THE CONCEPTS OF GOD IN ISLAM

IS THERE A GOD?
There are many rational reasons for believing in God. Three simple reasons are described
below:
1. Order of the Universe
Imagine walking along the beach and finding a watch in the sand. Would you believe that
the watch came together by itself? You would not conclude that the watch just happened to
emerge from the sand by random chance. All the intricate working parts could not simply
develop from the materials that lay buried in the earth. The watch must have a
manufacturer. And if the watch tells accurate time we expect the manufacturer must be
intelligent. Natural coincidences cannot produce a working watch. Consider the planet
earth. Its timing is so strictly regulated around the sun that scientists can publish in advance
the sunrise and sunset times. Just as a watch has an intelligent maker to keep accurate time,
so too must the earth have an intelligent maker to keep accurate time around the sun.
Could this occur by itself? In the same way, when we see the order, precise laws and
systems within ourselves and throughout the entire universe, is it not rational that the
universe has an organiser? This organiser is best explained by the existence of God the
one who brought about the order in the universe.
2. Beginning of the Universe
Modern science concludes that the universe has a beginning. This is based on a recent
discovery that the universe is expanding, and if we go back in time, the universe converges
which points to a beginning. There are three possible explanations for the beginning of the
universe, either:
1. The Universe came from nothing,
2. The Universe created itself, or
3. The Universe was created.
As for the second explanation, simple logic tells us that something cannot do anything
before having existed. This leaves the third point as the only rational explanation: a higher
and intelligent being, God, created the universe.
Some people may ask, Who created God? God, The Creator, is different to His creation. If
He was the same as creation, He would also need a creator, leading to an infinite amount of
creators, which is impossible. He is beyond time and the physical matter of this universe.
God has always existed and has no beginning; therefore the question of who created God is
irrational.

3. Revelation from God

If God revealed a book of guidance to humanity, we would expect that such a book would
contain clear evidence of the existence of God.
There are clear signs that the book of Islam, the Quran, is the word of God. Below is a very
brief summary of reasons that support this claim:

The Quran was revealed over 1400 years ago and contains many scientific facts that were
unknown to the people of that time which have only been discovered recently by
contemporary science. Examples include: water being the origin of all living things (Quran
21:30); the expanding universe (Quran 51:47); and the individual orbits of the sun and moon
(Quran 21:33).
The Quran contains many historical facts that were unknown to the people of that time as
well as numerous predictions which have both proven to be correct.
The Quran is free from any errors or contradictions.
The Quran has been preserved, word-for-word, since it was revealed in its original Arabic
language, unlike other scriptures which no longer exist in their original form.
The simple, pure and universal message of the Quran appeals to Mans inherent beliefs
about Almighty God.
The Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who was known in
history to be illiterate. Yet, the Quran contains a unique style of language that is universally
known as the pinnacle of Arabic eloquence and linguistic beauty.
The most rational explanation for the many unique and miraculous aspects of the Quran is
that it is from God.

WHO IS GOD? BY WHAT NAME WE DO CALL GOD? ALLAH?

It is a known fact that every language has one or more terms that are used in reference to
God and sometimes to lesser deities. This is not the case with Allah. Allah is the personal
name of the One true God. Nothing else can be called Allah.
If you add s to the word God, it becomes Gods, that is the plural of God. Allah is one and
singular, there is no plural of Allah. If you add dess to the word God, it becomes Goddess
that is a female God. There is nothing like male Allah or female Allah. Allah has no gender. If
you add the word father to God it becomes God-father. God-father means someone
who is a guardian. There is no word like Allah-Abba or Allah-father. If you add the word
mother to God, it becomes God-mother. There is nothing like Allah-Ammi, or Allahmother in Islam. Allah is a unique word. If you prefix tin before the word God, it becomes
tin-God i.e., fake God. Allah is a unique word, which does not conjure up any mental picture

nor can it be played around with. Therefore the Muslims prefer using the Arabic word Allah
for the Almighty.
The One true God is a reflection of the unique concept that Islam associates with
God. To a Muslim, Allah is the Almighty Creator and Sustainer of the universe, Who is similar
to nothing, and nothing is comparable to Him. The Prophet Muhammad was asked by his
contemporaries about Allah; the answer came directly from God Himself in the form of a
short chapter of the Qur'an, which is considered to be the essence of the unity or the motto
of monotheism. This is chapter 112, which reads:

