Allah - gender?

Wa Alaikumussalaam Wa Rahmatulaah

I am sure there was a thread explaining this but I cannot find it. It has something to do with the English language though...

Insha Allah I'll try and find the thread.

Akhi, its just language. For example some people say to a car that "she's a beauty" even though the car isn't a female. The same way, when generally speaking - people refer to other things in a male manner [in linguistic terms.]


Another example is when the word 'We' is used, even though Allaah is One. Even the Queen of england calls herself 'we' when talking about herself in singular form.


So in reality - there is none like Allaah, but the word He is just used as a linguistic term to address Him.


Sorry, i know its not that good of an explanation.. but i hope u get my drift. And Allaah knows best.

It is a feature of literary style in Arabic that a person may refer to himself by the pronoun nahnu (we) for respect or glorification. He may also use the word ana (I), indicating one person, or the third person huwa (he). All three styles are used in the Qur’an, where Allaah addresses the Arabs in their own tongue. (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 4/143).

“Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, sometimes refers to Himself in the singular, by name or by use of a pronoun, and sometimes by use of the plural, as in the phrase (interpretation of the meaning): ‘Verily, We have given you a manifest victory” [al-Fath 48:1], and other similar phrases. But Allaah never refers to Himself by use of the dual, because the plural refers to the respect that He deserves, and may refer to His names and attributes, whereas the dual refers to a specific number (and nothing else), and He is far above that.” (Al-‘Aqeedah al-Tadmuriyyah by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah, p. 75).

These words, innaa (“Verily We”) and nahnu (“We”), and other forms of the plural, may be used by one person speaking on behalf of a group, or they may be used by one person for purposes of respect or glorification, as is done by some monarchs when they issue statements or decrees in which they say “We have decided…” etc. [This is known in English as “The Royal We” – Translator]. In such cases, only one person is speaking but the plural is used for respect. The One Who is more deserving of respect than any other is Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, so when He says in the Qur’an innaa (“Verily We”) and nahnu (“We”), it is for respect and glorification, not to indicate plurality of numbers.

If an aayah of this type is causing confusion, it is essential to refer to the clear, unambiguous aayaat for clarification, and if a Christian, for example, insists on taking ayaat such as “Verily, We: it is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e., the Qur’an)” [al-Hijr 15:9 – interpretation of the meaning] as proof of divine plurality, we may refute this claim by quoting such clear and unambiguous aayaat as (interpretation of the meanings): “And your god is One God, there is none who has the right to be worshipped but He, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful” [al-Baqarah 2:163] and “Say: He is Allaah, the One” [al-Ikhlaas 112:1] – and other aayaat which can only be interpreted in one way. Thus confusion will be dispelled for the one who is seeking the truth. Every time Allaah uses the plural to refer to Himself, it is based on the respect and honour that He deserves, and on the great number of His names and attributes, and on the great number of His troops and angels.” (Reference: Al-‘Aqeedah al-Tadmuriyyah by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah, p. 109).

And Allaah knows best.

http://islamqa.com/index.php?ref=606...t=he%20pronoun

Being referred to as "He".

I was told we don't know.

Is it written this way in the Quran? Or is it because of translations?

Asalaamu 'alykum (peace be upon you) brother.

It is a feature of literary style in Arabic that a person may refer to himself by the pronoun nahnu (we) for respect or glorification. He may also use the word ana (I), indicating one person, or the third person huwa (he). All three styles are used in the Qur’an, where Allaah addresses the Arabs in their own tongue. (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 4/143).

“Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, sometimes refers to Himself in the singular, by name or by use of a pronoun, and sometimes by use of the plural, as in the phrase (interpretation of the meaning): ‘Verily, We have given you a manifest victory” [al-Fath 48:1], and other similar phrases. But Allaah never refers to Himself by use of the dual, because the plural refers to the respect that He deserves, and may refer to His names and attributes, whereas the dual refers to a specific number (and nothing else), and He is far above that.” (Al-‘Aqeedah al-Tadmuriyyah by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah, p. 75).

These words, innaa (“Verily We”) and nahnu (“We”), and other forms of the plural, may be used by one person speaking on behalf of a group, or they may be used by one person for purposes of respect or glorification, as is done by some monarchs when they issue statements or decrees in which they say “We have decided…” etc. [This is known in English as “The Royal We” – Translator]. In such cases, only one person is speaking but the plural is used for respect. The One Who is more deserving of respect than any other is Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, so when He says in the Qur’an innaa (“Verily We”) and nahnu (“We”), it is for respect and glorification, not to indicate plurality of numbers.

