-Muslims.
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