Allah – Islam A Closer Look

Who is Allah?

Admin — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 08:16:31 +0000

Overview

The concept of a Divine Creator has been found in the wisdom of people in every continent. Muslims believe that all life began from a single source and the whole universe was created and structured by the same Omnipotent being. “Allah” is the proper name for God in Arabic and Muslims believe that Jews, Christians and other monotheists originally worshipped the same One God.

Allah is a unique term and signifies the One God with no plural, gender or rival. This name was used long before the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and can be found in the form of El, Elah or Elohim of the Prophets Moses, David and Jesus (may God bless them and grant them peace). The Quran, God’s Last Testament, states:

He is God, there is no other deity but He; the Knower of the unseen and the apparent; He is the Source of All Mercy, the Merciful.

He is God, there is no other deity but He; the King, the Holy, the Source of All Peace, the Guardian of Faith, the Preserver, the Mighty, the Compeller, the Majestic; Glory to God, beyond their associations (of partners with Him)!

He is God, the Creator, the Maker, the Fashioner, to Him belong the most beautiful names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorifies Him. He is the Almighty and the Most Wise. (The Quran 59: 22-24)

These famous verses are often recited by Muslims in their prayers. Here Allah (God) enumerates many of His Sublime Attributes. No other being except God could possess these Divine qualities. This is the Deity to whom the followers of Islam offer their worship and adoration.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was once asked to describe God. During the Prophet’s time there were many competing and contradictory concepts and notions about God Almighty. People asked the Prophet for a clear and precise explanation. God then revealed the following verses:

Say: He is Allah, the One and Only

Allah the Eternal, Absolute

He begets not nor was He begotten

And there is none comparable to Him. (The Quran 112:1-4)

These four short verses form one of the smallest chapters of the Quran and yet the Prophet described this chapter as being equal to one third of the Sacred Text. It is the clearest and most easily understandable exposition of the single most important theme of the Quran – the existence of the One and Only God. Allah is the Supreme Being who has eternally been beseeched by humankind; who is the Source of all mercy, peace and contentment. He is the One who creates and sustains us, who has prescribed a path of guidance for us to follow and to whom everything in the universe will one day return.

Further Reading

The concept of God in Islam is simple and straightforward. Allah is the Creator, Sustainer, Master and Regulator of the universe. He is Absolutely Unique from His creation but He is not aloof or remote. He is the Most Merciful, the Most Loving and the All-Forgiving. God is totally Independent, free of want or need while everything and everyone are in need of Him.

Throughout the Quran one finds the “Most Beautiful Names” of God. There are 99 Names in total. Muslims believe they have been revealed by God Himself so that human beings can better understand the role that He plays in our lives and our relationship with Him. Among God’s 99 Names we find:

The One
The Most Compassionate
The Ever-Living
The Most Appreciative
The Source of Peace
The Evolver
The Most Wise
The Protector
The Guide
The Supreme Judge
The Most Exalted
The King of Kings

For a complete list of the 99 Most Beautiful Names of God in the Quran click here.

Pondering upon these attributes may lead to many beneficial insights. For example, if we acknowledge that Allah is always present in our lives can we truly feel alone? If we realize that our Creator is the Most Compassionate and the Most Merciful wouldn’t we want to exhibit compassion and mercy in our own lives? The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught his followers that those who do not show mercy to their fellow human beings are not shown mercy by God. If we truly believe that one day we will stand before God on the Day of Judgement, how would that benefit our priorities and the way we spend our time? If we knew that God is All-Forgiving and always ready to accept repentance from us directly, could we ever fall into permanent despair? If we were connected to the Source of Peace, would we not feel peace and tranquility in our hearts? In a beautiful verse of the Quran Allah says “Surely in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find tranquility” (13:28)

In Islam human beings did not appear on earth by accident. If mankind came into being by sheer chance our lives would be based on chance and our entire existence would be meaningless. On earth our species depends on a delicate ecological balance to sustain our lives. This balance was ordained by the Creator as mercy to humankind. Similarly, God in His Grace and Wisdom revealed a balanced way of life that can guide us to success and happiness in this life and in the Hereafter. For Muslims, this way of life did not begin with the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) but it was the way of all of God’s prophets (3:67). The Quran refers to this way as “Islam” or the peaceful submission to the Will of God. Those who follow this way are referred to as “Muslims.” The Quran refers to Muhammad (peace be upon him) as God’s final Messenger and the seal of Prophets (33:40).

What is the Quran?

Admin — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 08:15:56 +0000

Overview

Unique Among the World’s Sacred Texts

The Quran is one of the few books that literally changed the course of human history. Believers in this Book currently make up about a fifth of the human race. It is therefore not an understatement to say that the Quran occupies a unique place among the scriptures of the world.

