Allah (God) in Islam

[Happiness]

The name Allah (God) in Islam is the personal name of God. The most
concise definition of God in Islam is given in four verses of Surah Al-
Ikhlaas in the Holy Qur'an:
{{1. Say (O Muhammad): "He is Allâh, (the) One.
2. "Allâh-us-Samad (The Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures
need, He neither eats nor drinks).
3. "He begetteth not not, nor is He begotten;
4. "And there is none Like unto Him.}} (Holy Qur'an 112: 1-4).
To Muslims, this four-line definition of Almighty God serves as the
touchstone of the study of God. Any candidate to divinity must be
subjected to this ‘acid test' and since the attributes of The Creator
given in this chapter are unique, false gods and pretenders to
divinity can be easily dismissed using these verses.



i) The first criterion is «"Say, He is Allah, one and only". »
Can there be more than one god? This verse tells us that The Creator
is the only one who has total and absolute power, unique in His names
and attributes.
ii) The second criterion is, «'Allah is absolute and eternal’»
The word that is translated as “The Eternal, Absolute” from Arabic is
something that can be attributed only to The Creator as all the other
existent beings temporal or conditional??. It also means that Allah is
not dependant on any person or thing, but all persons and things are
dependant on Him.
iii) The third criterion is «‘He begets not, nor is He begotten’».
This means God was not born, nor does He give birth and share his
divinity with others. Nor does He have a family or relationship with
another being.
(iv) The fourth test, - which is the most stringent - is, «"There is
none like unto Him". »
The moment you can imagine or compare ‘God’ to anything, then he (the
candidate to divinity) is not God. It is not possible to conjure up a
mental picture of the One True God because of the simple fact, as
creation, we only know creation.
The Muslims prefer calling the Supreme Creator, 'Allah', instead of
the English word ‘God’. The Arabic word, ‘Allah’, is pure and unique,
unlike the English word ‘God’, which can be played around with. For
example, If you add ‘s’ to the word God, it becomes ‘Gods’, that is
the plural of God. Allah is one and singular, there is no plural of
Allah. If you add the word ‘father’ to ‘God’ it becomes ‘God-father’.
God-father means someone who is a guardian. There is no word like
‘Allah-father’. If you add the word ‘mother’ to ‘God’, it becomes ‘God-
mother’. There is nothing like ‘Allah-mother’ in Islam. Allah is a
unique word, which does not conjure up any mental picture nor can it
be played around with. Therefore, the Muslims prefer using the Arabic
word ‘Allah’ for the Almighty.


To Allah belong the most beautiful names. The Holy Qur'an says:
{{" Say (O Muhammad): "Invoke Allâh or invoke the Most Beneficent
(Allâh), by whatever name you invoke Him (it is the same), for to Him
belong the Best Names. And offer your Salât (prayer) neither aloud nor
in a low voice, but follow a way between. }}, ) Holy Qur'an 17:110 (.
Sources of Islam give no less than ninety-nine different attributes to
Allah Almighty. The Holy Qur'an refers to Allah as Ar-Rahman (Most
Gracious), Ar-Raheem (Most Merciful) and Hakeem (All Wise) among many
other names.

God does not take human form:
Many religions at some point believe, directly or indirectly, in the
philosophy of anthropomorphism i.e. God is palatable to become a
human. Their contention is that God Almighty is so pure and holy to
the extent that He is unaware ( It is true that Allah is not like us,
but this does not mean that He is unaware of our situations!!!?- I
would rather say: is far away) of the hardships, shortcomings and
feelings of human beings. In order to set the rules for human beings,
He came down to earth as a human. Let us now analyze this argument and
see if it stands to reason.
Suppose I manufacture a videocassette recorder (VCR). Do I have to
become a VCR to know what is good or what is bad for the VCR? What do
I do? I write a manual instruction. "In order to watch a video
cassette, you should insert the cassette and press on the play button.
In order to stop, press on the stop button. If you want to fast
forward press on the FF button. Do not drop it from a height or it
will get damaged. Do not immerse it in water or it will get ruined".
These manual instructions list the various do’s and don’ts for the
machine. Similarly, our Lord and Creator, Allah does not need to take
the human form so as to know what is good or bad for the human being.
He chooses to reveal the manual instructions. The last and final
manual instruction that is sent down to the human beings is the
Glorious Qur'an whose ‘do's’ and ‘don’ts’ are mentioned to the human
beings through the Holy Verses.

