Who is Allah?

A short piece below which explains who Allah is by quoting directly from the word of God in the Quran.

Allah is the name of the One True God

He has ninety-nine beautiful names describing His Divine Attributes. Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) says:

"He is Allah, beside Whom none has the right to be worshipped, The King, The Holy, The One Free from all defects, The Giver of security, The Watcher over His creatures, The Almighty, The Compeller, The Supreme. Glory be to Allah'.

(High is He) above all that they associate as partners with Him. He is Allah, The Creator, The Inventor of all things, The Bestower of forms, To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorify Him. And He is The Almighty, The All-Wise." (Surah Al-Hashr, 59:23,24)

Allah is The One, The Sole, The Indivisible and The Unique. He has neither a son nor a partner nor an equal. He is the Sole Creator and Sustainer of the universe. His Essence does not resemble any essence. He is not contained in anything, nor is anything contained in Him. "There is none like unto Him."

Allah says in the Holy Quran;

"Say: 'He is Allah, The One. The Eternal. He begets not, nor was He begotten. And there is none comparable unto Him."(Surah AI-Ikhlas, 112:1-4)

He is The Creator in Whose Hand is the disposal of all affairs. Allah is The Omnipotent and The Omniscient. Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He).says in the Quran: The Originator of the heavens and the earth. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it : Be! - and it is." (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:117)

There is none to resist His Command, or alter His Decision. He is The Merciful Whose Mercy encompasses everything. The Prophet Moses (Peace Be Upon Him) described Allah:

"You are the Most Merciful of those who show mercy." (Surah Al-A"raf 7.151)

Allah says:

"My Mercy embraces all things." (Surah Al-A"raf 7:156)

He is Wise in all His Actions and Just in all His Decrees

His justice ensures order in the universe in which nothing is out of order. Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) says:

"Allah bears witness one has the right to be worshipped but He,and the angels, and those having knowledge also give this witness (i.e. That Allah always maintains His creation injustice). La ilaha illa Huwa None has the right to be worshipped but He, The Almighty, The Wise." (Surah Al- Imran, 3:18)

There is no one to share His domain nor does He need an aide or supporter. He is above the seven heavens, above His Throne, mounting in a manner that suits His Grandeur and Majesty. Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) says:

"Indeed, your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in Six Days, and then He rose over (Istawa) the Throne. He brings the night as a cover over the day, seeking it rapidly, and (He created) the sun, the moon, the stars subjected to His Command. Surely, His is the creation and commandment. Blessed is Allah, the Lord of the Worlds (mankind, jinn and all that exists)!" (Surah Al-A raf 7:54 )

"And He is Oft-Forgiving, full of love (towards the pious who are real true believers of lslamic Monotheism), Owner of the Throne, the Glorious, (He is the) Doer of whatsoever He intends (or wills)." (Surah Al-Buruj, 85:14-16)

Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has revealed His final scripture, the Quran, to the last of His Messengers, Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) who was responsible for conveying the message of Islam to mankind. Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) says:

"Say (O Muhammad): O mankind! Verily, I the Messenger of Allah sent to all of you - The One to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. None has the right to be worshipped but He, Who gives life and causes death. So believe in Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad Peace Be Upon Him) the Prophet who can neither read nor, who believes in Allah and His Words [(this Quran, the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] and follow him so that you may be guided." (Surah Al-A"raf, 7:158)

He is the Exalted Allah. Glory be to Him! He is far removed from every imperfection. Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) says:

"Allah! None has the right to be worshipped but He, The Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists, Neither slumber overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His permission? He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter. And they will never encompass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His footstool extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is The Most High, The Most Great." (Surah AI-Baqarah, 2:255)

Allah is the Lord, the Creator, the Sovereign and the Manager of all affairs. He is the one true God and all the other deities are false. He has no associate in His Divinity, His Godship, His Names or His Attributes, Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) Says:

"Lord of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, so worship Him (Alone) and be constant and patient in His worship. Do you know of any who is similar to Him? (Surah Maryarn, 19:65)

Allah is everlasting, The Self-Subsisting, The Sustainer. He is The Omniscient, Whose knowledge encompasses all things, hidden or open, the small and the great:

"And whether you keep your talk secret or disclose it, verily, He is the All-Knower of what is in the breasts (of men). Should not He who has created know? And He is the Most Kind and Courteous (to His slaves), All-Aware (of everything)."(Surah AI-Mulk, 67:13 - 4)

Nothing is absent from His knowledge, nor anything is hidden from Him even if it be the weight of the smallest ant (10:61).

Whether at rest or in motion, the state of things is known to Him prior to and during its occurrence. My Lord is neither unaware nor forgets." (Surah Ta-Ha 20:52)

Allah is the Compassionate, the Merciful Whose mercy encompasses all things. He is far removed from injustice or tyranny.

"And your Lord does not oppress anyone." (Surah Al-Kahf 18:49)

"Verily Allah does not oppress mankind in anything but mankind oppresses itself." (Surah Yunus, 10:44)

There is nothing to frustrate His Power or ability to accomplish anything; if He wants something, He simply says "Be!" and it is.

