T2: THE CONCEPT OF ALLAH Flashcards
Intro
As a monotheistic religion, Islam teaches that there is one omnipotent, omnibenevolent and omniscient god who is referred to as Allah.
According to Islam, Allah is the lord and creator of the universe and everything in it.
The ‘oneness’ of god is often mentioned in scripture, he is said to be without associates or partners: “Indeed, We sent Nuh to his people and he said: ‘ O my people! Worship Allah. You have no other God but Him. Certainly, I fear for you the torment of a great day!’ “
Tawhid: The Oneness of Allah
Tawhid is one of the most fundamental beliefs in Islam and is the belief in the oneness of Allah.
According to the scholar John Esposito it is “the defining doctrine of Islam”, Tawhid is a statement of uncompromising monotheism - Allah is one, has no partners.
The importance of Tawhid is seen through its status as the 1st and most important of the 6 Article of Faith.
In the Qur’an, there’s a whole chapter (112) dedicated to promoting the idea of Tawhid. This chapter begins by stating there is one God. It then confirms that this being has no beginning or end and he is in no way incomplete. Continues by saying Allah does not reproduce and wasn’t caused by anything. Concludes by stating that there is nothing equal to him.
This chapter states “He is Allah, one. Allah, the Eternal, the Absolute… Nor is there to Him any equivalent.”
This chapter denies the idea of polytheism and refutes any idea that Allah has partners and isn’t one.
Accepting Tawhid allows the individual to become a true Muslim as they’ve submitted to the greatness of Allah. As the idea of Tawhid inspires awe, the individual would then automatically consider ways of worshipping this great being.
Allah as beyond words and descriptions
Due to the importance of language for humans, Muslims use it to express the attribute of Allah, however, there is an acceptance that the word do little justice to the essence of Allah.
Furthermore, any attempt to represent Allah through the medium of art, symbols or metaphors would be considered Shirk as it would bring the idea of temporality and limit a being that is considered permanent and unlimited.
As a result, the closest Muslims can come to understanding Allah is by using language.
Attributes of Allah
The attributes often associated with Allah further demonstrate the idea of Tawhid.
1) Sole-creator - Islam teaches that Allah is solely responsible for the creation of everything, which includes the universe and the whole of humanity. The Qur’an, with regards to creation, uses the phrase ‘Kun Fayakun’ which translates as ‘be and it is’, to describe how he creates, he only needs to tell it to be and it will exist. In addition to this everything that he creates is ‘ex nihilo’ meaning out of nothing. Muslims believe that Allah is the sole creator, he brings things into existence but also preserves them. This shows Allah is omnipotent as the sole creator of everything but also omnibenevolent as the guardian and the one who sustains it all.
2) Merciful - Islam teaches as the Supreme being Allah is loving, gracious and forgiving, he is merciful. However, this role also brings the responsibility of Judgement at the end of times. Despite this position, Muslims believe his mercy is endless and will be bestowed on those who believe in him, the Qur’an states “forgiveness and mercy is granted by Allah. Allah is forgiving and merciful.” this shows Allah as omnibenevolent.
3)Transcendent - Allah is described as ‘transcendent’ which means that he is above and beyond the physical world. Muslims accept this about Allah as he created the physical world = space and time. Due to his transcendency and him being so fa from his creation, there’s an acceptance that Muslims won’t be able to fully understand him. Despite this difficulty they will still try. This idea was summed up by spiritual leader Shaykh Nazim who compared a Muslim, trying to understand God, to an ant with a broken leg walking 200 miles between Makkah and Madinah . Muslims know they will never fully understand Allah, however, even trying and having a vague understanding of him is considered good enough. “The ant will not succeed but it still tries…Muslims still try and its worth Muslims trying, even if they only catch a glimpse of Allah.”
4) Imminent - Islam teaches that Allah is close to his creation. The Qur’an states that he is “closer to man than his jugular vein”. This quote clearly illustrates that Allah, despite being beyond this physical world, he is also immediately close to his creation, humanity.
Although the attributes ‘transcendent’ and ‘imminent’ may seem contradictory, it is due to his omnipotent nature that Allah can be both transcendent and imminent, far and close.
Shirk: associating partners with Allah
In Islam, Shirk is the sin of associating partners with Allah. It goes directly against the idea of Tawhid (the belief in the oneness of god).
Many Muslim believe Shirk is the only unforgivable sin as the Qur’an states “Allah does not forgive association with him but he forgives what is less than that for whom he wills.”
Muslim scholars believe there are 2 forms of Shirk - minor and major. Minor Shirk is something that can happen accidentally, such as idolising another human so much that you begin to give them god-like status. Major Shirk is deliberate, such as worshipping an idol and considering this idol a god. Am example of this could be the contrasting Christian view that God had a son, Jesus.
The Shahadah
The term Shahadah refers to the Muslim declaration of Faith, a declaration of what a Muslim believes, and it is a recognition of Tawhid.
Its importance can be seen through the fact that it is the first of the 5 Pillars of Islam.
The Shahadah is something Muslims state to declare their belief in one Allah and Muhammad as his messenger.
The Shahadah is a statement that splits into 2 important parts:
1) This part states “I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah”. This part is used by Muslims to declare their belief in the oneness of Allah, which goes hand in hand with the idea of Tawhid.
2) This part states “and i bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah”. This is of great importance as it is the acceptance that Muhammad was the messenger of Allah, the one to deliver his final message.
The importance of the Shahadah
The importance of the Shahadah is encompassed in a quote by J. Elias who stated: “ The Shahadah is the first thing that is whispered into a baby’s ears, the utterance that Muslims try to have on their lips in the moment of death and the formula by which one converts to Islam.”
The Shahadah is viewed as being important for various reasons, these include:
1) The main purpose of Shahadah is to declare Tawhid (oneness of Allah) and accept the unique nature of the prophet Muhammad, as the final prophet and the one to deliver His final message - the Qur’an.
2) The Shahadah is the ultimate declaration of faith for Muslims. Muslims see it as both a public statement of truth and a declaration of personal faith. The whole concept of ‘bearing witness’ refers to the idea that the person declaring their faith believes the statement beyond question, like they have proof.
3) The Shahadah is used in conversions. The convert must recite it twice, with intent, in front of witnesses. Its only through the recitation of the Shahadah that the conversion is recognised. This state of mind is something that should be maintained and this is why Muslims often recite it on the daily basis as a constant reminder.
4)The Shahadah isn’t just a statement of faith, its much more than that. According to scholar Reza Aslan “it is in some ways the sum and total of Islamic theology.” This is illustrated by the fact that the Shahadah is whispered into the ears of a baby at birth, on the lips of a Muslim when they die and plays a key role in prayer and worship.
5) The Shahada underlines the meaning and purpose of life in Islam. As well as accepting the oneness of Allah, they are expected to accept Muhammad as his final messenger. The best way to do this would be to take heed in the teachings of Muhammad, his actions and sayings (Sunnah & Hadith).Replicating the exemplary behaviour of Muhammad would be the mark of a perfect Muslim.
