Difference between revisions of "Allah"
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[[Image:Allah.png|thumb|right|200px|"Allah" in simple [[Arabic language|Arabic]] calligraphy. In Islam any image depicting God is strictly forbidden.]] | [[Image:Allah.png|thumb|right|200px|"Allah" in simple [[Arabic language|Arabic]] calligraphy. In Islam any image depicting God is strictly forbidden.]] | ||
| − | The name '''''Allah''''' (الله) is the [[Arabic]] term which adherents of [[Islam]] claim refers to the god of Islam and should not be confused with [[Jehovah]] or [[Yahweh]] of the Bible, or 'the Father' of the [[New Testament]]. | + | The name '''''Allah''''' (الله) is the [[Arabic]] term which adherents of [[Islam]] claim refers to the god of Islam and should not be confused with [[Jehovah]] or [[Yahweh]] of the Bible, or 'the Father' of the [[New Testament]]. It is not the same being or entity. This [[theonym]] is likely a contraction of Arabic ''Al-'ilāh'' (ال إِله), which means "the god".<ref>http://www.chishti.ru/sufi_doct.htm</ref> In the [[Semitic]] languages it is thus related to the Hebrew term [[Elohim|Eloh(-im)]]. |
| − | Islam claims that Allah is the personal name of | + | Islam claims that Allah is the personal name of the creator and comprises all of the [[99 Names of God]] in Islam. When a Muslim refers to Allah, he thinks of his god as being One, Creator, Owner, Sustainer, and Almighty. In Arabic, the name is composed of four letters, ا ل ل ه (or Alif, Lam, Lam, Ha) which when brought together make الله. [[Arab]] [[Christians]] often use this name simply to mean "[[God]]". (The generic word for "god" is simply'' 'ilāh'', though due to the strong association of Arabic with Islam this word is rarely used in modern speech.) These Christians do maintain a belief in the traditional Christian [[Trinity]], however, and believe that Allah consists of the Father, Son and Spirit. |
== Christianity and Judaism == | == Christianity and Judaism == | ||
Revision as of 11:44, April 30, 2017
The name Allah (الله) is the Arabic term which adherents of Islam claim refers to the god of Islam and should not be confused with Jehovah or Yahweh of the Bible, or 'the Father' of the New Testament. It is not the same being or entity. This theonym is likely a contraction of Arabic Al-'ilāh (ال إِله), which means "the god".[1] In the Semitic languages it is thus related to the Hebrew term Eloh(-im).
Islam claims that Allah is the personal name of the creator and comprises all of the 99 Names of God in Islam. When a Muslim refers to Allah, he thinks of his god as being One, Creator, Owner, Sustainer, and Almighty. In Arabic, the name is composed of four letters, ا ل ل ه (or Alif, Lam, Lam, Ha) which when brought together make الله. Arab Christians often use this name simply to mean "God". (The generic word for "god" is simply 'ilāh, though due to the strong association of Arabic with Islam this word is rarely used in modern speech.) These Christians do maintain a belief in the traditional Christian Trinity, however, and believe that Allah consists of the Father, Son and Spirit.
Contents
Christianity and Judaism
As noted, the name Allah is used by Arab Christians throughout the Middle East. It is also used by Arabic Jews, especially those residing in Yemen.
According to the Koran the authority of the Torah and the Gospels is subordinated to the content of Islamic revelation. It was claimed by the prophet Mohammed that both the Jewish and Christian scriptures, were "corrupted" (from the Arabic term: Tahrif). Accordingly, since the Koran has remained unaltered to the present day, (compared to the other Scriptures) Muslims assert that only the Koran contains the Words of God -- the truth in toto (i.e., the whole truth and nothing but the truth). Whereas the earlier Scriptures/Books such as The New Testament, The Old Testament, etc. contain only partial truths. [2] Christians believe in the mystery of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), but Muslims don't.[3] [4] In the Koran's Surah 13 it is said: "Allah is the Creator of all things: He is the One, the Supreme and Irresistible."
The Kalimah, the first of the 5 pillars of Islam, states:
To believe that Allah Ta’ala is One. That He has no partner, no father, mother, wife and so has no son or daughter; and that there is nothing else that is worthy of praise, or worship except Him ‑Alone and to equally testify that Muhammed (S.A.W.) is His servant and messenger.
This Kalimah is simple and can be uttered in a few sentences which can easily be pronounced by anybody without much difficulty.
"La ilaha Illa Allah Muhammad Rasulu llah" (SAW).
Meaning: There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad (S.A.W.) is the messenger of Allah. [5]
Consequently, Allah is unique, is the god in Islam, and according to Marshall G. S. Hodgson, (The Venture of Islam) Muslims are worshiping Allah rather than God, the creator.
From the 112th sura of the Koran: "In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. Say (O Mohammad) He is God the One God, the Everlasting Refuge, who has not begotten, nor has been begotten, and equal to Him is not anyone." [6]
Allah is claimed by adherents of Islam to be one and the same with the God of Christianity and Judaism; however:
| “ | Al-Kindi, one of the early Christian apologists against Islam, pointed out that Islam and its god Allah did not come from the Bible but from the paganism of the Sabeans. They did not worship the God of the Bible but the Moon-god and his daughters al-Uzza, al-Lat and Manat.[7] | ” |
| “ | The Arabs worshiped the Moon-god as a supreme deity. But this was not biblical monotheism. While the Moon-god was greater than all other gods and goddesses, this was still a polytheistic pantheon of deities. Now that we have the actual idols of the Moon-god, it is no longer possible to avoid the fact that Allah was a pagan god in pre-Islamic times. Is it any wonder then that the symbol of Islam is the crescent moon? That a crescent moon sits on top of their mosques and minarets? …. [Is it any wonder that everywhere in the ancient world], the symbol of the crescent moon can be found …. on the flags of Islamic nations?[7] | ” |
| “ | The Muslim claim that Allah is the God of the Bible and that Islam arose from the religion of the prophets and apostles, fails before solid, overwhelming archaeological evidence. Islam is nothing more than a revival of the ancient Moon-god cult. It has taken the symbols, the rites, the ceremonies, and even the name of its god from the ancient pagan religion of the Moon-god. As such, it is sheer idolatry and must be rejected by all those who follow the Torah and Gospel.[7] | ” |
Possible Early Use
It is a matter of contention as to whether the name Allah came into use only with the foundation of Islam, or whether it is a reuse of a title of the main pagan god of pre-Islamic Mecca; Hubal, god of the Moon. Muslim scholars have claimed refutations of this allegation,[8] but some Christian groups have offered counter-refutations that indicate otherwise.[9]
Takbeer or Takbir (Glorification of God)
Takbeer (تَكْبِير) (Glorification of God), is the common way Muslims give glory to Allah. The wording used is Allahu-Akbar "الله أكبر", which is translated as "God is great". It is a very common practice in Islam and is essential to the Islamic call of prayer (Athan). It has also been used by Islamic terrorists as a final cry before their homicide attacks.
See also
References
- ↑ http://www.chishti.ru/sufi_doct.htm
- ↑ Islam and Christianity.
- ↑ My Questions to Muslims.
- ↑ o%20120).html Islam from inside.
- ↑ KALIMAH: THE DECLARATION OF FAITH.
- ↑ Islamic Dictionary: Allah
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Islam: Anti-Civilization at Conservative News and Views
- ↑ http://www.islamic-awareness.org/Quran/Sources/Allah/hubal.html
- ↑ http://www.studytoanswer.net/islam/hubalallah.html
