Who is Allah?[1]
Allah is not the God of only the Muslims or the Arabs, rather He is the God of mankind. Mankind has only one Creator. He is called “Allah” in the Arabic language.
1. The Creator of all things
Allah says in The Qur’an in Surah As-Sajdah 32:4
اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا
“It is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them”[2]
Allah, is the Creator of the whole Universe and everything in it. Would you believe in a god who did not create anything? The True God is the one who created everything.
2. Allah existed even when nothing else did
Allah says in The Qur’an in Surah Al Hadeed 57:3
هُوَ الْأَوَّلُ وَالْآخِرُ
“He is The First and The Last”
People say “everything has been created by nature”. But isn’t nature also a ‘Creation’? Who created ‘nature’?
Creation cannot come into being on its own without a Creator. We cannot find a machine and assume it must have come into being on its own.
The true God existed always (the First and the Last) and is the Creator or everything.
3. The Creation itself is an evidence of the existence of The Creator
Allah says in the Qur'an in Surah At Tur 52:35-36
أَمْ خُلِقُوْا مِنْ غَيْرِ شَيْءٍ أَمْ هُمُ الْخَالِقُوْنَ .
أَمْ خَلَقُوْا السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ بَلْ لَّا يُوْقِنُوْنَ
أَمْ خَلَقُوْا السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ بَلْ لَّا يُوْقِنُوْنَ
“Or were they created by nothing,
Or were they themselves the creators?
Or did they create the heavens and the earth?
Nay, they are not certain.”
Can anything come into existence on its own without a Creator? How foolish is the assumption on many that everything has come into being by chance. There are 3 questions in the verse above, then one conclusion that man is himself not certain about what he is saying.
The True God is the Creator of everything, man cannot create even his own self.
4. No vision can grasp Him
Allah says in the Qur'an in Surah Al An’aam 6:102-103
ذَلِكُمُ اللّهُ رَبُّكُمْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ فَاعْبُدُوْهُ
وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَكِيْلٌ
لاَّ تُدْرِكُهُ الأَبْصَارُ وَهُوَ يُدْرِكُ الأَبْصَارَ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيْفُ الْخَبِيْرُ
وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَكِيْلٌ
لاَّ تُدْرِكُهُ الأَبْصَارُ وَهُوَ يُدْرِكُ الأَبْصَارَ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيْفُ الْخَبِيْرُ
“That is Allah, your Lord; there is no deity worthy of worship except Him, Creator of all things, so worship Him. And He is Disposer of all things. No vision can grasp Him, but His grasp is over all vision: He is The Subtle , Well-acquainted with all things.”
In this world, no eyes can see Him. But He has full grasp over all vision. Allah is all-aware about even the finest things.
Greek mythology believes in gods who created this world then sit in the heavens and drink liquor totally unaware of what goes on here.
The true God is not seen by any but can see all.
5. There is nothing like Him
Allah says in the Qur'an in Surah Ash Shoora 42:11
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ
“There is nothing like Him”
None, no human being or anything we know is like Him, nor is He like us.
There is none like the true God, nor is the true God like human beings.
6. Allah says, “Be” and it is.
Allah says in the Qur'an in Surah Al Baqarah 2:117
بَدِيْعُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ
وَإِذَا قَضَى أَمْراً فَإِنَّمَا يَقُوْلُ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُوْنُ
“He originated the heavens and the earth: When He decrees a matter, He says to it, "Be" and it is.”
He does not face any opposition about His decisions. Nor does He face any difficulty or any worry. Nothing goes against His will.
He originated the heavens and the earth without any previous model. He did not need to review it or correct mistakes or do ‘research and development’. Look at the vast universe, how magnanimous, without any error in its Creation.
The true God has perfect control over the universe. He decides a matter and it is accomplished.
7. Did the creation of the universe tire him?
Allah says in the Qur'an in Surah Qaf 50:38
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ وَمَا مَسَّنَا مِن لُّغُوْبٍ
“And We[3] certainly created the heavens and earth and what is between them in six days, and no weariness touched Us."
Compare this with the concept of god in the Bible Exodus 31:17– “The LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.”
The True God is free of the need to rest, nor does he get tired.
8. The Knowledge of Allah, The Glorious
Allah says in the Qur'an in Surah Al An’aam 6:59
وَعِندَهُ مَفَاتِحُ الْغَيْبِ لاَ يَعْلَمُهَا إِلاَّ هُوَ
وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ
وَمَا تَسْقُطُ مِن وَرَقَةٍ إِلاَّ يَعْلَمُهَا
وَلاَ حَبَّةٍ فِي ظُلُمَاتِ الأَرْضِ وَلاَ رَطْبٍ وَلاَ يَابِسٍ إِلاَّ فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِيْنٍ
وَلاَ حَبَّةٍ فِي ظُلُمَاتِ الأَرْضِ وَلاَ رَطْبٍ وَلاَ يَابِسٍ إِلاَّ فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِيْنٍ
“And with Him are the keys of the unseen; No one knows them except He. And He knows what is in the land and in the sea. Not a leaf falls, but He knows it. There is not a grain in the darknesses of the earth nor anything fresh or dry, but is written in a clear book”
He is aware about everything, everywhere – whether on land or sea or even under the ground, whether something as slight as a leaf falling. For us to monitor even one tree we need 24 hours surveillance from all viewpoints. Allah knows all the leaves from all the trees in the world. His knowledge is confirmed to such an extent that it is written down in a book. The true God has perfect knowledge of everything and is never unaware.
