(part 1 of 3): Who is Allah?
In any discussion of the names of God, it is important to understand that Muslims believe in One True God, the Only Creator, the One who has control over everything that exists, that has ever existed or will exist. A Muslim worships the same One God that all prophets worshiped.
“… were you witnesses when Jacob was dying. When he said to his sons, „Who will you serve when I’m gone?“ they said, „We serve your God, the God of your fathers Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac, the Only God, and we are devoted to Him.“ (Quran 2: 133)
The prophets of Islam include the same prophets that are also present in the Jewish and Christian traditions; they all came to their people with the same message – to recognize and worship the One God. Judaism and Christianity in their original form and also Islam as we know it today because they all come from this One True God. However, Islam, which was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, is the completion of God’s revelations for humanity. Once we understand this, it becomes equally important to understand that Islam rejects any idea that God has partners or partners, or that it somehow connects with people or animals to form a deity. God is God, the one and only; „… there is nothing like it. ” (Quran 42:11)
Muslims believe in the One, Only, Most Merciful God, the only Creator and Preserver of the universe, and they call Him by His revealed name – Allah. In this age of mass media and free technological developments, there is hardly a single person who has not heard the word and understood that it is part of a belief system called Islam. However, there may be some confusion and one might wonder who Allah is.
In Arabic, Allah means the One, Only God, who is worthy of all devotion and humility. Jewish and Christian Arabs also speak of God as Allah, and He is the same True God to whom the passage from the Bible refers: „Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, only the Lord is.“ (5 Moses 6: 4 & Mark 12:29) The word God is written and spoken differently in different languages: the French call him Dieu, the Spaniards Dios, and the Chinese call the one god Shangdi, nevertheless, the god of monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) is the same.
The differences and confusion that arise from the word „God“ is that it can be used to form the plural, as with gods, or to change gender, as with goddess. This is not the case in Arabic. The word Allah stands alone, there is no plural and no gender. The use of the words He or Him are grammatically unique and in no way indicate that Allah has a gender in any form that we can understand. Allah is Unique and He does not share His name with anything that could describe idols. His name cannot be changed. Allah describes himself in the Quran:
Say: „He is Allah, One and Only. Allah, the Absolute (Eternal Independent, On whom everything depends). [1] He does not produce and has not been created, and none is equal to Him.“ (Quran 112)
A Muslim is one who has surrendered to God and who has no doubt that He is the One and Only Creator, a Muslim who is grateful for all the gifts and blessings God has given him and looks around and sees the wonders of the universe. A Muslim wonders at the depths of the ocean and the fine petals of a flower. However, this belief is not the only one expected of a Muslim, he must also be certain that God alone worship He has no partner, no equal, and no sons or daughters.
He is God – Allah. The entire universe testifies to His unity. If you actually think about the universe, from the lowest grain of sand to the mighty, majestic mountains, you can see the splendor of God. This broad universe is subject to a precise system, everything is created in its correct place, in the correct proportions. The sun rises and shines on us, the flowers bloom and life comes from tiny inanimate seeds. God has given each part of creation what it needs and has guided it to what is most appropriate. Everything in creation needs Him, but He doesn’t need anyone. Every creation has a purpose and fulfilling that purpose is an acknowledgment of the rights of the Creator. God says in the Quran that He created us only to serve Him (Quran 51:
The first principle and focus of Islam is belief in God, and the entire Quran is dedicated to it. He speaks directly about God and His nature, His names, qualities and deeds. God is mentioned 10 062 times in the Quran with one or the other of His names or qualities. The greatest name of God is Allah.
„Allah! It is not a god but Him. He has the most beautiful names. ” (Quran 20: 8)
“And Allah’s are the most beautiful names; so call him with them. And let those who take a wrong attitude about His name be. ” (Quran 7: 180)
A Muslim is encouraged to remember God and be thankful to Him at all times, and an easy but useful way to do this is to think and understand His beautiful names. With these names we are able to know our Creator, learn how to praise and worship Him, and call Him by the names that indicate our needs.
It is known that the Prophet Muhammad, when he asked supplications, used to say: „Oh God, I ask you for every name with which you have described yourself or which you have disclosed in your book or which you have given to someone of yours You have taught creation or that you have kept to yourself with the knowledge of hiddenness. ” (Ahmad) Therefore, His names are not limited to what He revealed in the Quran or the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad.
God says in the Quran: “Verily, I am Allah. There is no god but Me, therefore serve Me … ”(Quran 20:14). To serve God, you have to know God. We gain real and everlasting benefits from this knowledge. It increases faith and allows the heart to connect with the most powerful, the most wise and the most just – Allah.
Footnotes:
[1] In Arabic “Samad” (The Self sufficient Master, which all creatures need, He does not eat and does not drink.)
(Part 2 of 3): The Most Merciful
In the Name of God (Allah), Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.
