Allah
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The word Allah is the Arabic term for "God". It is ultimately derived (according to most etymologists) from Proto-Semitic ʾil-, as is Hebrew El. The word Allah is traditionally used by Muslims, but it is not used in Islam exclusively; Arab Christians and Arab Jews also use it to refer to the monotheist deity. Arabic translations of the Bible also employ it, as do Catholics in Malta (who pronounce it as "Alla"), and Christians in Indonesia, who say "Allah Bapa" (Allah the Father).
"Allah" as a word
| Allah |
Although the name "Allah" is most commonly associated with Islam, it was also used in pre-Islamic times by Christians, Jews and Pagans within the Arabian peninsula to signify the supreme creator. The pagan Arabs recognized "Allah" as the supreme God in pantheon; along with Allah, however, they [pre-Islamic Arabs] ascribed a host of gods in their idolatrous view of Allah, such as Hubal and 'daughters of Allah' [the three daughters associated were Al-lat, Al-Uzza, and Manah]" (Encyclopedia of World Mythology and Legend, "The Facts on File", ed. Anthony Mercatante, New York, 1983, I:61). This view of Allah by the pre-Islamic pagans is viewed by Muslims as a latter development having arisen as a result of moving away from Abrahamic monotheism over time. Some of the names of these pagan gods are said to be derived from the descendants of Noah, whom latter generations firstly revered as saints, and then transformed into gods. The pagan Arabians also used the word "Allah" in the names of their children; Muhammad's father, who was born into pagan society, was named "Abdullah", which translates "servant of Allah". The word was also used in a monotheistic sense by Arab Christians in the pre-Islamic Umm al-Jimal inscription (6th century). The Hebrew word for deity, El (אל) or Eloah (אלוה), was used as an Old Testament synonym for Yahweh (יהוה). The Aramaic word for God is alôh-ô (Syriac dialect), which comes from the same Proto-Semitic word (*ʾilâh-) as the Arabic and Hebrew terms; Jesus is described in Mark 15:34 and Matthew 27:46 as having used this word on the cross (in the forms elô-i and êl-i respectively). One of the earliest surviving translations of the word into a foreign language is in a Greek translation of the Shahada, from 86-96 AH (705-715 AD), which translates it as ho theos monos[1], literally "the one god". Also the cognate Aramaic term appears in the Aramaic version of the New Testament, called the Pshitta (or Peshitta) as one of the words Jesus used to refer to God, e.g., in the sixth Beatitude, "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see Alaha." And in the Arabic Bible the same words (Mt 5:8): "طُوبَى لأَنْقِيَاءِ الْقَلْبِ، فَإِنَّهُمْ سَيَرَوْنَ الله"
Many linguists believe that the term Allāh is derived from a contraction of the Arabic words al (the) and ʾilah (god, masculine form) - al-ilah meaning "the god." In addition, one of the main pagan goddesses of pre-Islamic Arabia, Allāt (al + ʾilāh + at, or 'the goddess'), is cited as being etymologically (though not synchronically) the feminine linguistic counterpart to the grammatically masculine Allah. If so, the word Allāh is an abbreviated title, meaning 'the deity', rather than a name. For this reason, both Muslim and non-Muslim scholars often translate Allāh directly into English as 'God'; this also explains why Arabic-speaking Jews and Christians freely refer to God as Allāh. However, some Muslim scholars feel that "Allāh" should not be translated, because they perceived the Arabic word to express the uniqueness of "Allāh" more accurately than word "god", which can take a plural "gods", whereas the word "Allāh" has no plural form. This is a significant issue in translation of the Qur'an.
The word Allāh is always written without an alif to spell the ā vowel. This is because the spelling was settled before Arabic spelling started habitually using alif to spell ā. One exception is in the pre-Islamic Zabad inscription, where it is spelled الاه.
==Islamic use of "Allah"==
From the point of view of traditional Islamic theology, Allah is the most precious name of God because it is not a descriptive name like other Ninety-nine names of Allah, but the name of God's own presence. Muslims believe that the name of Allah had existed before the time of Adam. It is the same God worshipped by Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad and other prophets of Islam. In Islam, there is only one God and Muhammed is the last messenger. Muslims deny that Allah is really the moon God and deny that the moon symbol found on Islamic flags has anything to do with the moon God. The moon symbol found on top of Mosques throughout the world is also denied as having anything to do with the moon God. The start of various muslim festivals in accordance with the cycle of the Moon is also thought to have nothing to do with the moon God. The title of Allah being given to the moon God before Islam is not thought to indicate that Allah is really the moon God. Although in reality most non-muslims believe that Allah is the moon God.
