I'm not entirely sure what your issue is but your source is correct in stating that the word for God in Aramaic, as it would appear in a lexicon in the emphatic state, is אלהא (alaha). I would be more inclined to argue (based upon the Greek transliteration eloi of 'my God' found in Mark 15:34) that the emphatic was more properly pronounced eloha, but to quibble over vowels that must be inferred since Aramaic, like its Hebrew counterpart, is a consonantal text, wouldn't get you very far. The relationship between the Aramaic and Arabic words for 'God' can hardly be overlooked, they are both Semitic languages.
Jesus was quoting the Psalm 22 which begins with the line, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me."
You must read the whole Psalm to understand where Jesus was going with this. You apparently missed where Jesus called God, "Abba". If you did miss it, you could "waste another 8 bucks" and see the film again.
While on the cross our Lord cried, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" (Mt. 27:46) He did not cry to "Allah." the islamic deity. Similar words do not explain God of Christianity is the same as Muslim deity.
Where in the Bible are we commanded to learn and understand the ancient languages? If that were true then wouldn't the Bible have been written in one language? (Presumably Hebrew.)
It sounds like our muslim friend is trying to apply muslim teachings to Christian theology. Sorry, it does not work that way.....
In Arabic countries, the reason that "Allah" is used is because it came into use as the "proper" name for God because of the similar semitic roots to Hebrew ("El") and Aramaic. But "Allah" was also used as a proper name of address to other gods ("allah" with a small "a" like "god" with a "g") and was used by Mohammed's tribe in addressing the lunar deity, who also had three daughters Al-'Uzza, al-Lat and Manah.
Notice how "al" precedes the names, to show deity.
I do NOT advertise or defend the moon god theory, but does it really matter? Arabic speaking Christians call God Allah too. There can be debate about whether or not the Judeo-Christian God is the same as the Muslim one, but the Muslim Allah is not a moon god. I don't think they worship a moon god.
In my experience, using the "Allah is a moon God" is irrelevant - Allah could have been perverted as a moon God, and it would have just been a perversion that happened in the age of jahiliyah, turned into an idol, whatever. Keep in mind that Elohim was worshipped in Canaan as the head of a divine pantheon in Bible times, and Baal was worshipped as the son of elohim.
From what I know from talking to some Muslims, Illah is the word which translates into God in arabic, and Allah is more of God's personal name. Reading the site http://www.submission.org/ , they transliterate Illah as Elaha... A...E....'eloahh....'elohiym.......the sound crosses some lines in those languages. It's not big deal.
http://www.blueletterbible.org/tmp_dir/ ... -7385.html
http://www.blueletterbible.org/tmp_dir/ ... -4990.html
Like I said in arabic countries people use the word Allah for God . . it is not a muslim word, it is an Arabic word, and is used by all Arabs to refer to God whether Christian, Muslim or atheist/agnostic . . The word "Allah" does not belong to the Muslims.
http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/allah.html
But as to what Jesus said on the cross, it comes from the Aramaic, not Arabic, but the two languages are much more closely related than English is to either. Being a semetic language it is similar to both Hebrew and Arabic, so it would be no wonder that the words is Arabic and Aramaic would be similar . . Actually, a site I just found states that the words for "God" in both Aramaic and Arabic sound the same -
http://www.answering-christianity.com/allah2.htm
Regardless of what you think Jesus said from the cross, both words translated to "God" in our langauge.
Also, the issue of God being a Father is a really big issue for Muslims. God is in no way a father . . and to suggest that He is is blasphemy to them.
It would be interesting to know what muslim friends think about the many times Jesus, who is a Great Prophet to them, calls God "Father" . . .
Scott Hahn related an incident where he had agreed to debate a Muslim scholar who was seeking to engage Christians in formal debate while in America. . . everytime that Scott Hahn referred to God as Father, it distressed this muslim so badly that the muslim refused to debate him because he was a blasphemer.
When, dumbfounded, Scott Hahn asked him to explain, the muslim man said this (I am paraphrasing somewhat)
The relationship between Allah and man is much like that between a man and his dog. I would love my dog, treasure my dog, care for my dog. But the dog would never be my child, it would always be my dog and I would always be only its owner, its master. But when I have to move, if I cannot take him with me, I would kill my dog. He is mine to do with as I wish. Whether he lives or dies is no consequence.
This is how he saw his relationship with God. And to suggest that God could have paternal feelings for us, that He would want to be in a Father/child relationship with us, that God would lower Himself to do so, is absolute blasphemy.
Scott Hahn relates this story here in much greater detail than I did above - i really do recommend that you read it:
http://www.star.ucl.ac.uk/~vgg/rc/a.../m5/scmnt3.html
In the section Baptism as the Sacrament of Divine Sonship
When kids say "Metallica is the God of heavy metal" Do they mean they are the actual GOD? Does it mean "God of Christianity" or "muslim god" wherever we see or hear the word God?
Even if the movie said that, which I don't believe it does, it makes no real difference. The movie isn't the Bible.
To go back to your original agenda, if Muslims don't believe that Jesus was crucified (Koran 4:157), then how could Jesus have utter those words? And why would Allah create such a deception that would ultimately lead to the creation of the world's largest religion?
Muslims do not even believe that Jesus was crucified on the cross. So why would any muslim even want to discuss what Jesus said or did not say while he hung on the cross?
Maybe you are a Muslim who believes in "the swoon theory" where Jesus faked His death, fooling the Roman guards, after being pierced hands and feet and a spear thrust in His side.
Maybe there are some "swoon theory" believers out there who would like to try this and see if it really works!
Enough said! This is a very weak argument, there is no point, have a splendid day. I am done now.