Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) lecturer Nor Azlin Hamidon, who specialises in Islamic art and calligraphy, told Bernama this is because the logo has “excess lines which damage the writing of the word ‘Allah'”.
Azlin, from UiTM’s art and design faculty, said the logo “does not conform to any traditionally accepted calligraphy method”.
“It is possible that it (resemblance to the Arabic script for the word ‘Allah’) was not intentional from the design aspect of the high heels,” said Azlin, who is also the deputy president of the National Islamic Calligraphy Art Association (PSKK).
PSKK president Rahman Hamzah also said the design on the soles is unrelated to the word ‘Allah’. Apart from the shape being too vague, he said, there are several possibilities to interpret the logo.
“This issue is similar to the shape of the letter ‘T’ or ‘+’, which is associated with the sign of the cross for Christians. But we should not lash out so easily,” he said in the Bernama report.
“Not every ‘+’ is the sign of the cross. Islamic geometry also has many forms similar to that,” he said, adding that the issue should be put to rest.
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) Islamic studies lecturer Abdul Hanis Embong said Muslims should not only focus on the loop that represents the strap of the shoe, thus equating the logo with the word ‘Allah’ in the Arabic script.
The deputy dean (talent and research) of UMT’s Centre for Foundation & Continuing Education said the logo did not fully match the word ‘Allah’.
“If you look at the logo as a whole, you won’t see (the word ‘Allah’). That’s why we shouldn’t break it (look at the logo partially). Any logo, if (looked at partially), can cause a misunderstanding. It’s like any speech which is edited … the context will be different,” he said.
“The shoe company has already explained. As rational people, we should look at their justification. Their explanation makes sense considering that they are a company that manufactures shoes.”
Shoe company Vern’s Holding Sdn Bhd yesterday apologised for the design of the logo which was printed on the soles of some of its high-heeled shoes.
The company said the logo’s design “was inspired by the image of interconnected lines resembling a high-heeled shoe”.
It said the design could be misinterpreted but insisted that it had no intention of designing a logo aimed at belittling or insulting any religion or belief.
The company’s founder, Ng Chuan Hoo, held an hour-long meeting with Islamic development department (Jakim) officers at Jakim’s headquarters in Putrajaya to provide further clarification on the matter.
This comes as a man shared a video showing the shoe and its sole after buying it from a Vern’s outlet in Kuantan.
Eight police reports have been lodged, and the case is being investigated under the Penal Code for intentionally wounding the religious feelings of others, and under the Communications and Multimedia Act for misuse of network facilities to cause offence.