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Islamic Concept of God
What
makes Islam's concept of God unique? What sets it apart from other religions?
Chapter
112 of the Quran entitled Surat al-Ikhlas (SINCERITY), serves as a good starting
point to discuss the unique way in which God is viewed in Islam.
The first
verse of this chapter declares the oneness of "Allah", the Arabic word for God.
The word "Allah" itself is worthy of reflection with regards to this discussion.
"Allah" in Arabic is derived from "Ilah" which means god.
Whereas "Ilah" can be changed to a plural form "Aliha" (gods), or a feminine
form "Ilaha" (goddess), the word "Allah" has neither a sex nor does it have a
plural form. In fact there are no other forms of the word "Allah". The word
itself is unique.
Furthermore, "Allah" is the amalgamation of two words: "al-Ilah" or The God,
indicating an unambiguous and clear reference to the one and only God.
Other
than the implications of the word "Allah", the first verse goes on to
re-emphasize the uniqueness of God by declaring Him to be one.
In
Islam this oneness of God or monotheism is absolutely unequivocal as it is
fundamental.
The
verses that follow go on to outline the exclusive and absolutely unique nature
of God by declaring that only He is independent of all things (verse 2), He does
not beget nor is He begotten (verse 3) and that there is none like Him (verse
4).
Although Islam may share the concept of monotheism with other religions, it is
its unmoving and uncompromising attitude towards this fundamental belief that
sets it apart from the other faiths.
For
instance, although Christians testify to the oneness of God, the concept is
muddled by the trinity and the belief that Jesus is the Son of God whereas Islam
rejects the worship of God in the form of any of his creations, be they men or
women, animals, images or inanimate objects even if they are perceived to be
intermediaries.
Human
characteristics such as the need to rest or regretting decisions when attributed
to God are also dismissed in Islam since they liken Him to His creation, thus
contradicting the 4th verse translated above.
Conversely, attributing characteristics that are inherently exclusive to God
such as all-Knowing and all-Seeing or infallibility to humans is also veering
off away from the true understanding of God in Islam.
In
conclusion, Islam's unique view of God lies in its pure and absolute monotheism
or the oneness of God.
Question from the audience: What is the view of Islam about Jesus?
Speaker: Jesus as seen as another prophet who brought the
same message as those prophets and messengers before him and those after him: to
submit to the will of God.
Question from the audience: What is the difference between meditation and prayer
in Islam?
Speaker: Prayer in Islam is a form of meditation but with
limits. Prayer or meditation should not be so consuming as to isolate a person
from the world in which they live.
Question from the audience: Can those who do not speak Arabic, do their daily
prayers in their own language?
Speaker: It is required by all Muslims to know their prayers
in Arabic since the original revelation was in Arabic and a Muslim is expected
to know at least the portions that pertain to their prayer. Furthermore by
having all Muslims, irrespective of where they are from and what language they
can speak, call to prayer in Arabic and perform their prayer in Arabic, it makes
it convenient for traveling Muslims to pray together and understand the calls to
prayer in foreign lands.
Question from the audience: Is it permissible to celebrate the birth of
Prophet Mohammad?
Speaker: In a hadith reported from the Prophet, it is said
that any addition to religion after him are innovations and unacceptable.
Hence, it is not permissible to celebrate the birth of Prophet Mohammad as a
part of the Islamic religion.
Islamic Concept of God
What
makes Islam's concept of God unique? What sets it apart from other religions?
Chapter
112 of the Quran entitled Surat al-Ikhlas (SINCERITY), serves as a good starting
point to discuss the unique way in which God is viewed in Islam.
The first
verse of this chapter declares the oneness of "Allah", the Arabic word for God.
The word "Allah" itself is worthy of reflection with regards to this discussion.
"Allah" in Arabic is derived from "Ilah" which means god.
Whereas "Ilah" can be changed to a plural form "Aliha" (gods), or a feminine
form "Ilaha" (goddess), the word "Allah" has neither a sex nor does it have a
plural form. In fact there are no other forms of the word "Allah". The word
itself is unique.
Furthermore, "Allah" is the amalgamation of two words: "al-Ilah" or The God,
indicating an unambiguous and clear reference to the one and only God.
Other
than the implications of the word "Allah", the first verse goes on to
re-emphasize the uniqueness of God by declaring Him to be one.
In
Islam this oneness of God or monotheism is absolutely unequivocal as it is
fundamental.
The
verses that follow go on to outline the exclusive and absolutely unique nature
of God by declaring that only He is independent of all things (verse 2), He does
not beget nor is He begotten (verse 3) and that there is none like Him (verse
4).
Although Islam may share the concept of monotheism with other religions, it is
its unmoving and uncompromising attitude towards this fundamental belief that
sets it apart from the other faiths.
For
instance, although Christians testify to the oneness of God, the concept is
muddled by the trinity and the belief that Jesus is the Son of God whereas Islam
rejects the worship of God in the form of any of his creations, be they men or
women, animals, images or inanimate objects even if they are perceived to be
intermediaries.
Human
characteristics such as the need to rest or regretting decisions when attributed
to God are also dismissed in Islam since they liken Him to His creation, thus
contradicting the 4th verse translated above.
Conversely, attributing characteristics that are inherently exclusive to God
such as all-Knowing and all-Seeing or infallibility to humans is also veering
off away from the true understanding of God in Islam.
In
conclusion, Islam's unique view of God lies in its pure and absolute monotheism
or the oneness of God.
Question from the audience: What is the view of Islam about Jesus?
Speaker: Jesus as seen as another prophet who brought the
same message as those prophets and messengers before him and those after him: to
submit to the will of God.
Question from the audience: What is the difference between meditation and prayer
in Islam?
Speaker: Prayer in Islam is a form of meditation but with
limits. Prayer or meditation should not be so consuming as to isolate a person
from the world in which they live.
Question from the audience: Can those who do not speak Arabic, do their daily
prayers in their own language?
Speaker: It is required by all Muslims to know their prayers
in Arabic since the original revelation was in Arabic and a Muslim is expected
to know at least the portions that pertain to their prayer. Furthermore by
having all Muslims, irrespective of where they are from and what language they
can speak, call to prayer in Arabic and perform their prayer in Arabic, it makes
it convenient for traveling Muslims to pray together and understand the calls to
prayer in foreign lands.
Question from the audience: Is it permissible to celebrate the birth of
Prophet Mohammad?
Speaker: In a hadith reported from the Prophet, it is said
that any addition to religion after him are innovations and unacceptable.
Hence, it is not permissible to celebrate the birth of Prophet Mohammad as a
part of the Islamic religion.
