When examining a religion, the most important consideration one must make is, “Who is God?.” It is essentially the belief in God, that is the most important and fundamental feature of any religion. The religion of Islam is strictly a monotheist religion that offers a direct relationship with God. The focus of the entire religion is on the worship of the Creator alone, with no co-partners, no co-equals, and no intermediaries. All prayers and acts of worship are directed to God alone. Considering, the language of Islam is Arabic, God is commonly referred to by the Arabic term “Allah,” (pronounced Al-Law) which literally means “The God.” In the Arabic language, the word ilah means “god” and the word aliha means “gods.” There are no capital or lowercase letters in the Arabic language as there are in English, for example. All Arabic letters are written in the same case level. Therefore, in order to refer to the One God, the definitive AL, which means “The” is joined with the word ilah to form Allah, The God. The Arabic term “Allah” also does not elude to any gender, nor can it be changed into the plural. The masculine pronoun “He” is only used to refer to Allah because in the semeitic languages this is considered more formal and respectful, it is not meant literally. Allah (The Glorified and Exalted) is the Supreme Being, there is none like Him. He uses the masculine pronoun to refer to Himself in the Qur’an and also in previous revelations such as the Taurat.
The term “Allah” is used by every Arabic speaker of various religions, to refer to the One God. However, there beliefs concerning Him vary. It is also important to note that the revelation of the Qur’an is in the highest formality of classical Arabic, in which Allah frequently speaks in the royal plural. Thereby, referring to Himself in the third person, such as in the form “We,” “Us,” and “Our.” There are also other verses of the Qur’an in which He is more personal and refers to Himself in the first person, such as “I” and “Me.”
Allah, in Islam pertains to the utmost epitome of belief one can possibly contemplate concerning the Creator. He is truly thought of in terms of absolute perfection and is not represented by any image. The following verses of the Qur’an best describe the Creator:
“Say: He is Allah, the One and Only / Allah, the Eternal, Absolute / He begets not, nor is He begotten / And there is none like unto Him.” [112]
“No vision can grasp Him / But His grasp is over All vision: He is Above all comprehension, / Yet is acquainted with all things.” [6:103]
“Allah. There is no god but He, the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him, Nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on Earth. Who is there that can intercede in His presence except as He permits? He knows what (appears to His creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He willeth. His Pedestal doth extend over the heavens and the Earth, and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory).” [2:255]
The Greatness and Glory of Allah is to such an immense degree that He has placed a veil (partition) between Himself and His creation, in order to protect the creation from His Grandeur. If the veil were to be removed, the creation would be destroyed by the Glory of Allah. This is mentioned in the following hadith:
Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him; this is a statement that the reader should repeat after the name of every companion) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was standing amongst us and he told us five things. He said: Verily the Exalted and Mighty Allah does not sleep, and it does not befit Him to sleep. He lowers the scale and lifts it [i.e. the scale of judgment]. The deeds in the night are taken up to Him before the deeds of the day and the deeds of the day before the deeds of the night. His veil is the light. If he withdraws it (the veil), the splendor of His countenance would consume His creation so far as His sight reaches (i.e. the entire creation would be consumed or destroyed because everything is within His sight). [Muslim: Book 1 (Book of Faith): Hadith 343]
The following verse of the Qur’an refers to the Glory of Allah:
“Of Him seeks (its need) every creature in the heavens and on Earth: every day in (new) Splendor doth He (Shine)!” [55:29]
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