According to the
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary (Fifth Edition 1995) the meaning of the word 'Allah'
is, "the name of God among Muslims and among Arabs of all faiths". The Encarta® Online Deluxe (www.encarta.com)
further provides an explanation:Allah, Islamic name for the Supreme Being. The
Koran, the holy book of Islam, asserts that Allah is the creator and the one who rewards
and punishes; that he is unique and can only be one; and that he is eternal, omniscient,
omnipotent, and all-merciful. The core of Islam is submission to the will of Allah. Islam
does not admit of any mediator between Allah and humans; a person approaches Allah
directly in prayer and in reciting the Koran. The prophets, who conveyed Allah's message,
are not considered divine.
These definitions provide some insight into what non-Muslims may describe Allah Subhana Wa
Ta Aala (SWT) as. But the real definition is the one that Allah himself provides in the
Holy Quran:
Holy Quran; Surah: 112; Verses 1-4: Say: He is God the one and only; God the Eternal,
Absolute; He begetteth not, Nor is he begotten; And there is none like unto Him.
Holy Quran; Surah: 05; Verses:
72: They do blaspheme who say: "Allah is Christ the son of
Mary." But said Christ: "O children of
Israel! worship Allah my Lord and your Lord." Whoever joins other gods with Allah
Allah will forbid him the garden and the Fire will be his abode. There will for the
wrong-doers be no one to help.
73: They do blaspheme who say: Allah is one of three in a Trinity: for there is
no god except One Allah. If they desist not from their word (of blasphemy) verily a
grievous penalty will befall the blasphemers among them.
74: Why turn they not to Allah and seek His forgiveness? For Allah is Oft-
forgiving Most Merciful.
75: Christ the son of Mary was no more than an Apostle; many were the Apostles
that passed away before him. His mother was a woman of truth. They had both to eat their
(daily) food. See how Allah doth makes His Signs clear to them; yet see in what ways they
are deluded away from the truth!
76: Say: "Will ye worship besides Allah something which hath no power either
to harm or benefit you? But Allah He it is that heareth and knoweth all things."
77: Say: "O people of the Book! exceed not in your religion the bounds (of
what is proper) trespassing beyond the truth nor follow the vain desires of people who
went wrong in times gone by who misled many and strayed (themselves) from the even
way."
Holy Quran; Surah: 85; Verses:
12: Truly strong is the Grip (And Power) of thy Lord.
13: It is He Who creates from the very beginning and He can restore
(life).
14: And He is the Oft-Forgiving, full of loving-kindness,
15: Lord of the Throne of Glory,
16: Doer (without let) of all that he intends.
Holy Quran; Surah: 16;
Verses:
77: To God belongeth the Mystery of the heavens and the earth. And the Decision
of the Hour (Of Judgement) is as the twinkling of an eye, Or even quicker: For God hat
power Over all things.
78: It is he who brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers when ye knew
nothing; and He gave you hearing and sight and intelligence and affections: That ye may
give thanks (To God).
79: Do they not look at the birds, held poised in the midst of (the air and) the
sky? Nothing holds them up but (the power of) God.Verily in this are signs for those who
believe.
Holy Quran; Surah: 21; Verses:
30: Do not the Unbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were joined
together (as one unit of Creation) before We clove them asunder? We made from water every
living thing. Will they not then believe?
31: And We have set on the earth mountains standing firm lest it should
shake with them and We have made therein broad highways (between mountains) for them to
pass through: that they may receive guidance.
32: And We have made the heavens as a canopy well-guarded: Yet do they turn away
from the Signs which these things (point to)!
33: It is He Who created the Night and the Day and the sun and the moon: all (the
celestial bodies) swim along each in its rounded course. |
