Who Is Allah
Who Is Allah?
Understanding the nature of God in Islam: absolute Oneness (Tawheed), infinite mercy, unshared sovereignty, and intimate nearness to every human heart.
Allah: The One True God
Many assume “Allah” is the name of a special Muslim deity. In reality, Allah is the unique Arabic compound word: Al-Ilah, meaning “The Only Deity Worthy of Worship.”
In Arabic, the word Allah has no plural (there are no “Allahs”) and has no gender (no masculine or feminine form). It denotes a singular, transcendent reality.
Millions of Arabic-speaking Christians and Arab Jews in Lebanon, Egypt, and Syria use the word “Allah” when praying and in their Bibles today.
Surah Al-Ikhlas (Chapter 112)
The defining chapter on God in the Quran
“1. Say: He is Allah, the One and Only;
2. Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
3. He neither begets nor is He begotten;
4. And there is none comparable to Him.”
The Principle of Tawheed (Monotheism)
Tawheed is the heartbeat of Islamic theology. Scholars explain it across three complementary dimensions:
Oneness of Lordship (Ruboobiyyah)
Believing that Allah alone creates, sustains, and governs the universe. No atom moves without His permission.
Oneness of Worship (Uloohiyyah)
Directing all prayers, supplications, and ultimate devotions exclusively to God, without intermediaries, saints, or statues.
Oneness of Names & Attributes (Asma wa Sifat)
Affirming all perfect names revealed by God without anthropomorphizing or negating their reality.
Attributes & Names of Allah
Every chapter of the Quran opens with: “In the Name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.”
The Entirely Merciful
His universal mercy encompasses all creation in existence.
The Especially Merciful
His intimate, enduring mercy poured upon those who seek guidance.
The Most Loving
The One whose love is unconditional, active, and tender.
The Source of Peace
The One free from all deficiencies; the giver of serenity.
The Utterly Just
He who never oppresses, rewarding righteousness with supreme justice.
The Great Forgiver
He who veils human shortcomings and repeatedly pardons.
The All-Wise
Every decree, law, and trial has profound wisdom behind it.
The Infinitely Near
“We are closer to him than his jugular vein.” (Quran 50:16)
The Ever-Living, Self-Sustaining
Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep.
What Islam Does NOT Believe About God
Next Topic: Who Was Prophet Muhammad ﷺ?
Discover his early life, character, the first revelation, and why Muslims revere him.