Epigraph:
There should be no compulsion in religion. Surely, right has become distinct from wrong; so whosoever refuses to be led by those who transgress, and believes in Allah, has surely grasped a strong handle which knows no breaking. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. (Al Quran 2:257)
Source: The Sun Daily:
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Feb 23, 2014): The Brunei government will ban the use of 19 Islamic words, including “Allah” and “masjid”, by non-Muslims, according to the Brunei Times today.
The ban will take effect from April, the paper said.
Under the Syariah Penal Code Order, these words cannot be used with respect to other religions.
They are azan; baitullah; Al Quran; Allah; fatwa; Firman Allah; hadith; haji; hukum syara’; ilahi; Ka’bah; kalimah al syahadah; kiblat; masjid; imam; mufti; mu’min; solat; and wali.
The Brunei Times quoted Hardifadhillah Mohd Salleh, a senior syariah legal officer of the Islamic Legal Unit as telling staff of the Industry and Primary Resources Ministry on key parts of the order during a briefing.
He also said certain provisions of the order also apply to non-Muslims, such as zina (adultery) with a Muslim partner, drinking alcohol in a public place, and khalwat (close proximity) with a Muslim partner.
If convicted, the penalty is a fine of up to B$4,000 and/or one year in prison.
For adultery between a married Muslim and a married non-Muslim, both parties can be punished by stoning to death if the offence is proven by confession, or the testimony of four eye-witnesses.
Additional Reading
Anyone Can Say ‘Allah’, Not Only Muslims
Kripkean Dogmatism: The Best Metaphor to Understand Religious Debates
Freedom of Speech: A Core Islamic Value!
Categories: Asia, Brunei, Separation of Church and State
Such silliness, if adopted by every country, would only ensure that humans cannot talk to each other, especially online, where communication goes across the state borders.
Yes. You are totally right Zia sahib.
There is no stop of Mullaism.
May Allah bring a Heavenly change in our world.
Mirza Ahmad
What a bad show of Brunei Islam! Every one will land in Brunei with great care or he/she will depart immediately (after April) from that country.
The Pakistan government has also got a similar law against Ahmadis only, about certain words, even though government has not yet provided any list of the prohibited words that are forbidden for the Ahmadis. The well known Muslim salutation: “Assalam u Alaikum” is definitely forbidden for the Ahmadis.
Deen -e- Mullah Fee sabeelillah Fasad.
These point never raised by Our
Prophet Muhammad (SAW), and now these Mullah wants to forced these law.
The countries Brunei, Pakistan and Malaysia etc are trying to make Islam the most cruel religion and the country itself will loose it crebility in the worlds of nations . Islam is a universal religion and it for ages & time. No one hss right to change its status. Evety one has right to read and speak about it and only Allah hknows who is right & who is wrong. No one should make such anti islamic laws .
Really senceless.
Name of the father of our Holly prophet Muhammad PBUH was ABDUALLAH who died before Islam. This means that these people will also have objection on his name having ALLAH in his name.
Completely illogical ideology.
Subhanallah. O God, please forgive them, for, they know not
Pardon me for breathing or is there a law against that as well. Some people take life so seriously that they forget we are just passing through.
A day without laughter is a day wasted Charlie Chaplin.
In the end the Arabic language will soon be exclusively used by Muslims only.!!!!!!!