Who Is Allah? A Research-Based Explanation for Non-Muslims (Linguistic, Historical & Theological Analysis)

This article deploys studies in comparative religion, linguistics, and Islamic studies to describe the nature of Allah in a straightforward, honorable, and evidence-based manner.

Understanding the Meaning of Islam: Who Is Allah?

To most English-speaking readers (in the US, Canada, the UK, or Australia), the term Allah sounds alien or strange. Yet, it is always observed by academic researchers that the Allah concept within Islam is rather similar to the idea of one universal God in Judaism and Christianity. This concept is concerned with insiders, and its understanding is crucial to anyone studying Islam from a historical, theological, or anthropological perspective.

What Does “Allah” Mean? (Linguistic & Historical Dimensions)

1. The name Allah is not a name of another God

Linguistic scholars agree that Allah is an abbreviation of the Arabic word al-Ilah, which translates to “The One God.” (Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language)

2. Arab origin Christians, as well as Jews, use Allah

This is one of the strongest scholarly pieces of evidence AGAINST the myth that Allah is a different deity.

• Arab Christians refer to Allah as it is written in the Arabic Bible.
• Arabic Jewish liturgy also has Allah.

This proves that Allah is no other than the God worshipped by Abraham, Moses, and Jesus; he is merely Allah, named in Arabic.

Who Is Allah in Islam? A Research-Based Overview

The theology of Islam (Aqeedah) refers to the description of Allah through three main academic concepts:

1. The Universal God(Monotheism/Tawhid)

The primary message of Islam is absolute monotheism: God is one; He is unique, and He is indivisible.

Researchers tend to equate Tawhid to:
• Jewish monotheism (Shema Israel)
• Classical Christian Monotheism

Islam strongly denies the concept of the existence of various deities, spouses, mediators, or families of Gods. That is why Islam is defined by the scholars as rigid monotheism.

2. What Allah Is Not (Negative Theology in Islam)!

Islam also tends to define Allah in negation, a technique that Christian theologians refer to as ‘apophatic theology.’

According to the Qur’an, Allah:

• is not human
• is not born
• does not die
• is not spatial or temporal
• is not part of creation

3. Attributes of Allah (Scholarly Identified)

Allah is described in Islamic writings as possessing more than 99 attributes. It is known that a large portion of the attributes of Allah overlap with those of Judeo-Christian understandings of God.

Examples:

• The Most Merciful
• The All-Knowing
• The Creator
• The Sustainer
• The All-Forgiving
• The Just

Comparisons made by scholars reveal that these features are similar to those found in the Old Testament, New Testament, and other scriptures within the Abrahamic tradition.

Compassion Centric Perspective

Several non-Muslims think that Islam is a strict, law-oriented, or punishment-oriented religion. However, Islamic scholarship and research indicate that mercy is the most frequently repeated term in the Quran.

There is not a chapter of the Quran (with the exception of one) that opens with:
“In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.”

The Prophet Muhammad described Allah as more merciful to His creation than a mother to her infant (Sahih Bukhari).

This provides Allah with an effective emotional and spiritual depth of understanding.

How Muslims Worship Allah

Muslims do not worship Allah with the help of intermediaries, statues, or saints. Instead, worship is:

• direct
• personal
• without a clergy

Allah is equal to everyone, irrespective of their position, race, or background. Religious studies scholars appreciate this model of worship due to its simplicity and universalism. (The Roots of Islamic Universalism, Natalia Kosheleva).

Why Muslims Emphasize Allah’s Oneness

To Muslims, the fact is that there is only one God:

• gives life a clear purpose
• provides moral clarity
• brings equality (there is no human who can be God or higher than the other)
• encourages individual responsibility
• enhances the relationship with the Creator

That is why conversion to Islam (shahadah) is based on a single sentence:
“There is no god but Allah.”

Frequently Asked Questions Debunked

1. “Allah is a moon god?”

This statement is widely rejected by historians. It was based on the misconceptions created by 19th-century Orientalists.

2. Allah is not the same God as Christians and Jews have?

Allah says in the Quran that he is the same God that Abraham, Moses, and Jesus had. (Surah Al-Baqarah (2:136))

3. “Allah is only for Arabs?”

80% of Muslims are non-Arab. The term “Allah” is a universal term, not limited to a particular ethnicity.

Conclusion: How Understanding Allah Helps Understand Islam?

For anyone who wants to study Islam academically, spiritually, or as a curious individual, understanding ‘who Allah is!’ is the starting point.

Allah in Islam is:

• Universal God of All Humans
• The God of Abraham
• The Merciful Creator, and
• The One who has no life partners, no family, no Blood Limitations.

This understanding and knowledge help to learn more about the Quran, determine prophets, Islamic ethics, and Islamic life.

Concept of Jesus in Islam

What is the Quran?