If you allow me to compare human beings with machines, I would say
humans are more complicated than the most complex machines in the
world. Even the most advanced computers, which are extremely complex,
are pale in comparison to the physical, psychological, genetic, and
social factors that affect individuals and collective human life. The
more advanced the machine is, the greater the need for its manual
instruction is. By the use of the same criteria, don't the human
beings require a manual instruction by which it is easy to govern
their own lives?
Therefore, Allah does not come down personally to give the manual
instruction. He chooses a man amongst men to deliver the message and
communicates with him at a higher level through the medium of
revelations. Such chosen men are called messengers and prophets of
God.
God does not perform ungodly acts:
The attributes of Almighty God preclude any evil since God is the
source of justice, mercy and truth. God can never be thought of as
doing an ungodly act. Hence, we cannot imagine God telling a lie,
being unjust, making a mistake, forgetting things, or having any such
human failings. Similarly, God can do injustice if He chooses to, but
He will never do it because being unjust is an ungodly act. The Holy
Qur'an says:
{{ Surely! Allâh wrongs not even of the weight of an atom (or a small
ant) , but if there is any good (done), He doubles it, and gives from
Him a great reward..}},( Holy Qur'an 4:40).
God can be unjust if He chooses to be so, but the moment God does
injustice, He ceases to be God.
God does not make mistake:

God can make mistakes if He wants to, but He does not make mistakes,
because making a mistake is ungodly act. The Holy Qur'an says:
{{… My Lord is neither unaware nor He forgets, ".}},) Holy Qur'an
20:52). The moment God makes a mistake, he ceases to be God.
God does not forget:
God can forget if He wants to. But God does not forget anything
because forgetting is an ungodly act, which reeks of human limitations
and failings. The Holy Qur'an says:
{{… My Lord is neither unaware nor He forgets, ".}},) Holy Qur'an
20:52).


Does Allah create us in vain?


The brain is aware of the existence of Allah Almighty by the use of
the signs in the universe. The human brain recognizes that the Creator
of the universe is Knowledgeable and Wise. Thus, it is quite
impossible that He creates us in vain and without a special target.
Otherwise, this fact would not be in tandem with His wisdom, Glory be
to Him.

{{ "Did you think that We had created you in play (without any
purpose), and that you would not be brought back to Us?" . So Exalted
be Allâh, the True King, Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be
worshipped but He), the Lord of the Supreme Throne!!}}, (Holy Qur'an
23: 115

Though, we cannot know what does the Creator want from us, How to
worship Him as He really wants us to do? How to thank Him? This is why
He has sent to us messengers to tell us about Himself (Allah Almighty)
and the reason He has created the universe. Why he has created us?
What is the life-style He has depicted for us to follow? And what He
has preserved to us whether it is a reward or a punishment?

{{ Messengers as bearers of good news as well as of warning in order
that mankind should have no plea against Allâh after the Messengers.
And Allâh is Ever All­Powerful, All­Wise. }}, (Holy Qur'an 4: 165)

The messengers, whom Allah has picked out from the best of His
creatures, were under the custody and the protection of Allah. They
have brought miracles from Allah Almighty to give evidence of their
truthful message. Allah has sent down to them the procedure of life
which must be performed by the humankind. As it is, he who has obeyed
Allah and his messengers will be perfectly rewarded by Allah Almighty;
and he has disobeyed Allah will be punished for sure.
{{ And whoso obeys Allâh and the Messenger (Muhammad), then they will
be in the company of those on whom Allâh has bestowed His Grace, of
the Prophets, the Siddiqûn (those followers of the Prophets who were
first and foremost to believe in them.), the martyrs, and the
righteous. And how excellent these companions are!. }}, (Holy Qur'an
4: 69).Furthermore, Allah Almighty has confirmed in the Holy Qur'an:
{{ And whosoever disobeys Allâh and His Messenger (Muhammad), and
transgresses His limits, He will cast him into the Fire, to abide
therein; and he shall have a disgraceful torment. }}, (Holy Qur'an
4:14 )

Allah Almighty has explained to us that the creation is certainly for
specific wisdom:{{ And We created not the heaven and the earth and all
that is between them without purpose! That is the consideration of
those who disbelieve! Then woe to those who disbelieve (in Islâmic
Monotheism) from the Fire! }}.(Holy Qur'an 38:27)

Allah Almighty has made it clear to us to know the reason behind the
creation of the humankind:{{ And I (Allâh) created not the jinns and
humans except they should worship Me (Alone).}} (Holy Qur'an 51:
56 ).
It goes without saying that worshiping Allah is not only praying,
genuflecting, and fasting, but it contains also all the deeds and the
behavior which Allah loves us to do. Taking care of the orphan is
considered as worshipping. Visiting a sick person is part of
worshipping. Taking away anything that might hurt the others in the
road is a way of worshipping. Greeting the others is also
worshipping….etc.

Sheikh Ibn Taymiyyah has confirmed:
Worshipping is a name that is connected to everything Allah Almighty
loves and agrees on whether it is related to sayings, interior and
exterior deeds. Prayer, giving alms, fasting, doing the pilgrimage,
saying the truth, loyalty, filial devotion, good contact with one's
relatives, fulfillment of the pact, Ordering to work out kindness and
avoiding badness, striving against the unbelievers and hypocrites, the
philanthropy to the neighbors, orphans, indigent, vagabond, slaves,
animals, invocation of Allah, reading…are all kinds of worshipping
Allah Almighty.

