Allah

The Arabic word for God, used by Muslims and Arabic-speaking Christians alike. In Islam, Allah is the one and only God—eternal, absolute, without partners or equals. The concept of Allah’s oneness (Tawhid) is Islam’s fundamental doctrine.

Etymology and Usage

Linguistic Origins

Arabic: اللّٰه (Allāh)

• Derived from al-ilāh (“the God”)
• Contraction of definite article al- + ilāh (deity)
• Related to Hebrew Elohim and Aramaic Alaha
• Pre-Islamic Arabs used the term for the supreme deity

Who Uses “Allah”?

Muslims worldwide: Regardless of language, use “Allah” in worship and Quranic recitation

Arabic-speaking Christians: Use “Allah” for God in Arabic Bibles and liturgy

• “In the beginning, Allah created…” (Genesis 1:1 in Arabic)
• Predates Islam—Arabic Christians used it before Muhammad

Maltese Christians: Use “Alla” (derived from Arabic)

Indonesian/Malay controversy: Debate over whether Christians can use “Allah” for God

Islamic Understanding

Tawhid (Absolute Oneness)

The Shahada (declaration of faith) begins: “There is no god but Allah” (Lā ilāha illā Allāh)

Surah Al-Ikhlas (Quran 112:1-4)—considered to equal one-third of the Quran:

Say, “He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent.”

This surah directly refutes:

• Polytheism (multiple gods)
• Trinity (God as three persons)
• Incarnation (God becoming human/having son)
• Any comparison or likeness to creation

Attributes of Allah

The Ninety-Nine Names (Asma ul-Husna): Beautiful names describing Allah’s attributes, including:

Mercy and Compassion:

• Ar-Rahman (The Most Merciful)
• Ar-Rahim (The Especially Merciful)
• Every Quranic chapter except one begins: “In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful”

Power and Sovereignty:

• Al-Malik (The King)
• Al-Aziz (The Mighty)
• Al-Jabbar (The Compeller)
• Al-Qadir (The Capable)

Knowledge:

• Al-Alim (The All-Knowing)
• Al-Hakim (The Wise)
• Al-Khabir (The Aware)

Creation:

• Al-Khaliq (The Creator)
• Al-Bari (The Maker)
• Al-Musawwir (The Fashioner)

Transcendence:

• Al-Quddus (The Holy)
• As-Samad (The Eternal, Absolute)
• Al-Wahid (The One)
• Al-Ahad (The Unique)

Justice:

• Al-Adl (The Just)
• Al-Hakam (The Judge)

Ayat al-Kursi (Throne Verse, Quran 2:255): Most famous verse describing Allah:

“Allah—there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth… His Throne extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.”

What Allah Is NOT

Not physical:

• “There is nothing like unto Him” (Quran 42:11)
• No body, form, or location
• Transcends time and space

Not begotten nor begets:

• No parents, offspring, or family relations
• Direct rejection of Christian Trinity
• Denial of Jesus as “Son of God”

Not incarnate:

• Never takes human form
• Absolute transcendence maintained
• God and creation remain distinct

Not in need:

• Self-sufficient (As-Samad)
• Creation needs Him; He needs nothing
• Not dependent on worship or sacrifice

Theological Distinctives

Shirk (The Unforgivable Sin)

Shirk (شرك, “association”):

• Associating partners with Allah
• Most serious sin in Islam
• The one sin Allah will not forgive (Quran 4:48)

Forms of shirk:

• Worshiping other gods alongside Allah
• Believing in Trinity (dividing God’s unity)
• Attributing divine qualities to creation
• Seeking intercession from saints/prophets instead of Allah directly

Relationship with Humanity

Lord and Servant:

• Allah is Master (Rabb), humans are servants (abd)
• Relationship is submission, not intimacy
• “Islam” literally means “submission”

Mercy emphasized:

• Despite transcendence, Allah is merciful
• Forgives all sins except shirk (if repented)
• Mercy described as encompassing all things

No mediator needed:

• Direct relationship between individual and Allah
• No priesthood or sacramental system
• Each person accountable directly to Allah

Divine Will and Human Agency

Qadar (Divine Decree):

• Allah knows and ordains all things
• Nothing occurs without His will/permission
• Tension between predestination and human responsibility
• “Allah guides whom He wills and leads astray whom He wills”

Human Responsibility:

• Despite predestination, humans held accountable
• Free will in choosing faith and actions
• Judgment Day based on deeds

