Home TA Online 2013 TA Online Can non-Muslims sing the Selangor state anthem?

Can non-Muslims sing the Selangor state anthem?

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As the word Allah is part of the lyrics in several state anthems, the Prime Minister is obliged to clarify his position on this matter, says P Ramakrishnan.

Photograph: Wikipedia
Photograph: Wikipedia

His Royal Highness, the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has called on the non-Muslims in the state of Selangor not to refer to God as Allah. This is the second time that such a call has been made.

This was announced by the Selangor Royal Council Secretary Hanafisah Jais on behalf of the Sultan. It was also explained that it was to avoid causing confusion among Muslims in Selangor.

Without meaning to be disrespectful to His Highness the Sultan of Selangor and with sincere apology if any offence is caused inadvertently, it is necessary to seek clarification on behalf of the non-Muslims who are caught in a bind with regard to this ruling.

The Selangor state anthem has the word Allah in the lyrics:

Duli Yang Maha Mulia
Selamat di atas takhta
Allah lanjutkan usia Tuanku
Rakyat mohon restu
Bawah duli Tuanku
Bahagia selama-lamanya
Aman dan sentosa
Duli Yang Maha Mulia – Source: Wikipedia

In light of the ruling can the non-Muslims sing the state anthem? According to the ruling, the non-Muslims are prohibited from uttering the word Allah.

As the word Allah is also part of the lyrics in several state anthems, the Prime Minister is obliged to clarify his position on this matter. He is also obliged to state his stand on the National Anthem which has the word Tuhan in the lyrics. Can Muslims sing the National Anthem?

The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.

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P Ramakrishnan
P Ramakrishnan has been an Aliran member since its inception in 1977, serving on our executive committee for 36 years, half of that period as Aliran's president (1993-2011). He continues to serve as an Aliran member, highlighting issues of public interest to a larger audience
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PG Loi
PG Loi
20 Sep 2016 4.54am

I admire the level of intelligent human have. We are so creative that we do created an infinite prison for our mind.
It seems that we just don’t and refuse to learn from the mistakes we once made. Romans Empire, The Atlantis, Babylon, Egypt and so on.
The strongest pillar to stabilized the whole middle east has crumble for the sake of “their” agenda and yet the ignorant still keep debating whose bedtime stories are better. For what? To protect The Invisible … Being who sits up there?

SAM
SAM
22 Nov 2013 12.40pm

Go and sing this song aloud, and with spriit too. Then when word ‘ALLAH’ comes to mouth, the singer would automatically conceptualise it as his/her GOD’

Sasha Pranth
18 Nov 2013 12.42pm

The Allah issue is spiraling out of control. It would not have got so out of hand in the first place had level heads prevailed and ‘adults’ sat down calmly to discuss this objectively. Now we have to live with this mess and be the laughing stock of the entire world. Someone has got to back down… but who will?

DiDa
17 Nov 2013 9.10pm

Allah is the master of universe.. i just dont see a problem why non muslim sing it to honour the lord of Selangor. Even any creature should sing it in Selangor

Anonymous
Anonymous
16 Nov 2013 10.32am

@Geetha > Interesting… So you are implying that as long as it’s not in a prayer, non-Muslims are allowed to use the word Allah? And curiously, who is it that you sense, were getting angry?

Mohan Geetha
15 Nov 2013 6.30pm

Getting angry is not the point. It is a song. Not a prayer.

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