Demystifying the Mystery of God from an Islamic Perspective
The Concept of Allah, the One and Only God whom Muslims worship
Islam is the last standing monotheistic faith of all religions that lay claims to have descended from Abraham. The concept of God in His Oneness is purely unique and unadulterated. The uniqueness of His Lordship, worship, names, and attributes is well entrenched through a concept called Tauhid. In fact, Muslims prefer to refer to God as Allah because this is the name with which He referred to Himself in the Qur’an. So wherever you see Allah, it’s intended to mean God — The Creator of Everything that exists.
Allah is considered to be the One and Only God whom Muslims worship. The concept of Allah is fundamental to the Islamic faith, and Muslims believe that Allah is the Creator, Sustainer, and Master of the universe. Despite the central role Allah plays in our lives, many Muslims and those outside the faith do not fully understand who Allah is. In this piece, join me on a voyage to explore the mystery behind who is Allah by examining His Attributes, Names, and Characteristics based on the principles of Islam.
Understanding who Allah is
The greater a person’s perception of Allah, the greater his understanding, alertness, and life swing about. It’s not an exaggeration that the universe and everything that surrounds us is a manifestation of the names, attributes, and identities of Allah. He tells us this in the Qur’an
It is Allah who has created seven heavens and of the earth, the like of them. His command descends among them so you may know that Allah is most capable of everything and that Allah has encompassed all things in knowledge — Qur’an 65[At-Talaq]:12
This verse simply tells us that everything is put in place for us to reflect that Allah exists, the world did not create itself, and for us to know Him through these signs and attributes.
If you want to deal with a person in any way, you’re most likely going to enquire about the name and characteristics of the said individual. In a similar way, Allah Who created us and provides for us is worthy of knowing His names and attributes. A person’s level of spiritual growth in Islam is tantamount to one’s level of knowledge and awareness of who Allah is. Since we know no one can see Allah in this worldly life, then we’re left with His names, signs, and attributes.
In the Qur’an, Allah tells us about a beautiful narration between the prophet Ibrahim — Abraham and the idol worshippers of his time. When he challenged them about worshipping false gods who cannot benefit or harm them. Look at how he described Allah in comparison to their gods:
Indeed, they are enemies to me, except the Lord of the worlds. He is the One Who created me, and He is the One Who guides me. And it is He Who feeds me and gives me to drink. And when I am ill, it is He who cures me. And He is the One Who will cause me to die, and then bring me back to life. And I aspire that He will forgive me my sin on the Day of Recompense. — Qur’an 26[Ash-Shuara]:77–82
The obligation to worship Him
Do you not see that to Allah bow down in submission all those in the heavens and all those on the earth, as well as the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the trees, and living beings, as well as many humans? — Qur’an 22[Al-Hajj]:18
In Islam, Allah is considered to be the ultimate reality, the source of all existence, and the only being worthy of worship. The Quran, the holy book of Islam, describes Allah as “the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate, the King of Kings, the Lord of the Worlds” (Quran 1:1). Allah is believed to be omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. This means that Allah is all-powerful, all-knowing, and present everywhere at all times.
Muslims believe that Allah is a transcendent being, which means that he is beyond human comprehension. Allah is not limited by time, space, or physical limitations, and Muslims believe that he is beyond the limits of human understanding. Muslims believe that Allah is the ultimate reality, and that he is the only being that truly exists.
It’s this same Lord of the universe — Allah who created everything and apportioned a purpose of existence for each being. As for the humans, He tells us our aim in life is to worship Him Alone. Every other thing is secondary.
And I (Allah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone) — Qur’an 51[Adh-Dhariyat]:56
The Characteristics of Allah
In addition to His nature, Allah is also characterized by a number of attributes. Muslims believe that Allah is just, merciful, and compassionate. They also believe that Allah is forgiving, generous, and wise. These attributes are reflected in the practices and beliefs of Muslims, who strive to live their lives in accordance with the teachings of Islam.
One of the most important characteristics of Allah is His Oneness. Muslims believe that Allah is the only God, and that there is no other being worthy of worship. This belief is reflected in the Islamic declaration of faith, which states that “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet.”
Here’s how Allah beautifully described Himself in the Qur’an:
He is Allah — there is no god worthy of worship except Him: Knower of the seen and unseen. He is the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful. He is Allah — there is no god except Him: the King, the Most Holy, the All-Perfect, the Source of Serenity, the Watcher ˹of all˺, the Almighty, the Supreme in Might, the Majestic. Glorified is Allah far above what they associate with Him in worship. He is Allah: the Creator, the Inventor, the Shaper. He ˹alone˺ has the Most Beautiful Names. Whatever is in the heavens and the earth ˹constantly˺ glorifies Him. And He is the Almighty, All-Wise. — Qur’an 59[Al-Hashr]:22–24
What role does Allah play in our lives?
Muslims believe that Allah plays a central role in their faith and divine existence. He is the creators of all and there’s nothing comparable unto Him. He is the giver and taker of life. Nothing happens except with His knowledge and will. With His is time from the beginning, He is the controller of time and the end of time will not come except by His will.
In addition, we believe that Allah is the source of all guidance and wisdom. He guides whoever He wills to the right path and leaves astray whoever He chooses. However, He endowed us with intellect in order to ponder over His signs and revelations. The Quran is considered to be the direct word of Allah, and Muslims believe that it contains all the guidance and wisdom necessary for living a good and righteous life.
Has there not been over man a period of time, when he was nothing to be mentioned? Verily, We have created man from drops of mixed semen (discharge of man and woman), in order to try him, so We made him hearer, seer. Verily, We showed him the way, whether he be grateful or ungrateful. — Qur’an 76[Al-Insan]:1–3
Muslims also believe that Allah is the King of kings, the Ultimate Judge, and He will determine the fate of all human beings on the Day of Judgment. We certainly believe that our faith is incomplete without accepting the realities of the day of reckoning. Part of the Islamic belief is that Allah will judge all people based on their deeds, not how they look, and He will reward the righteous and punish the wicked.
And We created not the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, for mere play. We created them not except with truth, but most of them know not. Verily, the Day of Judgement (when Allah will judge between the creatures) is the time appointed for all of them. The Day when a near relative cannot avail a near relative in aught, and no help can they receive. Except him on whom Allah has Mercy. Verily, He is the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful. — Qur’an 44[Ad-Dukhan]:38–42
Conclusion
In sum, the concept of God in Islam is the bedrock of our faith and this is based on the belief in the existence of one God, who is known as Allah. Muslims believe that Allah is the ultimate reality, the source of all existence, and the only being worthy of worship.
Allah is characterized by a number of attributes which could be seen as both Powerful and Beautiful. He vibrates power when you hear He is the Creator, the giver and taker of life, and He is stern when he punishes. He showers beauty when described as Forgiving, Merciful and Kind.
Imam Ibnul Qayyim Al Jawzee summarizes the fruits of journeying through the names of Allah thus:
If a person ascends into the realm of realization where he can almost see the perfect trait of Allah and His majestic descriptions, his soul will feel a special type of nearness where it will experience the removal of veils that stands between a soul and its Lord. That veil is the self. So, if Allah allows this veil to be removed, his heart and soul will make their way to Allah, causing a person to worship Allah as if he can see Him. This is the perfection of one’s faith.
Understanding the concept of God from an Islamic perspective is essential for knowing your purpose of existence, beliefs and practices. Despite the mystery surrounding who Allah is, His role and importance to the generality of humanity cannot be overemphasized.
Say: “He is Allah, The One. The Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need. He begets not, nor was He begotten. And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him.” — Qur’an 112[Al-Ikhlaas]:1–4
