The word Allah comes from the Arabic word for God, or literally the only One who deserves all worship. Muslims believe that the Quran is the true word of God. It contains many descriptions of Allah's attributes. The opening chapter of the Quran, Surah Al-Fatiha The Opening, describes Allah's status in the universe. He is described as The Compassionate and Merciful Lord of all the worlds. It also states that He is The Ruler of the day of judgement. Allah is neither male nor female. The word Allah is also used by Arabic speaking Christians and Jews.
What Does the Quran Say About Allah?
The Creed of Imam Al-Tahawi (2007) contains a list of statements about Allah which Muslims are obliged to believe, taken from the Quran and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, (hadith). It starts with 'God is one without partner and nothing is like him'. It also states that 'Allah is pre-existent with origin and eternal without end. He is The Creator and The Originator'. In the second chapter of the Quran, Surah Baqarah or The Cow, verse 255, there is a description of Allah.
'Allah there is no deity save Him, the Ever-Living, the Self- Subsistent fount of All Being.
Neither slumber overtakes Him, nor sleep. His is all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth. Who is there that could intercede with Him, unless it be by His leave. He knows all that lies open before men and all that is hidden from them, whereas they cannot attain to aught of His Knowledge save that which He wills. His eternal power overspreads the heavens and the earth, and their upholding wearies Him not. And He alone is truly exalted, tremendous'. Quran 2:255
Allah's Names
Within the Islamic tradition there are many names which come from the Quran and hadith that are used to describe Allah. Nintey-nine of them have become very well known. Muslims try to memorize them to gain spiritual reward. The name Allah is included in the the 99. The others have a definite article to emphasize that only Allah owns each attribute. Some examples include The Light, The Guide, The Holy, The Patient, The Avenger, The Unique and The Great.
Vision of Allah
Spiritual Muslims believe that there are 70,000 veils between this realm and Allah. There are scholars and saints who believe that it is possible to see Allah whether it be in dreams or visions. Hadrat Abd al-Qadir al- Jilani in The Secrets of the Secrets (1992) said, "The vision of Allah is of two kinds: one is seeing the manifestation of Allah's attribute of Perfect Beauty directly in the hereafter, and the other is seeing the manifestation of the divine attributes reflected upon the clear mirror of the pure heart, in this life, in this world".
It is known that the Prophet Muhammad saw Allah on the famous celestial night journey to the heavens. In the Removal of Confusion (2010), Shaykh al Islam Ibrahim Niasse said "I might add here that the Prophet certainly saw Him on the Night of Ascension (al -Isra). What is possible to be a miracle for the Prophet is also possible to be a miracle for a saint." There are other references in the Quran and hadith that elude to the Prophet seeing Allah in different forms. Another description of Allah taken from the Quran is in the chapter called The Light.
Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth; the example of His light is like a niche in which is a lamp; the lamp is in a glass; the glass is as if it were a star shining like a pearl, kindled by the blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west – it is close that the oil itself gets ablaze although the fire does not touch it; light upon light; Allah guides towards His light whomever He wills; and Allah illustrates examples for mankind; and Allah knows everything. Quran 24:35
Sources
- The Threshold Society, Al Fatiha (The Opening) Quran 1.
- Quran -The Throne Verse 2:255
- The Creed of Imam Al-Tahawi - Translated by Hamza Yusuf 2007
- The Secrets of the Secrets- Hadrat Abd al- Qadir al-Jilani (1992)
- The Removal of Confusion, Concerning the Flood of the Saintly Seal Ahmad al Tijani- Shaykh al-Islam Ibrahim Niasse (2010)
- The Holy Quran The Treasure of Faith English Translation Al Noor (The Light)
Elsie Ofori - Elsie Ofori graduated from London Metropolitan University in 1999. Prior to freelance writing, she taught English in an adult college.
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