Comparative Theology

Islam vs. Christianity

Concept	Islam	Christianity
Nature	Absolutely one	Triune (three persons, one essence)
Jesus	Prophet, not divine	Second person of Trinity, God incarnate
Relationship	Master-servant	Father-child (through adoption)
Love	Allah loves the righteous, not sinners	God loves all, even enemies
Revelation	Quran (direct words of Allah)	Bible (inspired by God, written by humans)
Salvation	Submit to Allah, good deeds outweigh bad	Grace through faith in Christ

Christian Objections to Islamic View:

• Too transcendent—no personal relationship
• Denies God’s love for sinners
• Rejects incarnation (God becoming human)
• No assurance of salvation (depends on works)

Islamic Objections to Christian View:

• Trinity violates absolute monotheism
• Incarnation impossible (God cannot become creation)
• Jesus as God is shirk
• Salvation by faith alone leads to immorality

Islam vs. Judaism

Similarities:

• Absolute monotheism (one God, no Trinity)
• Transcendent (not incarnate)
• Law-based ethics
• Prophetic tradition

Differences:

• Jews don’t use “Allah” (use Adonai, Hashem, etc.)
• Covenant relationship (Israel as chosen) vs. universal submission
• Torah vs. Quran as primary revelation
• Ethnic/covenantal identity vs. universal faith

Arabic-Speaking Christians and “Allah”

Usage: Arab Christians have used “Allah” for centuries:

• Predates Islam
• Arabic Bible translations use “Allah”
• Same word, different theological understanding

Theological Distinctions:

• Christian “Allah” is Triune
• Jesus is “Allah incarnate”
• Holy Spirit is “Allah’s Spirit”
• Same word, fundamentally different concept

Historical Development

Pre-Islamic Arabia

• “Allah” used for high god among Arab polytheists
• Ka’aba housed 360+ idols, but Allah considered supreme
• Muhammad’s innovation: Allah is the ONLY god, not just supreme among many

Muhammad’s Proclamation

• Revealed to Muhammad through angel Jibril (Gabriel)
• Quran as Allah’s literal speech
• Reasserted absolute monotheism against polytheism and Christian Trinitarianism
• Return to Abrahamic pure monotheism (from Muslim perspective)

Theological Refinement

Early Islamic theology developed detailed understanding:

• Mu’tazilites: Emphasized reason, Allah’s justice, human free will
• Ash’arites: Emphasized Allah’s absolute sovereignty, predestination
• Sufis: Sought experiential knowledge of Allah’s presence
• Philosophers (Avicenna, Averroes): Integrated Greek philosophy with Islamic theology

Worship and Practice

Five Daily Prayers (Salat)

Each begins with Allahu Akbar (“Allah is greater/greatest”):

• Greater than any concern, distraction, or idol
• Central to Muslim life—constant remembrance

Quranic Recitation

• Quran recited in Arabic (Allah’s literal words)
• Non-Arabic translations are “interpretations,” not Quran itself
• Memorizing Quran = memorizing Allah’s speech

Du’a (Supplication)

• Personal prayers to Allah
• Can be in any language
• Direct access without intermediary

Dhikr (Remembrance)

• Repetition of Allah’s names
• Sufi practice: achieve closeness through constant remembrance
• “Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest” (Quran 13:28)

Cultural and Political Dimensions

”Allahu Akbar”

• Islamic call: “Allah is greater”
• Used in prayer, celebration, distress
• Unfortunately weaponized by extremists
• Originally/primarily expression of devotion

Islamic State

• Some interpret submission to Allah as requiring Islamic law (Sharia)
• Debate over secular vs. Islamic governance
• Caliphate as Allah’s rule on earth

Significance

For Muslims, Allah is:

• The central reality: All existence depends on Him
• The ultimate purpose: Created to worship Allah alone
• The final judge: All will stand before Him
• The most merciful: Despite transcendence, infinitely compassionate
• The completely other: Nothing like Him exists

The concept of Allah—absolutely one, utterly transcendent, yet intimately aware—defines Islamic faith and practice. The first word a Muslim child hears is “Allah” (called in their ear at birth), and ideally the last words are the Shahada confessing Allah’s oneness. Between birth and death, life revolves around submission to Allah’s will, gratitude for His mercy, and preparation for standing before Him on Judgment Day.

Whether understood as the same God worshiped by Jews and Christians (under different understanding) or as uniquely revealed in Islam, Allah represents the Islamic answer to humanity’s deepest questions: Who created us? What is our purpose? To whom are we accountable? The answer: Allah—the One, the Eternal, the Absolute, beside whom there is no god.