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Who is Allah?

Allah also anglicised as Allaah (سبحانه و تعالى), is the Arabic name of God, the same name as Eloh in Aramaic, the language of Jesus (عليه السلام), and Eloah or Elah in Hebrew. Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) is not the God of Muslims only. He is God of all creations, because He is their Creator and Sustainer.

The best definition for who Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) is, and indeed that any god needs to meet to be considered a true God, is given by Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) Himself:

Say (O Muhammad): ‘He is Allah, (the) One. Allah-us-Samad [Allah — the Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, (He neither eats nor drinks)]. He begets not, nor was He begotten. And there is none co equal or comparable unto Him” [Quran: Surah al-Ikhlaas 112: Ayahs 1-4]

Muslims choose to use the name Allah instead of God because it is a proper name of God. The name Allah cannot be changed, altered or transmuted into another form. It is a name for God that is unique, like Him, and it has no equivalent or comparison unlike the English word, for example, god. The word god is used for any object or being of worship and can easily be changed from god (masculine) to goddess (feminine); it can be used as a plural (gods), or it can change into demigod, godmother or even godfather! The word god is also associated with the various mythological pantheon of gods from past and present civilisations. However the name Allah has no such similar connotations and is a reason why Muslims choose to use this name whenever refering to God.

In Islaam we know Allah by the attributes He has revealed to us in the Quran or that were given to Him in the Sunnah, i.e. the sayings and actions, of his Messenger Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم).

Among the attributes of Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) is that He alone is the Lord, the Creator, the Provider… the Sovereign, the Controller… the All-Knowing, All-Wise… the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all that exists… The All-Hearing, All-Seeing… The Subtle and Courteous, the All-Aware…  the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful… the Ever-Forbearing, Oft-Forgiving… the Almighty, the Compeller… the Oft-Pardoning, the Most Generous… the Most Strong, the All-Powerful… the Inventor of all things, the Bestower of forms… 

To Him belongs the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth, in His hand is goodness and He is able to do all things. There is none worthy of worship but He, and to Him belong the most beautiful names and sublime attributes: 

“Allah! Laa ilaaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He)! To Him belong the Best Names” [Quran: Surah Ta-Ha 20: Ayah 8] 

He does whatever He wills and judges as He wants: 

“And your Lord creates whatsoever He wills and chooses” [Quran: Surah al-Qasas 28: Ayah 68] 

He is the Owner of Sovereignty; He honours whomever He wills and humiliates whomever He wills: 

“Say (O Muhammad): ‘O Allah! Possessor of the kingdom, You give the kingdom to whom You will, and You take the kingdom from whom You will, and You endue with honour whom You will, and You humiliate whom You will. In Your Hand is the good. Verily, You are Able to do all things’” [Quran: Surah ali ‘Imraan 3: Ayah 26] 

He is the One Who gives life and death, and nothing on earth or in heaven is hidden from Him: 

“It is Allah that gives life and causes death. And Allah is All-Seer of what you do” [Quran: Surah ali ‘Imraan 3: Ayah 156] 

His alone is the creation and the commandment: 

“Surely, His is the creation and commandment. Blessed is Allah, the Lord of the ‘Aalameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists)!” [Quran: Surah al-A’raaf 5: Ayah 54] 

He is the First, and there is nothing before Him… He is the last and there is nothing after Him… He is the Most High, and there is nothing above Him… He is the Most Near, and there is nothing beneath Him… 

“He is the First (nothing is before Him) and the Last (nothing is after Him), the Most High (nothing is above Him) and the Most Near (nothing is nearer than Him). And He is the All-Knower of every thing” [Quran: Surah al-Hadeed 57: Ayah 3] 

He is the Creator of all things and He is the All-Knower of everything: 

“Such is Allah, your Lord! Laa ilaaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Creator of all things. So worship Him (Alone), and He is the Wakeel (Trustee, Disposer of affairs or Guardian) over all things. [Quran: Surah al-An’aam 6: Ayah 102] 

He is Subtle, Most Great, All-Encompassing: 

“Allah is Ever All Aware” [Quran: Surah al-Nisaa’ 4: Ayah 126] 

He is Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all that exists… To Him belongs everything in the heavens and on earth… Nothing is hidden from Him… Nothing is beyond His capability… Nothing can encompass Him: 

“Allah! Laa ilaaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), Al-Hayy al-Qayyoom (the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists). Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter. And they will never compass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Kursiy extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great” [Quran: Surah al-Baqarah 2: Ayah 255] 