This article begins in the same way that the Muslim initiates many of his endeavors. Before beginning the most secular things in life, such as eating, drinking, dressing or bathing, the Muslim makes an effort of worship by mentioning the name of God. He (God) is the Most Gracious and Most Merciful. His grace embraces all things and is the source of all compassion and grace that exist. God tells us in the Quran: „My mercy embraces all things …“ (Quran 7: 156)
From the testimony of Prophet Muhammad we know that when God decided to create, God said: „… and My grace outweighs my anger.“ (Sahieh Bukhari and Muslim) What exactly is grace? The dictionary defines her as a predisposition to be kind and forgiving and to motivate the feeling of compassion. [1] The Arabic term for grace is rahmah and two of the most important names of God are derived from this root. Ar Rahman – the merciful and Ar Rahiem – the most merciful. God’s grace is that heavenly quality that includes gentleness, respect, care, reflection, love and forgiveness. If these qualities can be observed in this world, then it is simply a reflection of God’s grace towards his creation.
Prophet Muhammad explained to us that God is more merciful to His creatures than a mother to her child (Sahieh Bukhari and Muslim) and indeed the Arabic word for uterus, rahiem, is derived from the same root as the word grace – rahmah. It is significant that there is a unique link between God’s grace and the womb. God feeds and protects us, just as the womb feeds and protects the unborn.
The Prophet Muhammad explained the quality of grace to his companions by telling them that the grace of God is made up of a hundred parts, and He has sent part of it down to earth shared by His creation. For this reason, people feel pity and kindness for each other and wild animals treat their offspring with meekness. The other 99 parts, however, were kept by God for use on the day of judgment for the faithful. (Sahieh Muslim)
The whole of creation shows love and compassion for one another only from this one portion of grace. People willingly give to the poor and needy, families support and love each other, and animals protect their young. Grace and compassion generally take into account the need to alleviate suffering and spread friendliness and joy. Although this world sometimes seems a dark and dark place, you can see and feel the grace of God if you think and think. The rain falls, the sun shines, a child grabs his father’s hand and the kitten snuggles into the protective warmth of his mother. God’s grace is strong and visible around us and on the day of judgment He will complete this grace by adding the last 99 parts and granting grace, love and compassion to those who believed to have done righteous deeds and tried to please God in all matters. This idea is awe inspiring; God’s grace knows no borders.
As a sign of God’s infinite grace towards humanity, He sent them prophets and messengers to guide us and help us to stay on His Straight Path leading to Eternal Paradise. God said He sent Prophet Muhammad to people only by grace.
„And We only sent you out of mercy for all worlds.“ (Quran 21: 107)
The Prophet Muhammad was the embodiment of grace; he showed pity to those around him, his family, the orphans, friends and strangers. God spoke to him by saying:
“And considering the mercy of God, you (o Muhammad) were mild to them; but if you had been rough and hard-hearted, they would have run away from you. Therefore forgive them and ask for their forgiveness and consult them on the matter … ”(Quran 3: 159)
The Prophet Muhammad could often be heard asking God’s grace for the believers and the Muslims salute each other, by saying: Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullah (God’s peace and grace be with you.) Grace and everything that it contains is a very important concept in Islam, because generosity, respect, tolerance and forgiveness, all good qualities come from it who are expected to be cared for by a Muslim in his life.
As weak people, we often feel lost and alone in this world, which seems deprived of grace, and especially at such times we should turn to God and beg His mercy and forgiveness. When we turn to Him in true submission, His calm comes over us and we are able to feel the quality of His grace and to recognize it in the world around us.
The hand you take in the dark is a reflection of God’s grace, the same is true of the kind word to a stranger, the rain falling on the parched earth and the smiling eyes of a child. The grace of God is the source of all that is good, well-meaning, or pious. God has enabled us to understand the measure of His magnificence by revealing His Most Beautiful Names to us, some of which point to His grace and we are asked to call Him by these names.
Ar-Rahman (the Most Merciful), ar-Rahiem (Most Merciful), al-Barr (the Benefactor), al-Kariem (the Most Generous), al-Jawaad (the Most Generous), al-Ra’uuf (the Compassionate), al-Wahhaab (the grantor).
“And Allah’s are the most beautiful names; so call on Him with them … ”(Quran 7: 180)
We remember Him by these names when we feel the need to thank the countless blessings God has given us, or in times of suffering. We most urge God’s grace when we need comfort and security. When the transience of this world makes us seemingly powerless, the owner of all power (God) will envelop us with His grace forever and ever and He only requires us to believe in Him and to worship Him alone.
Footnotes:
[1] Princeton Wrees.
(part 3 of 3): And beg him with them!
God (Allah) has many names and all point to His Greatness, His Perfection and His Majesty. The Prophet Muhammad said: “God has ninety-nine names, one hundred less one; those who learn them will enter paradise. ”[1] Learning not only means memorizing, but also appreciating their meanings and invoking God with them.