GOD ATTRIBUTES
If the Creator is Eternal and Everlasting, then His attributes must also be eternal and
everlasting. He should not lose any of His attributes nor acquire new ones. If this is so, then
his attributes are absolute. Can there be more than one Creator with such absolute
attributes? Can there be, for example, two absolutely powerful Creators? A moment's
thought shows that this is not feasible.
The Qur'an summarizes this argument in the following verses:
God has not taken to Himself any son, nor is there any god with Him: for then each god
would have taken of that which he created and some of them would have risen up over
others (23:91).
And why, were there gods in earth and heaven other than God, they (heaven and
earth) would surely go to ruin (21:22).
To Allah belong the most beautiful names:
The Quran says:
"Say: Call upon Allah, or
Call upon Rahman:
By whatever name you call

Upon Him, (it is well):

For to Him belong
The Most Beautiful Names."
[Al-Quran 17:110+
A similar message regarding the beautiful names of Allah (swt) is repeated in the Quran in
Surah Al-Araf (7:180), in Surah Taha (20:8) and in Surah Al-Hashr (59:24).
The Quran gives no less than ninety-nine different attributes to Almighty Allah. The Quran
refers to Allah as Ar-Rahman (Most Gracious), Ar-Raheem (Most Merciful) and AlHakeem (All Wise) among many other names. You can call Allah by any name but that name
should be beautiful and should not conjure up a mental picture.
Each attribute of God is unique and possessed by Him alone:
Not only does God possess unique attributes, but also each attribute of Almighty God is
sufficient to identify Him. I shall clarify this point in detail. Let us take an example of a
famous personality, say Neil Armstrong. Neil Armstrong is an astronaut. The attribute of
being an astronaut possessed by Neil Armstrong is correct but not unique to Neil Armstrong
alone. So when one asks, who is an astronaut? The answer is, there are hundreds of people
in the world who are astronauts. Neil Armstrong is an American. The attribute of being
American possessed by Neil Armstrong is correct but not sufficient to identify him. So when
one asks, who is an American? The answer is, there are millions of people who are
American. To identify the person uniquely we must look for a unique attribute possessed by
none except that person. For example, Neil Armstrong was the first human to set foot on
the moon. So when one asks, who was the first man to set foot on the moon, the answer is
only one, i.e. Neil Armstrong. Similarly the attribute of Almighty God should be unique. If I
say God is the constructor of buildings, it is possible and true, but it is not unique.
Thousands of people can construct a building. But each attribute of Allah is unique and
points to none but Allah. For example, God is the creator of the universe. If someone asks
who is the creator of the universe, the answer is only one, i.e. Almighty God is the Ultimate
Creator. Similarly, following are some of the many unique attributes possessed by none
other than the Creator of the universe, Almighty Allah:
"Ar-Raheem", the Most Merciful
"Ar-Rahman", the Most Gracious
"Al-Hakeem", the Most Wise
So when one asks, "Who is Ar-Raheem, (the Most Merciful)?", there can only be one
answer: "Almighty Allah".

God does not become a human being:

God does not take human form:
Some may argue that God does not become a human being but only takes a
human form. If God only takes a human form but does not become a human being,
He should not possess any human qualities. We know that all the God-men, have
human qualities and failings. They have all the human needs such as the need to
eat, sleep, etc.
The worship of God in human form is therefore a logical fallacy and should be
abhorred in all its forms and manifestations.
That is the reason why the Quran speaks against all forms of anthropomorphism.
The Glorious Quran says in the following verse:
"There is nothing whatever like unto Him."
[Al-Quran 42:11+

God does not perform ungodly acts:

The attributes of Almighty God preclude any evil since God is the source of justice, mercy
and truth. God can never be thought of as doing an ungodly act. Hence we cannot imagine
God telling a lie, being unjust, making a mistake, forgetting things, or having any such
human failings. Similarly God can do injustice if He chooses to, but He will never do it
because being unjust is an ungodly act.
The Quran says:
"Allah is never unjust In the least degree."
[Al-Quran 4:40+
God can be unjust if He chooses to be so, but the moment God does injustice, He ceases to
be God.

God does not make mistakes

God can make mistakes if He wants to, but He does not make mistakes because making a
mistake is an ungodly act. The Quran says:
"my Lord never errs."
*Holy Quran 20:52+
The moment God makes a mistake, he ceases to be God.

God does not forget

God can forget if He wants to. But God does not forget anything because forgetting is an
ungodly act, which reeks of human limitations and failings. The Quran says:
"my Lord never errs, nor forgets."
[Al-Quran 20:52+

God only performs Godly acts:

The Islamic concept of God is that God has power over all things. The Quran says in several
places (Al -Quran 2:106; 2:109; 2:284; 3:29; 16:77; and 35:1):
"For verily Allah has power over all things"
Further, the Glorious Quran says:
"Allah is the doer of all that He intends."
[Al-Quran 85:16+
We must keep in mind that Allah intends only Godly acts and not ungodly acts.