The love of Allah and His messenger, the fear of Allah, deputation to
His Almighty, keeping loyalty to His religion, being patient to his
orders, being thankful to His beneficence, the contentment towards His
fate, the reliance on him, Beseeching His mercy and apprehending his
excruciation, and the like are all kinds of worshipping Allah
Almighty.


Islam is the complete submission and obedience to Allah (God).The name
Allah (God) in Islam never refers to Muhammad (pbuh), as many
Christians may think; Allah is the personal name of God. What do
Muslims believe about Allah?1. He is the one God, Who has no partner.

2. Nothing is like Him. He is the Creator, not created, nor a part of
His creation.

3. He is All-Powerful, absolutely Just.

4. There is no other entity in the entire universe worthy of worship
besides Him

. 5. He is First, Last, and Everlasting; He was when nothing was, and
will be when nothing else remains.

6. He is the All-Knowing, and All-Merciful,the Supreme, the Sovereign.

7. It is only He Who is capable of granting life to anything.

8. He sent His Messengers (peace be upon them) to guide all of
mankind.

9. He sent Muhammad (pbuh) as the last Prophet and Messenger for all
mankind.

10. His book is the Holy Qur'an, the only authentic revealed book in
the world that has been kept without change.

11. Allah knows what is in our hearts.



The foundation of the Islamic faith is belief in the Oneness of
Almighty God - the God of Abraham, Noah, Moses and Jesus. Islam
teaches that a pure belief in One God is intuitive in human beings and
thus fulfills the natural inclination of the soul. As such, Islam's
concept of God is straightforward, unambiguous and easy to understand.
Islam teaches that the hearts, minds

and souls of human beings are fitting receptacles for clear divine
revelation, and that God's revelations to man are not clouded by self-
contradictory mysteries or irrational ideas. As such, Islam teaches
that even though God cannot be fully comprehended and grasped by our
finite human minds, He also does not expect us to accept absurd or
demonstrably false beliefs about Him. According to the teachings of
Islam, Almighty God is absolutely One and His Oneness should never be
compromised by associating partners with Him - neither in worship nor
in belief. Due to this, Muslims are required to maintain a direct
relationship with God, and therefore all intermediaries are absolutely
forbidden. From the Islamic standpoint, believing in the Oneness of
God means to realize that all prayer and worship should be exclusively
for God, and that He alone deserves such titles as "Lord" and
"Savior". Some religions, even though they believe on "One God", do
not make all of their worship and prayers for Him alone. Also, they
also give the title of "Lord" to beings that are not All-Knowing, All-
Powerful and Un-Changing - even according to their own scriptures.
Suffice it to say that according to Islam, it is not enough that
people believe that "God is One", but they must actualize this belief
by proper conduct. In short, in the Islamic concept of God, which is
completely based on Divine Revelation, there is no ambiguity in
divinity - God is God and man is man. Since God is the only Creator
and continual Sustainer of the Universe, He is transcendent above His
creation - the Creator and the creature never mix. Islam teaches that
God has a unique nature and that He is free from gender, human
weaknesses and beyond anything which human beings can imagine. The
Qur'an teaches that the signs and proofs of God's wisdom, power and
existence are evident in the world around us. As such, God calls on
man to ponder over the creation in order to build a better
understanding of his Creator. Muslims believe that God is Loving,
Compassionate and Merciful, and that He is concerned with the daily
affairs of human beings. In this, Islam strikes a unique balance
between false religious and philosophical extremes. Some religions and
philosophies portray God as just an impersonal "Higher Power" who is
uninterested, or unaware, of the life of each individual human. Other
religions tend to give God human qualities and teach that He is
present in His creation, by being incarnate in someone, something - or
even everything. In Islam, however, Almighty God has clarified the
truth by letting mankind know that He is "Compassionate", "Merciful",
"Loving" and the "Answerer of Prayers". But He as also emphasized
strongly that "there is nothing like unto Him", and that He is high
above time, space and His creation. Finally, it should be mentioned
that the God that Muslims worship is the same God that Jews and
Christians worship - because there is only one God. It is unfortunate
that some people mistakenly believe that Muslims worship a different
God than Jews and Christians, and that "Allah" is just the "god of the
Arabs". This myth, which has been propagated by the enemies of Islam,
is completely false since the word "Allah" is simply the Arabic name
for Almighty God. It is the same word for God which is used by Arabic-
speaking Jews and Christians. However, it should be clarified that
even though Muslims worship the same God as Jews and Christian, their
concept of Him differs somewhat from the beliefs of other religions -
mainly because it is based completely on Divine Revelation from God.
For example, Muslims reject the Christian belief that God is a
Trinity, not only becaue the Qur'an rejects it, but also because if
this was God's true nature, He would have clearly revealed it to
Abraham, Noah, Jesus and all of the other prophets.