Learning and then knowing God’s name leads mankind to understand that it was created to serve God alone and to live according to His instructions. This knowledge allows mankind to put their understanding of God into practice and inspires them to live a life of righteousness. Understanding the meanings of God’s names frees humanity from worshiping any part of creation.
If someone learns that God is al-Ahad (One and Only), he will not equate to Him; if he learns that he is ar-Razzaaq (the provider), he will not ask anyone else in the supply; if he learns that he is al-Ghafar (the Forgiving One), it will be God Alone whom he turns to asking for forgiveness.
Prophet Muhammad emphasized the importance of calling on God with His Most Beautiful Name. We know that he said to God in his own supplications: “Oh God, I ask you for any name that you have used to describe yourself or that you have disclosed in your book or that you have taught someone about your creation or that You have kept to yourself with the knowledge of secrecy. ”[2] We are asked to call God by name that specifically matches the type of care and help that we want to ask for. [3]
The name Rabb (Lord) is repeated in numerous verses in the Quran. The Lord guides and cares for all believers; He takes care of their affairs and gives blessings as He wants. In German there is no real equivalent for the word rabb. It is often translated as Lord, but this word does not reflect the full depth and breadth of the meaning of the Arabic word for Rabb. It means the One and Only Lord in the entire universe, its creator, maintainer, carer and lender of security.
The names Al-Hakiem (The Wise) and Al-Hakam (the judge) indicate that God is the source of all wisdom, in His creation and in His commands, and He is the judge of all things. He is the one who created everything and therefore He knows the true wisdom of His creation. He judges between humanity with His law, His enactment and His reward or punishment. He judges fairly and does not suppress anyone in the least. No one is forced to carry another’s sin. God is just in all His choices.
„… And who is a better judge than God for a people who are firm in faith?“ (Quran 5:50)
“God will judge between you on the day of resurrection what you disagreed about.” (Quran 22:69)
God’s name Al-Qudduus (the Saint) indicates that He is the One Who is Blessed and Pure. The angels praise Him and He is praised for His virtue and goodness. God is the Saint because He is far from having opponents, rivals, partners or sons. He is perfect, has no mistakes or shortcomings. He stands high above anything that could be close to Him or in any way as He could be.
„… There is nothing like him …“ (Quran 42:11)
and,
„… and none is equal to him.“ (Quran 112: 4)
Two of God’s names are Al-Mu’ti (the Giver) and Al-Maani ‚(the Reluctant). Nobody can hold back what He gives and nobody can give what He holds back. He is the one who gives who he wants and who holds back from whom he wants.
Prophet Muhammad said to one of his young companions:
“Know that if the whole world came together to benefit you in one thing, they would only benefit you in something that God has already prescribed for you. And if they get together to harm you in one thing, they can only harm you in something that God has already prescribed for you. ” (At Tirmidi)
God is Ash Shakir (the thankful) and Ash Shakuur (the estimator). He is the one who recognizes even the smallest deed and forgives even the biggest mistakes. He multiplies good deeds and appreciates those who thank Him. God thinks of those who think of Him.
„And they will say,“ All praise is due to Allah, Who has removed sadness from us. Our Lord is truly Forgiving, Thankful. ‚“(Quran 35:34)
We learn from the prophet Muhammad’s statement:
“ God has good ones and wrote down the bad deeds. Those who intended a deed and did not do it, God wrote it down as a full good deed, but if he intended and did it, he wrote ten to seven hundred good deeds for it , or a lot more. But if someone intended a bad deed and didn’t do it, God wrote a full good deed, but if he intended and did it, God wrote one bad deed. ” (Sahieh Al-Bukhari, Sahieh Muslim)
God is the one who guides humanity on the way, who uses it and protects it. God is Al-Haadi (the leader). He is the only source of guidance and the one from whom all protection comes. God’s guidance lets hearts be filled with piety and righteousness. It is the pointing light in the dark.
„… but your Lord is enough as a guide and as a helper.“ (Quran 25:31)
These are just a few of the names of God that we can find in the Quran and the authentic statements of the Prophet Muhammad. You can find many more of these names and traits at the end of many verses. When we reach out to God, He reaches out to us. When we call Him, He hears and answers us. When he spoke about God – Allah Most Gracious, Most Merciful, the Prophet Muhammad said that Allah calls His creation in the last third of the night by saying,
“Who speaks a prayer for Me to answer? Who is asking me for something to give him? Who asks me for forgiveness so that I can forgive him? ”[4]
Footnotes:
[1] Sahieh Al-Bukhari
[2] Ahmad, classified as Sahieh by Albani
[3] Die folgenden Definitionen stammen von Taysier al-Kariem al-Rahmaan fi Tafsier Kalaam al-Mannaan von Schaikh ‚Abd al-Rahmaan al-Sa’di.
[4] Sahieh Al-Bukhari, Sahieh Muslim, Malik, At Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud
Source: https://www.islamland.com/deu/articles/die-namen-gottes