If an aayah of this type is causing confusion, it is essential to refer to the clear, unambiguous aayaat for clarification, and if a Christian, for example, insists on taking ayaat such as “Verily, We: it is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e., the Qur’an)” [al-Hijr 15:9 – interpretation of the meaning] as proof of divine plurality, we may refute this claim by quoting such clear and unambiguous aayaat as (interpretation of the meanings): “And your god is One God, there is none who has the right to be worshipped but He, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful” [al-Baqarah 2:163] and “Say: He is Allaah, the One” [al-Ikhlaas 112:1] – and other aayaat which can only be interpreted in one way. Thus confusion will be dispelled for the one who is seeking the truth. Every time Allaah uses the plural to refer to Himself, it is based on the respect and honour that He deserves, and on the great number of His names and attributes, and on the great number of His troops and angels.” (Reference: Al-‘Aqeedah al-Tadmuriyyah by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah, p. 109).

And Allaah knows best.

http://islamqa.com/index.php?ref=606...t=he%20pronoun

Qur'an Surah Ikhlaas 112


The Reason for the Revelation of this Surah and its Virtues


Imam Ahmad recorded from Ubayy bin Ka`b that the idolators said to the Prophet , "O Muhammad! Tell us the lineage of your Lord.'' So Allah revealed


[قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ - اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ - لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ - وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَّهُ كُفُواً أَحَدٌ ]


(Say: "He is Allah, One. Allah He begets not, nor was He begotten. And there is non comparable to Him.'') Similar was recorded by At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Jarir and they added in their narration that he said,
[الصَّمَدُ]


"(As-Samad) is One Who does not give birth, nor was He born, because there is nothing that is born except that it will die, and there is nothing that dies except that it leaves behind inheritance, and indeed Allah does not die and He does not leave behind any inheritance.


[وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَّهُ كُفُواً أَحَدٌ ]


(And there is none comparable to Him.) This means that there is none similar to Him, none equal to Him and there is nothing at all like Him.'' Ibn Abi Hatim also recorded it and At-Tirmidhi mentioned it as a Mursal narration. Then At-Tirmidhi said, "And this is the most correct.''

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http://sabbir.com/DownloadHalal.html

format_quote Originally Posted by Fi_Sabilillah

Asalaamu 'alykum (peace be upon you) brother.

The One Who is more deserving of respect than any other is Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, so when He says in the Qur’an innaa (“Verily We”) and nahnu (“We”), it is for respect and glorification, not to indicate plurality of numbers.

And Allaah knows best.

http://islamqa.com/index.php?ref=606...t=he%20pronoun

Thank you for the input. It didn't occur to me to check IslamQA :blind:

With all due respect; I'm of another understanding. That quote is the interpretation of a scholar, correct?

I presume, "We" is used because Allaah Commanded, but slaves performed those Commandments

I don't understand why "We" would be used out of respect, if the Writings are direct quotes from Allaah. That implies other entities are on the receiving end of respect, incorrect?
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format_quote Originally Posted by Woodrow

I would say that is the result of Translation. Allah(swt) as a word has no Gender. I may be wrong but I believe it is the only Arabic Noun that can be written without an understood gender.

I'm also of this understanding. But I don't know for sure, either.

format_quote Originally Posted by .:Umniyah:.

in many places in the Quran it uses the word Huwa which literally means He.
like:
Huwalladhi khalaqa...He it is who created.( many places say this but one ayah which starts like this is in Surah Hadid ayah 4)
wa maa ya3lamu junooda rabbika illa huwa...and no one knows the host of your Lord except He. ( surah Muddathir ayah 31)

and its many other places where it uses the word Huwa. But to say oh Allah is a "male" this i dont know....maybe one of the arab speaking persons can tell you the grammatical break down of it all InshaaAllah.



EDIT: whoop see two peoples beat me to responding.

Really? Then I don't see why there should be confusion, if indeed Allaah refers to self as "He" in Arabic.

Thanks for the input.

:cresentbl

Fi_Sabilillah, thank you for the input. Especially the website with audio downloads, I intended to look for that too.

To moderators: howcome there is no option to edit your posts? I made some errors in my previous one. I could've edited and addressed Fi_Sabilillah in the same post, also.

Asalaamu 'alykum (peace be upon you) bro Yashar


The praise is for Allaah, and i'm glad you found that beneficial.


By the way, you'll be able to edit your posts when you become a full member [when you reach 50 posts] insha Allaah (God willing.)



Peace.