Holy Quran is the instruction manual for the human being:

Similarly, our Lord and Creator Allah (swt) need not take human form to know what is good
or bad for the human being. He chooses to reveal the instruction manual. The last and final
instruction manual of the human beings is the Glorious Quran. The dos and donts for the
human beings are mentioned in the Quran.
If you allow me to compare human beings with machines, I would say humans are more
complicated than the most complex machines in the world. Even the most advanced
computers, which are extremely complex, are pale in comparison to the myriad physical,
psychological, genetic and social factors that affect individual and collective human life.
The more advanced the machine, greater is the need for its instruction manual. By the same
logic, dont human beings require an instruction manual by which to govern their own lives?

Some people are blind and deaf:

Despite the absurdity of the philosophy of anthropomorphism, followers of many religions
believe in and preach it to others. Is it not an insult to human intelligence and to the Creator
who gave us this intelligence? Such people are truly deaf and blind despite the faculty of
hearing and sight given to them by Allah. The Quran says:
"Deaf, dumb, and blind,
They will not return (to the path)."

[Al-Quran 2:18+
The Bible gives a similar message in the Gospel of Matthew:
"Seeing they see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand."
[The Bible, Matthew 13:13]
A similar message is also given in the Hindu Scriptures in the Rigveda.
"There maybe someone who sees the words and yet indeed does not see them; may be
another one who hears these words but indeed does not hear them." 1
[Rigveda 10:71:4]
All these scriptures are telling their readers that though the things are made so clear yet
many people divert away from the truth.

THE ONENESS OF GOD

The Qur'an reminds us of the falsity of all alleged gods. To the worshippers of manmade objects it asks: Do you worship what you have carved yourself (37:95). Or have
you taken unto yourself others beside Him to be your protectors, even such as have no
power either for good or for harm to themselves (13:16).
To the worshippers of heavenly bodies it cites the story of Abraham: When night
outspread over him, he saw a star and said: This is my Lord. But when it set, he said: I love
not the setters. When he saw the moon rising, he said: This is my Lord. But when it set, he
said: If my Lord does not guide me, I shall surely be of the people gone astray. When he
saw the sun rising, he said: This is my Lord; this is greater. But when it set, he said: O my
people, surely I quit that which you associate, I have turned my face to Him who originated
the heavens and the earth; a man of pure faith, I am not one of the idolators (6:76-79).

JESUS?
When explaining the concept of God in Islam it is important to discuss the status of Jesus,
given the widespread confusion and claims about the nature of Jesus.
Some Christians claim that Jesus is God that is, he is the incarnation of God on earth and
that God took on a human form. However, according to the Bible, Jesus was born, ate, slept,
prayed and had limited knowledge all attributes not befitting God. God has attributes of
perfection whereas Man is the opposite and lacks such perfection. So how can anything be
two complete opposites both at the same time? This is not rational.
However, some people may ask, If God can do anything, why cant he become a man? By
definition, God does not do ungodly acts, so if God became man and took on human
attributes, he would, necessarily, no longer be God.

Furthermore, the Bible contains many verses in which Jesus speaks and behaves as if God is
a separate being to himself. For example, Jesus fell on his face and prayed (Matthew
26:39). If Jesus was God, then would a God fall on his face and pray? And, who would he be
praying to?
Some Christians also claim that Jesus is the Son of God but we should ask ourselves, what
does this actually mean? Surely God is far removed from having a physical and literal son.
Rather, we find that the term Son of God is symbolically used in the earliest biblical
languages for a righteous person. It is used throughout the Old Testament for many
righteous people such as David, Solomon and Israel not exclusively for Jesus. Israel is
my firstborn son, (Exodus 4:22) is one such example.
The Islamic belief about Jesus explains who the real Jesus was, whilst maintaining the pure
belief about God and His Greatness. Jesus was as an honourable Prophet sent by God to call
to the worship of God alone.
It is not befitting for Allah to take a son; He is perfect and flawless. Quran 19:35

ALL PROPHETS CALLED TO THE WORSHIP OF GOD

And We (God) certainly sent into every nation a Messenger, saying, Worship Allah and avoid false gods. Quran
16:36

Muslims believe in all the Prophets that Allah sent. These prophets include Adam, Noah,
Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad. They all came with the same message to call
their people to the belief and worship of the One True God.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF LIFE?

The ultimate purpose of life is to acknowledge the greatness of God, establish a direct
connection with him, and worship Him alone. The concept of worship in Islam is not limited
to rituals such as praying and fasting, it includes all actions that are pleasing to God such as
having good manners, being honest, establishing justice, being patient and helping the
needy.
In conclusion, the foundation of Islam is belief in the Oneness and Uniqueness of Almighty
God, who is the Creator and Lord of all, perfect in all His attributes. He alone deserves all
worship. Therein lies our success in this life and the next.