“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 112; Verses 1-4
*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”.
AskOxford.com reports the meaning of the word as, “the name of God among Muslims (and Arab Christians).”, Dictionary.com that’s based on Random House Unabridged Dictionary defines Allah as, “the Supreme Being; God.” The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition says it means, “God, especially in Islam.” The Online Etymology Dictionary defines it as, “Muslim name of the Supreme Being, from Arabic Allahu, contr. of al-Ilahu, from al “the” + Ilah “God,” rel. to Heb. Elohim.”
The belief of some (non-Muslims) that Muslims believe in a God called Allah and that this God is a Black Box in the desert of Saudi Arabia is untrue. Muslims believe in the one true Eternal God Almighty who is the One and the Only Lord of all the universe, its Creator, Owner, Organizer, Provider, Master, Planner, Sustainer, Cherisher, and Giver of security.
“The Black Box” – Kaaba – is the House of God on Earth and is known as Bait Al Ka’bah. We as Muslims revere the Ka’bah as one of the signs of God Almighty on Earth. We do not consider the Ka’bah as our God or a manifestation of God Almighty on Earth.
The real definition of the word ‘Allah’ is one that He himself provides in the Holy Quran:
Holy Quran; Surah: 112; Verses 1-4:
1. Say: He is God the one and only;
2. God the Eternal, Absolute;
3. He begetteth not, Nor is he begotten;
4. And there is none like unto Him.
Holy Quran; Surah: 05; Verses 72-77:
72: They do blaspheme who say: “God is Christ the son of Mary.” But said Christ: “O Children of Israel! worship God my Lord and your Lord.” Whoever joins other gods with God,– God 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: God is one of three in a Trinity: for there is no god except One God. 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 God, and seek His forgiveness? For God 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 God doth make His Signs clear to them; yet see in what ways they are deluded away from the truth!
76: Say: “Will ye worship besides God something which hath no power either to harm or benefit you? But God,– 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 12-16:
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 77-79:
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 hath 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 30-33:
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.
Last updated on: Jul 19, 2017
Latest posts by Institute Al Islam (see all)
- Battle of Badr Quiz - April 28, 2020
- Surah Nas Quiz - April 28, 2020
- Surah Falaq Quiz - April 28, 2020
- Surah Ikhlas Quiz - April 28, 2020
- Holy Quran Quiz 4 - April 28, 2020