The Quran is the only scripture that makes the following claims:

It is the direct, verbatim Word of God (6:104; 25:6; etc.)
It is protected by God from any tampering or interpolation (15:9; 41:42);
If anyone doubts the Quran is from God, they should produce a work comparable to it (2:23; 11:13; 17:88)

The Quran was revealed by God to the Prophet Muhammad (may God bless him and grant him peace) from 610 to 632 CE. The first people to whom the Prophet conveyed the message of the Quran were masters of the Arabic language. The Quran challenged its detractors to produce a book like it if they thought the Quran was not from God Almighty (17:88). Later, the challenge was reduced to only 10 chapters (11:13). Finally the Quran’s challenge was to compose a single chapter of equal merit (2:23). The challenge was never met and continues to this day!

And it was not [possible] for this Quran to be produced by other than God, but [it is] a confirmation of what was [revealed] before it and a detailed explanation of the Scripture … (10:37)

The eloquence and beauty of the Quran, the clarity of its discourse, the power of its message were unsurpassed. In fact, the Quran was the first book in the Arabic language and remains to this day the foundational source of its grammar and morphology.

What may surprise many people is that the message of the Quran is not a new one. The Quran reminds us that God conveyed the same essential teachings to human beings throughout history.

And certainly We sent to every nation a messenger, (proclaiming): Worship God and shun false deities. (16.36)

What distinguishes the Quran for Muslims is that it is the last of a series of divinely revealed scriptures. Similarly, the Prophet Muhammad (may God bless him and grant him peace) is believed to be the last in a long line of divinely chosen guides and teachers.

Indeed We inspired you (O Prophet) as We inspired Noah and the prophets after him, as We inspired Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and Jesus and Job and Jonah and Aaron and Solomon, and as We imparted unto David the Psalms; And messengers We have mentioned to you before and messengers We have not mentioned to you; and God spoke directly to Moses … (4:163-4)

The spiritual kinship of the Prophets (may God bless them and grant them peace) is reflected in the unity of the human family. One human family; one message; One God.

O mankind! We have created you from a male and female, and made you into peoples and tribes so that you might come to know one another. Indeed the most noble of you in the sight of God is the one who is most deeply conscious of Him. Surely God is All-Knowing, All-Aware. (49:13)

Further Reading

The Quran’s Influence on Everyday Life

The Quran is the heart and soul of Islam. For believers it is an unending source of timeless wisdom. The Quran brings serenity to the distraught, strength to the weary, purpose to those who wander aimlessly and an unshakeable certainty in a Single Supreme Being who is absolutely Unique and always Near. The reader’s mind is opened up to the wonders of the universe … from a majestic constellation of stars to the tiniest organism on earth, the Quran paints awe-inspiring images that consistently summon our attention to the power and majesty of the Creative Force that fashioned the cosmos.

Do they not then contemplate on the Quran? If it had come from some other source than God, they would have found a great deal of contradiction in it. (4:82)

The Quran is regarded by Muslims as the very Speech of God. Each word is believed to be revealed by the Creator to Prophet Muhammad (may God bless him and grant him peace). Many people who read the Quran often feel that they are in the presence of the Divine. To paraphrase a contemporary author, after reading the Quran for a time you get the feeling that the Book is reading you – asking you essential questions about what you truly believe, what your purpose is in life and whether you will sincerely follow the path God has laid out for you.

The Quran is a book of guidance that was revealed by God as a mercy to humankind. It advocates a life that is based on God consciousness, piety, moderation and compassion. The Quran does not ignore the worldly lives of human beings nor does it neglect our spiritual dimension. It recognizes worldly blessings such as family, wealth, and achievement as part of God’s mercy and grace and it also stresses that the greatest success is to receive God’s good pleasure and acceptance in the Hereafter.

But you prefer the life of this world. While the Hereafter is better and more enduring. (87:16-17)

Indeed those who say: Our Lord is God, and afterward are upright, the angels descend upon them, saying: Fear not nor grieve, but receive glad tidings of paradise which you are promised. We are your protecting friends in the life of the world and in the Hereafter. There you will have (all) that your souls desire, and there you will have (all) for which you pray. A gift of welcome from (God) the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (41:30-32)

The Quran is a living book that continues to guide people from virtually every race in worldly and spiritual matters. The impact of the Quran extends to all aspects of a believer’s life – from religious tenets, to worship, social etiquette, business transactions, charity, personal relationships, dietary needs and more. Muslims express their love and reverence for the Sacred Text in various forms: through its melodic recitation; in splendid works of calligraphy and in decorative art found in Islamic architecture, metalwork, pottery, stone, glass, wood, and textiles. Memorizing as much of the Quran as possible is considered a great act of virtue and there are literally millions of people living today who have committed the entire Book to memory. One of the best known English translators of the Quran, Marmaduke Pickthall, was also an esteemed English novelist; in the foreword to his translation Pickthall describes the Quran as “that inimitable symphony, the very sounds of which move men to tears of joy and ecstasy.”

Allah – Islam A Closer Look

Who is Allah?

Recommended Reading

What is the Quran?

Unique Among the World’s Sacred Texts

The Quran’s Influence on Everyday Life

Recommended Reading