"Nor is Allah to be frustrated by anything whatever in the heavens or on earth; for Allah is All-Knowing, All Powerful."(Surah Fatir, 35:44)

The preservation of the heavens and the earth does by no means burden Him:

"His Throne does extend over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for He is The Most High, The Great (in glory)." (Surah AI-Baqarah, 2:255)

He is the Living and the Everlasting. Neither fatigue nor sleep seize Him. To Him belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth.

"He creates what He pleases. He gives, to whom He wills, females, and He gives, to whom He wills, males, or He couples them, males and females; and He makes whom He wills barren. Surely, He is The knowing, The Powerful."(Surah Ash-Shura, 42:49-50)

He is the Knower of the seen and the unseen. There is no creature that moves in the earth but its provision depends on Allah. He knows its dwelling and its resting place:

"He alone has the Knowledge of the Hour, sends down rain and knows what is in the wombs. No soul knows what it shall earn tomorrow, and no souls knows in which land it shall die. Surely, Allah is The All-Knowing, The Aware."(Surah Luqman, 31:34)

His words are the most truthful in conveying information, the most just in ruling, and the fairest in conversation:

"The Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and justice." (Surah Al-An 'am, 6:115)

He is well above His creatures in His Person and His Attributes because He says about Himself:

"Verily Allah is The High, The Great." (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:220)

"He is supreme over His servants, and He is The Wise, The All-Aware."(SurahAl-An'am, 6:18)

His signs are everywhere

He draws our attention in many verses of the Quran to contemplate them and realize His Lordship and thus turn to Him and worship Him:

"And among His Signs is this, that He created you (Adam) from dust, and behold you are human beings scattered! And among His Signs is that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who reflect. And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colours.

Verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge. And among His Signs is your sleep by night and by day, and your seeking of His Bounty. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who listen. And among His Signs is that He shows you the lightning, for fear and for hope, and He sends down water (rain) from the sky, arid therewith revives the earth after its death.

Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who understand. And among His Signs is that the heaven and the earth stand by His Command. Then afterwards when He will call you from the earth by a single call, behold, you will come out from the earth (i.e., from your graves for reckoning and recompense). To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth. All are obedient to Him." (Surah Ar-Rum, 30:20-26)

"He has created the heavens without any pillars that you see, and has set on the earth firm mountains lest it should shake with you. And He has scattered therein moving (living) creatures of all kinds. And We send down water from the sky, and We cause (plants) of every goodly kind to grow therein. This is the creation of Allah. So show Me that which those (whom you worship) besides Him have created. Nay, the oppressors are in plain error.
(Surah Luqman, 31:10,11)

"Verily, it is Allah Who causes the seed grain and the fruit stone (like date stone) to split and sprout. He brings forth the living from the dead, and it is He Who brings forth the dead from the living. Such is Allah, then how are you deluded away from the truth? (He is the) Cleaver of the daybreak. He has appointed the night for resting, and the sun and the moon for reckoning. Such is the measuring of The Almighty, The All-Knowing. It is He Who has set the stars for you, so that you may guide your course with their help through the darkness of the land and the sea. We have (indeed) explained in detail sigs for people who know.

It is He Who has created you from a single person (Adam), and has given you a place of residing (on the earth or in your mother's wombs) and a place of storage [in the earth (in your graves) or in your father's loins]. Indeed, We have explained in detail Our Revelations (this Quran) for people who understand. It is He Who sends down water (rain) from the sky, and with it We bring forth vegetation of all kinds, and out of it We bring forth green stalks, from which We bring forth thick clustered grain. And out of the date palm and its spathe come forth clusters of dates hanging low and near, and gardens of grapes, olives and pomegranates, each similar (in kind) yet different (in variety and taste). Look at their fruits when they begin to bear, and the ripeness thereof. Verily, in these things there are signs for people who believe."(Al-An'am, 6:95-99)

He has no equal because His Attributes are perfect.

He is All Aware of all His servants' deeds because of His perfect supervision and comprehensive knowledge. Our most hidden motives are known to Him at all times:

"He knows what is manifest and what is hidden." (Surah Al-Ala, 87:7)

"Neither you (Muhammad Peace Be Upon Him) do any deed nor recite any portion of the Quran, nor you (O mankind) do any deed (good or evil), but We are Witness thereof, when you are doing it. And nothing is hidden from your Lord (so much as) the weight of an atom (or small ant) on the earth or in the heaven. Not what is less than that or what is greater than that but is (written) in a Clear Record."(Surah Yunus, 10:61)

"And with Him are the keys of the all that is hidden. None knows them but He. And He knows whatever there is in the land and in the sea; not a leaf falls, but He knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry, but is written in a Clear Record." (Surah Al-An'am, 6:59)

"Allah knows what every female bears, and by how much the wombs fall short (of their time or number) or exceed. Everything with Him is in (due) proportion. All-Knower of the unseen and the seen, The Most Great, The Most High. It is the same (to Him) whether any of you conceals his speech or declares it openly, whether he be hid by night or goes forth freely by day." (Surah Ar-Rad. 13:8-10)