Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Malaysia's "Islamic car"?

Nope, this is not from the Onion. A Malaysian firm has plans for an Islamic car.
The Malaysian carmaker Proton has announced plans to develop an "Islamic car", designed for Muslim motorists. Proton is planning on teaming up with manufacturers in Iran and Turkey to create the unique vehicle.
And it runs on a prayer! Nope...it is still a regular car (but it does require fuel that is located underneath some Muslim countries). So what is Islamic about it:
The car could boast special features like a compass pointing to Mecca and a dedicated space to keep a copy of the Koran and a headscarf.
So basically, a severly limited GPS unit that only gives one direction and a glove compartment! But it is an interesting marketing strategy once again showing that capitalism really has no religion. Oh, and I am guessing that there will be a special model for women in Saudi Arabia: the same car, but with no way to get into the driver's seat.

Read the full story here.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

http://fugstar.blogspot.com/2007/11/islamic-car.html

i feel similarly. but religious feature and social design kinda fascinates me. in every malaysian hotel you get a distreet arrow pointing to makkah. in some turkish restaurants theres a cubicaling culture for ensuring privacy and family friendliness when eating out.

there are lots of these techniques out there.

im intrigued to see what they come up with... im hopeing to be suprised.

Salman Hameed said...

Fugstar,

I agree with some of the sentiment that you have presented on your blog. However, I don't think there is any need to identify such utilitarian objects on the basis of religion. In a society aspiring to be pluralistic, this would be a step in the opposite direction - majority religion being shoved on to religious minorities. Sure, people will have a choice of not buying it, but it sure sends an unwelcoming message . I am sure Muslims in US would feel likewise if the tables were turned (hotels in the US do that by putting Bibles in every room - and it sure is annoying). An "Islamic car" label is simply unnecessary. Have Qibla direction compass an optional feature in a "secular" car (I can't believe we are talking about cars in this manner).

-Salman

Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting this. I think the Islamic car jokes have started, I'm afraid. Anyway, you might want to join the Malaysian discussion on this at my blog.

Anonymous said...

Islam car means it can bang into any non muslim car and still be right by islamic law. It can bang into a person walking on the sidewalk for the reason of JIHAD. You can rape in the car but must have witness only men(women are considered stupid and unworthy witness)
The sales gimick uses the stupidity of people. I saw one which says that chairs are made in islamic ways. the biggest joke is Zaiton(find out why). All humans are islam because muslims believe allah (opps! their god) created everything in this world.

The word "Allah" is the perfect description of the "One God" of monotheism for Jews, Christians and Muslims!

Is "Allah" only for Islam and Muslims?
[No! It is for All Three Abrahamic Faiths.]

"Allah" is the same word used by Christian Arabs and Jewish Arabs in their Bible, centuries before Islam came.

On page one [1] of Genesis in the Old Testament, we find the word "Allah" seventeen [17] times.

Every hotel and motel has a Bible. Next time you see one look in the introduction, you will find samples of the different languages they have translated. For Arabic they have translated the verse in the New Testament in Arabic from the famous verse in the Gospel John 3:16 -

"For God so loved the world . . . "
- and the word the translators used in Arabic for "God" is the very same word used by Muslims around the planet, "Allah."
Where Does the word "Allah" Come From?

"Allah" comes from the Arabic word "elah"a god' or something worshiped. - (Arabic) means '

This word (elah) can be made plural (gods), as in "aleha" and it can be male or female just as the word in English can be "goddess."

"Allah" comes from "elaha" but it brings more clarification and understanding.

Allah= Has no gender (not male and not female)
"He" is used only out of respect and dignity - not for gender
Allah = Always singular - Never plural
"We" is used only as the "Royal WE" just as in English for royalty
Allah =Means "The Only One to be Worshipped"

For some one who said it can't be said by other humans, I think you should use your brains rather then your #@*$*&% It is for politic gains. long live the sane human race.

Anonymous said...

Please visit
www.faithfreedom.org

You will not regret it.

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