Source: Toronto Sun
TORONTO – A Muslim advertisement stating “There is no god but Allah” has started a vigorous debate amongst TTC riders and sparked a review from the Toronto Transit Commission Advertising Commission Group.
After five complaints were made, a working group including councillor Karen Stintz has decided to allow the advertisement to remain in the Kennedy subway station.
“The decision to reject or accept an ad isn’t decided by whether someone takes offence to it or not,” said TTC spokesperson Brad Ross. “It doesn’t violate the Human Rights Code. We can’t reject an ad because it espouses one view on religion.”
According to the Islam Info Centre, the ad — posted in January — is aimed at raising religious awareness.
“The main purpose of posting it was to raise awareness of Islam,” said Mohammad Obaidullah, of the centre.
They have not received any complaints directly. In fact, he said they have been receiving many more visitors inquiring about the religion.
Obaidullah said the ad is not intended to be offensive.
“Of course our aim is never to convert people. They have the choice to accept it or reject it.”
But many disagree.
Charles McVety, president of the Canada Family Action Coalition, said it is offensive to all non-Muslims.
“Recognize that in a public space, this is an offensive ad to all non-Muslims,” he said. “It’s saying all other faiths are illegitimate.”
Tarek Fatah, founder of the Canadian Muslim Congress, does not agree with the ad, either.
“This is what is called the declaration of belief. It basically reads ‘There is no god but God,’” he said.
Reminds me of my deceased friend Naeem Usman Noori (Marhoum) of London Jama’at, he proposed the following translation of لاالہ الاللہ
“There is none worthy of worship but Allah”.
He did tell us, his friends, that Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad the fourth Khalifa-tul-Masih (Rahemahullah) liked the translation.
When a Muslim says لاالہ الاللہ he/she asserts that (he/she considers) only Allah worthy of worship. It is hard to dissuade someone from taking an offence but let us remind them the following. To live, everyone has to believe that he/she is on the right path and a description of the “right path” could offend others. So try to give others the space you want for yourselves. Personally I would recommend, to both sides, reading the following post on Salon:
http://open.salon.com/blog/mzafrullah/2009/06/10/walls_and_peace