He knows all things and records the numbers of all things: 

“and all things We have recorded with numbers (as a record) in a Clear Book” [Quran: Surah Yaa-Seen 36: Ayah 12] 

He is Most Generous and Bountiful… all provision comes from Him: 

“And no moving (living) creature is there on earth but its provision is due from Allah” [Quran: Surah Hood 11: Ayah 6] 

His blessings cannot be counted or numbered: 

“And He gave you of all that you asked for, and if you count the Blessings of Allah, never will you be able to count them” [Quran: Surah Ibraheem 14: Ayah 34] 

His stores fill the earth and the heavens: 

“And to Allah belong the treasures of the heavens and the earth” [Quran: Surah al-Munaafiqeen 63: Ayah 7] 

He is Free of all needs and Worthy of all praise; He gives to His slaves but that never diminishes His stores: 

“O mankind! it is you who stand in need of Allah. But Allah is Rich (Free of all needs), Worthy of all praise” [Quran: Surah Faatir 35: Ayah 15]

He is Oft-Pardoning and Oft-Forgiving; He bestows mercy upon His slaves and overlooks their sins: 

“Verily, Allah indeed is Oft Pardoning, Oft Forgiving” [Quran: Surah al-Hajj 22: Ayah 60] 

He is the Knower of the unseen and the seen… He is Almighty in His sovereignty, Wise in His commands: 

“All-Knower of the unseen and seen, the All Mighty, the All-Wise” [Quran: Surah al-Taghaabun 64: Ayah 18] 

He knows what is secret and what is open; nothing is hidden from Him: 

“And He is Allah (to be worshipped Alone) in the heavens and on the earth; He knows what you conceal and what you reveal, and He knows what you earn (good or bad) [Quran: Surah al-An’aam 6: Ayah 3] 

He is Subtle and Courteous, All-Aware: 

“No vision can grasp Him, but He grasps all vision. He is Al-Lateef (the Most Subtle and Courteous), Well-Acquainted with all things” [Quran: Surah al-An’aam 6: Ayah 103] 

He is One in His essence, attributes and actions: 

“Say (O Muhammad): ‘He is Allah, (the) One. Allah-us-Samad [Allah — the Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, (He neither eats nor drinks)]. He begets not, nor was He begotten. And there is none co equal or comparable unto Him” [Quran: Surah al-Ikhlaas 112: Ayahs 1-4] 

Glory be to Him; His are the most beautiful names and sublime attributes, and He has no partner or associate: 

“Such is Allah your Lord. His is the kingdom. Laa ilaaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). How then are you turned away?” [Quran: Surah al-Zumar 39: Ayah 6] 

Because of this Sovereignty, these attributes, this creation, these blessings, He is the only One Who is deserving of praise and thanks and sincere worship, to the exclusion of all others: 

“Surely, your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days and then rose over (Istawa) the Throne (really in a manner that suits His Majesty), disposing the affair of all things. No intercessor (can plead with Him) except after His Leave. That is Allah, your Lord; so worship Him (Alone). Then, will you not remember?” [Quran: Surah Yoonus 10: Ayah 3] 

He created (everything) then proportioned it, He ordained laws then granted guidance, He granted provision and made people independent of means: 

“Allah, it is He Who has made for you the earth as a dwelling place and the sky as a canopy, and has given you shape and made your shapes good (looking) and has provided you with good things. That is Allah, your Lord, so Blessed be Allah, the Lord of the ‘Aalameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists” [Quran: Surah Ghaafir 40: Ayah 64] 

O Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), to You be praise for Your great sovereignty: 

“All the praises and thanks be to Allah, to Whom belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth" [Quran: Surah Saba’ 34: Ayah 1] 

O Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), to You be praise for Your mighty creation: 

“All praises and thanks be to Allah, Who (Alone) created the heavens and the earth" [Quran: Surah al-An’aam 6: Ayah 1] 

O Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), to You be praise, for You have guided us to Islam, You have sent down to us the Qur’aan, You have provided us with good things, You have made us the best of nations, You have honoured us with great blessings. There is no god but You, to You belongs the Sovereignty, Yours is the Creation and the Commandment, all blessings and praise are Yours…

“All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the ‘Aalameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists). The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything)..." [Quran: Surah al-Faatihah 1: Ayahs 2-5]

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