9. He knows our needs
Allah says in the Qur'an in Surah Al Mulk 67:14
أَلا يَعْلَمُ مَنْ خَلَقَ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيْفُ الْخَبِيْرُ
“Does He, Who created, not know? While He is The Subtle, The Well-Acquainted?”
Before we came in this world we did not give any application form to Allah asking for all the things that need like 2 eyes, 2 ears, 2 hands, 2 legs… He gave us without us even asking. The true God is aware of all the needs of man.
10. He has subjected the universe to man
Allah says in The Qur’an in Surah Luqman 31:20
أَلَمْ تَرَوْا أَنَّ اللَّهَ سَخَّرَ لَكُمْ مَّا فِيْ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ
وَأَسْبَغَ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعَمَهُ ظَاهِرَةً وَبَاطِنَةً
وَأَسْبَغَ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعَمَهُ ظَاهِرَةً وَبَاطِنَةً
“Do you not see that Allah has subjected to you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth and has made his bounties flow to you in exceeding measure, (both) apparent and unapparent?”
The clouds rain down on us water, the land grows for us food. Since we see many of these things regularly we take them for granted. But do we think what if we did not have these blessings.
11. His blessings cannot be counted
Allah says in the Qur'an in Surah Ibrahim 14:34
وَآتَاكُمْ مِّنْ كُلِّ مَا سَأَلْتُمُوْهُ وَإِنْ تَعُدُّواْ نِعْمَتَ اللّهِ لاَ تُحْصُوْهَا
إِنَّ الإِنْسَانَ لَظَلُوْمٌ كَفَّارٌ
إِنَّ الإِنْسَانَ لَظَلُوْمٌ كَفَّارٌ
“And He gave you from all you asked of Him, and if you count the Blessings of Allah, never will you be able to number them. Indeed, mankind is most unjust and ungrateful.”
We cannot count the blessings which we receive from Allah because we do not know many of them. Man realises the importance of many things after he looses them. If he does not get something one day – he complains but does not see that he got it on so many other days. The true God is the one who bestows on mankind abundantly.
12. He is free of all needs from the world
Allah says in the Qur'an in Surah Al Fa’tir 35:15
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَنْتُمُ الْفُقَرَاءُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ هُوَ الْغَنِيُّ الْحَمِيْدُ
“O mankind! You are those in need of Allah, while Allah is The One Free of needs, The One Worthy of all praise.”
One who is not free of needs cannot be God. Allah is free of all needs.
13. He is not in need of food
Allah says in the Qur'an in Surah Al An’aam 6:14
قُلْ أَغَيْرَ اللّهِ أَتَّخِذُ وَلِيًّا فَاطِرِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ
وَهُوَ يُطْعِمُ وَلاَ يُطْعَمُ
“Say, "Is it other than Allah I should take as a protector, Creator of the heavens and the earth? And it is He Who feeds but is not fed.”
Jesus and Mary both ate food (Qur’an 5:75). Many gods whom people worship are also in need of many things. The true God is “free of all needs”.
14. He is enough for His slaves
Allah says in the Qur'an in Surah Az Zumar 39:36
أَلَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِكَافٍ عَبْدَهُ
“Is not Allah sufficient for His Servant?”
The answer is in the form of a question. Yes, Allah alone is sufficient for all needs. For human projects we need people from various specialisations to finish a task, since we are all deficient. But the true God is perfect, sufficient for his slaves.
Allah says in the Qur'an in Surah At Talaaq 65:3
وَمَنْ يَّتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ
“And whosoever puts his trust in Allah - then He is sufficient for him.”
If we have all the resources for doing
15. He does not forget
Allah says in the Qur'an in Surah Maryam 19:64
وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ نَسِيًّا
“And never is your Lord forgetful”
Allah remembers everything. Every good deed done by man, every bit of worship, every sin and every transgression done by man. All human beings forget. But the True God never forgets anything.
16. He does not make mistakes
Allah says in the Qur'an in Surah Taha 20:52
لَّا يَضِلُّ رَبِّي وَلَا يَنْسَى
“My Lord neither errs nor forgets.”
17. He does not sleep
Allah says in the Qur'an in Surah Al Baqarah 2:255
لاَ تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلاَ نَوْمٌ
“Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep.”