The emphasis in Islamic culture on reciting the Qur'an in Arabic has resulted in Allah often being used by Muslims world-wide, regardless of their native language. Out of 114 Suras in the Qur'an, 113 begin with "Bismi 'llāh ar-rahmān ar-rahīm" (بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم) which means "In the name of Allah, the most kind, the most merciful". Muslims, when referring to the name, often add the words "Subhanahu wa Ta'ala" after it, meaning "Glorified and Exalted is He" as a sign of reverence, or "Az wa Jal" (عز و جل). The entire religion of Islam is based on the idea of getting closer to Allah. Although commonly referred to as a "He", Allah is considered genderless, but there is no neuter gender to express this in the Arabic language. When Greek or other polytheistic deities are discussed in Arabic, it is customary to use the expression ilāh, a "deity" or lower-case "god."
Islamic conception of Allah
The Islamic concept of mankind's place in the universe hinges on the notion that Allah, or God, is the only true reality. There is nothing permanent other than Him. Allah is considered eternal and "uncreated", whereas everything else in the universe is "created." The Qur'an describes Him in Sura 112: "Say: He is Allah, Singular. Allah, the Absolute. He begetteth not nor was begotten. And to Him have never been one equal." (see Tawhid for more). The Qur'an condemns and mocks the pre-Islamic Arabs for attributing daughters to Allah (sura 53:19.)
Allah is considered by Muslims to be omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient, while at the same time above and outside of all creation. He is said to be "in Heaven" (Qur'an 67:16) and "in the heavens and the earth" (Qur'an 66:3), but also said to be "nearer to him [man] than his jugular vein" (Qur'an 50:16); He constantly watches all that goes on in the world, and knows all things. This suggests that He is present in the heart as the supreme witness. "And He it is Who takes your souls at night (in sleep), and He knows what you acquire in the day, then He raises you up therein that an appointed term may be fulfilled; then to Him is your return, then He will inform you of what you were doing. (sura 6:60)"
Placing Allah inside his creation, in the literal sense, or suggesting that nature or creation simultaneously co-exist in Allah or visa versa, as in other religious traditions, compromises exclusive Islamic monotheism. It is more appropriate to say that in nature there are signs for the existence of Allah.
Muslims do not try to draw or depict Allah in any way, according to Islamic belief it could lead to idol worship. Instead, they focus on His 99 "Attributes" that are stated in the Qur'an, the holy book of the Muslims. Nearly one third of the book is used describing Allah's attributes and actions. Also, "hadith qudsi" are special recorded sayings of Muhammad to Muslims where he quotes what Allah says to him. The ninety-nine "Attributes" are frequently written in calligraphic Arabic as a permissible decoration, which adorns mosques and homes of Muslims.
Uses of "Allah" in phrases
There are many phrases that contain the word Allah:
- Allahu Akbar (الله أكبر) (Allah is the greatest)
- Bismillah (بسم الله) (In the name of Allah)
- Insha'Allah (إن شاء الله) (Allah-willing)
- also the origin of the common Spanish interjection "Ojalá", which shares a similar meaning.
- Ya Allah (يا الله)(O'Allah)
- may be the origin of the Spanish exclamation "¡Olé!".
- Masha Allah (ما شاء الله) ([Look at] what Allah has willed!)
- Subhan Allah (سبحان الله) (Glory be to Allah)
- Alhamdulillah (الحمد لله) (All praise be to Allah)
- Allahu A`alam (الله أعلم) (Allah knows best)
- Jazaka Allahu Khairan (جزاك الله خيراً) (May Allah reward you for your deeds)
"Allah" appears in a stylized form on the flag of Iran, in the phrase "Allahu Akbar" on the flag of Iraq and in the shahadah on the flag of Saudi Arabia.
Other beliefs
The Nation of Islam and The Nation of Gods and Earths, (two of the many sects created as the result of black separatist movements in America, and not recognised as part of orthodox or mainstream Islam), hold that the word "Allah" is the name of the original black man and stands for "Arm, Leg, Leg, Arm, Head". This concept is alien to Islam, which is strictly against the human, (or any other depiction) of God/Allah. This inclues attibuting divine qualities, worship and glorification of anything other than Allah or God.