FROM MAULANA'S DESK

They can tell their Christian fellow Malaysians that 'Allah' is not simply a name; it involves a whole religious culture, that is, the culture of tawheed or monotheism. And so, with reference to this event, they can introduce to them the Islamic teaching of tawheed. This wise approach was also adopted by the Prophet of Islam. Addressing the Prophet, the Quran presents this principle: Say, ‘People of the Book, let us come to a word common to us that we shall worship none but God.' (THE QURAN 3:64) The willingness on the part of Christians in Malaysia to use the word 'Allah' for God actually gives Muslims a common ground (kalima e-sawa) with them. In this case, the Malaysian Christians have themselves provided this common ground. Malaysian Muslims should welcome it and avail it as an opportunity for spiritual exchange. o Maulana Wahiduddin Khan editor@thespiritofislam.org I Will Do It Those who are conscious only of their own rights will always make demands upon others. Their slogan is: "Others have to give to us!" The duty-conscious person will always think in terms of self-construction. He will always try to fulfil his own duty. The slogan of a rights-conscious person is: "They must do this for me!" A duty-conscious person, on the other hand, will say : "I will do it!"