18. He does what He wills
Allah says in the Qur'an in Surah Al Burooj 85:16
ذُوْ الْعَرْشِ الْمَجِيْدُ . فَعَّالٌ لِّمَا يُرِيْدُ
“He does what He intends (or wills).”
19. He does not do injustice
Allah says in the Qur'an in Surah An Nisa 4:40
إِنَّ اللهَ لاَ يَظْلِمُ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ
“Indeed, Allah does not do injustice, [even] as much as an atom's weight”
20. He makes the truth clear for His slaves
Allah says in the Qur'an in Surah An Nisa 4:26
يُرِيْدُ اللَّهُ لِيُبَيِّنَ لَكُمْ
“Allah wants to make clear to you”
21. He guides to the Home of Peace (i.e Paradise)
Allah says in the Qur'an in Surah Yunus 10:25
وَاللّهُ يَدْعُوْ إِلَى دَارِ السَّلاَمِ وَيَهْدِيْ مَنْ يَّشَاءُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيْمٍ
“And Allah invites to the Home of Peace and guides whom He wills to a straight path”
22. He guides the deserving ones
Allah says in the Qur'an in Surah Ar Ra’d 13:27
إِنَّ اللّهَ يُضِلُّ مَنْ يَّشَاءُ وَيَهْدِيْ إِلَيْهِ مَنْ أَنَابَ
“Truly Allah leaves, to stray, whom He wills and guides to Himself whoever turns back [to Him]”
23. He forgives and punishes too
Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Al Hijr 15:49-50
نَبِّىءْ عِبَادِيْ أَنِّي أَنَا الْغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْمُ
وَ أَنَّ عَذَابِيْ هُوَ الْعَذَابُ الأَلِيْمَ
“[O Muْhammad], inform My servants that it is I Who is The Forgiving, The Merciful. And that My Penalty is indeed the most grievous penalty.”
24. Justice and mercy in reward and punishment
Allah says in the Qur'an in Surah Al An’aam 6:160
مَنْ جَاءَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا
وَمَنْ جَاءَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ فَلاَ يُجْزَى إِلاَّ مِثْلَهَا وَهُمْ لاَ يُظْلَمُوْنَ
“Whoever comes [on the Day of Judgement] with a good deed will have ten times the like thereof [to his credit], and whoever comes with an evil deed will not be recompensed except the like thereof; and they will not be wronged.”
25. Allah NEVER punishes the unaware
Allah says in the Qur'an in Surah Al An’aam 6:131
ذَلِكَ أَنْ لَّمْ يَكُنْ رَّبُّكَ مُهْلِكَ الْقُرَى بِظُلْمٍ وَأَهْلُهَا غَافِلُوْنَ
“(The messengers were sent) thus, for your Lord would not destroy the cities for wrongdoing while their occupants were unwarned.
Allah says in the Qur'an in Surah Al Isra 17:15
وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِيْنَ حَتَّى نَبْعَثَ رَسُوْلاً
“And We never punish until We have sent a messenger (to give warning).”
26. Allāh has no personal gain in punishing
Allah says in the Qur'an in Surah An Nisa 4:147
مَّا يَفْعَلُ اللَّهُ بِعَذَابِكُمْ إِنْ شَكَرْتُمْ وَآمَنْتُمْ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ شَاكِرًا عَلِيْمًا
“What can Allah gain by your punishment if you are grateful and believe? And ever is Allah Appreciative and Knowing.”
27. Allāh forgives and loves
Allah says in the Qur'an in Surah Al Burooj 85:14
وَهُوَ الْغَفُوْرُ الْوَدُوْدُ
“And He is Oft-Forgiving, Full of Loving-Kindness”
28. Allāh Forgives those who repent
Allah says in the Qur'an in Surah Az Zumar 39:53
قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِيْنَ أَسْرَفُوْا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ لا تَقْنَطُوْا مِنْ رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوْبَ جَمِيْعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْمُ
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوْبَ جَمِيْعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْمُ
“Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the Mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He Who is The Forgiving, The Merciful."
[1] This topic has been compiled as an introduction for people who do not believe in Allah. This content can also be helpful for those who present Islam to people. Hence the explanations given are keeping that in mind.
[2] The Qur’an translation quoted is from the English translation by Saheeh International, available in print by Al-Qaasim Publishing House, also available on the internet atwww.islamsmessage.com
[3] There are two types of plurals in Arabic, as in many other languages. They are, “the Plural of number” and the “Plural of Respect”. Allah has reffered to Himself in Arabic with the plural of respect. This has been translated as “We” and “Us” in the English translation. However Allah has clearly stated in the Qur’an, “Say, ‘He is Allah the One’” (Qur’an 112:1). Hence there is no possibility that the plural used to refer Himself is the “Plural of number”. Modern day English rarely uses “plural of respect”. Hence this can also be read as, “And I certainly createdthe heavens…” However in that case, an essense of the Arabic word used in the original is lost in the translation.
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