Correcting of Misconceptions: Definition of Allah

In a short article entitled Definition of Allah and published online, WikiIslam discussed the definition of the word Allah in Islam.1 WikiIslam article focused on the following issues: 1- Allah is the creator. 2- Allah is the God . 3 - The supreme God of Arab. 4 -The Allt, Mant, and al-Uzz. I shall discuss in details these four issues raised by the article mentioned above as follows: 1- Allah is the creator: WikiIslam2 set out in its article that According to Islam, Allh is the Creator of the Universe. I would like to add that Allah is not only the creator of the whole universe but also he is the Sustainer of every living soul and creature on earth. He says in the holy book Quran that There is no moving creature on earth but its sustenance dependeth on Allah: He knoweth the time and place of its definite abode and its temporary deposit: All is in a clear Record .3 He looks after all mankind, believers and non-believers, Jews , Christians Muslims and pagans as well. He supplied all his creatures with food , water and shelters with no distinction regarding a person`s faith. He is the lord of all prophets , including Noah, Abraham, Moses, David , Jesus and Mohammed and other prophets peace be upon them all. Regarding that point he says in the holy book Quran that : We have sent thee inspiration, as We sent it to Noah and the Messengers after him: we sent inspiration to Abraham, Isma'il, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes, to Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and to David We gave the Psalms.4

1 2 3 4

- Allah (definition),WikiIslam http://wikiislam.net/wiki/Allah_(definition)#cite_ref-EM_0-2

-Ibid. - A translation of the holy Quran,11:6. - Ibid,verse 4:163.

He is Al-Musawwir. The One Who forms His creatures in different shapes and forms.Regarding that Allah says in Quran He it is Who shapes you in the wombs as He pleases. There is no god but He, the Exalted in Might, the Wise5 Also, he says in the holy book Quran His are the treasures of the heavens and the earth; He makes ample and straitens the means of subsistence for whom He pleases; surely He is Cognizant of all things.6 He, with his own power, makes unseen boundaries between sweet flowing water and salty ones. So, they do not mix with each other. Regarding this point he says in Quran It is He Who has let free the two bodies of flowing water: One palatable and sweet, and the other salt and bitter; yet has He made a barrier between them, a partition that is forbidden to be passed.7 He rotates Earth so night overlap day and vice versa. Regarding that point he says : He created the heavens and the earth in true (proportions): He makes the Night overlap the Day, and the Day overlap the Night: He has subjected the sun and the moon (to His law): Each one follows a course for a time appointed. Verily, He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving.8 Furthermore, he says in Quran: Say: Have ye thought, if Allah made day everlasting for you till the Day of Resurrection, who is a god beside Allah who could bring you night wherein ye rest? Will ye not then see? 9 He is the all knowing. He has the full knowledge of the seen and unseen world. He knows every little tiny thing that happened on Earth :And with Him are the keys of the Invisible. None but He knoweth them. And He knoweth what is in the land and the sea. Not a leaf falleth but He knoweth it, not a grain amid the darkness of the earth, naught of wet or dry but (it is noted) in a clear record.10 He is the one who gives life and take life whenever he is willing to do so. He says in Quran: Allah takes the souls at the time of their death, and those that die not during their sleep; then He withholds those on whom He has passed the
5 6 7 8 9 10

- Ibid, verse,3:6.

- Ibid, verse, 42:12. -Ibid, verse,25:53.

- Ibid, verse,39:5.

- Ibid, verse,28:72.
- Ibid, verse,6:59.

decree of death and sends the others back till an appointed term; most surely there are signs in this for a people who reflect.11 To conclude, Allah is not just the creator of the universe but also he is the ruler of the entire universe. He has much power over all than anyone would imagine. 2- Allah is the God : WikiIslam claimed in its article that : Allah does not mean 'God' but rather 'the God'. And is thus one of the remnants of Islam's pagan origins. Regarding this statement I would point out two things: First, the all mighty Allah is the only God that has created the universe and rules it until the day of judgment. There are many verses in the Quran mentioned this logic fact. For example: If there were, in the heavens and the earth, other gods besides Allah, there would have been confusion in both! But glory to Allah, the Lord of the Throne: (High is He) above what they attribute to Him!12 And the following verse of Quran talks about the oneness of Allah: There is no god but He: That is the witness of Allah, His angels, and those endued with knowledge, standing firm on justice. There is no god but He, the Exalted in Power, the Wise.13 Second, Islam has nothing to do with the Arab pagan origin`s. Islam is the religion of the natural instinct of mankind . Its the religion of Abraham , Jesus and all other prophets ( peace and blessing of Allah be upon them All). The almighty Allah said regarding that : He has ordained for you of religion what He enjoined upon Noah and that which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what We enjoined upon Abraham and Moses and Jesus - to establish the religion and not be divided therein. Difficult for those who associate others with Allah is that to which you invite them. Allah chooses for Himself whom He wills and guides to Himself whoever turns back [to Him]. 14 Its natural religion of mankind set thy purpose (O Muhammad) for religion as a man by nature upright - the nature (framed) of Allah, in which He hath created man. There is no altering (the laws of) Allah's creation. That is the right religion, but most men know not.15

11 12 13

- Ibid, verse, 39:42. - Ibid, verse,21:22. -Ibid, verse,3:18. 14 - Ibid, verse,42:13. 15 - Ibid,30:30.

3 - The supreme God of Arab: According to WikiIslam mentioned article: In the pre-Islamic era, Allah was the supreme creator god of the Arabs, a moon god who lived in a rock located in the Ka'aba. Yet he was still only one god among the many others they believed in.16 Actually, the claim that Muslims worship a moon god came from the west17 . It is baseless and insulting. Allah is the Arabic word for God. Arabic- speaking Christians and Jews use the word Allah to describe God.18 If you read an Arabic bible you will find the word Allah is used to describe God. The same fact is valid regarding Jews old testimony Torah. 4 - Allt, Mant, and al-Uzz: WikiIslam concluded its definition of Allah by saying that pre-Islamic Arab were thinking that: The goddesses; Allt (the feminine form of Allah, meaning 'the goddess' Mant, and al-Uzz were Allah's daughters.19 I have searched the roots of these three words as they were used before Islam and I found that Arab thought that Allt, Mant, and alUzz were Gods and they worshiped them. But definitely there is no consensus between scholars about the meaning of these three words .Some but not many said that Arab made them as Allah daughters. Anyway, in Quran Allah says: Have ye thought upon Al-Lat and Al-'Uzza. And Manat, the third, the other? Are yours the males and His the females? That indeed were an unfair division! They are but names which ye have named, ye and your fathers, for which Allah hath revealed no warrant. They follow but a guess and that which (they) themselves desire. And now the guidance from their Lord hath come unto them.20 That is the truth about Allah which is completely different than WikiIslam thought. I really feel sorry for them that they made such incorrect definition about Allah their creator. yet, Allah is the all forgiver. He opens his hands to

16 17

- Allah (definition),WikiIslam http://wikiislam.net/wiki/Allah_(definition)#cite_ref-EM_0-2 - see: Allah as Moon-god, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon-God_Allah. 18 - Ibid.

19 20
-Allah (definition),WikiIslam http://wikiislam.net/wiki/Allah_(definition)#cite_ref-EM_0-2

- A translation of the holy Quran, 53:19-23.

forgive all sinners. He says: Allah forgiveth all sins. Lo! He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.21

21

-Ibid,of verse39:53.