Nature of Allah

Nature of Allah

The Oneness of Allah (Tawhid)

  • The essential belief in Islam is Tawhid, the oneness of Allah.
  • Allah is seen as the creator of everything, and worship should only be directed towards him.
  • The concept of Tawhid opposes any form of divine partnership (Shirk) which is considered the greatest sin in Islam.

The 99 Names of Allah

  • In Islam, Allah is known by 99 names which each represent a different aspect of his nature.
  • Some of these names include Al-Rahman (The Compassionate), Al-Malik (The King), and Al-Hakim (The Wise).
  • These names help Muslims to understand and worship Allah in a more comprehensive manner.

The Incomparable Nature of Allah

  • Allah’s reality is considered to be beyond human understanding. He is beyond comparison and nothing is like him.
  • Every aspect of Allah is infinite and complete, thus he possesses perfect and complete attributes.
  • Concept of transcendence is fundamental in understanding the nature of Allah.

Allah as Merciful and Just

  • Allah is known as Al-Ghafoor (The Forgiving) and Al-Adl (The Just).
  • He forgives those who repent and rewards those who do good.
  • Despite being merciful, Allah is also just and is believed to hold everyone accountable for their actions on the Day of Judgement.

Allah’s Will and Human Free Will

  • Muslims believe that nothing happens without the will of Allah. This belief does not contradict the idea of human free will.
  • Humans are believed to be free to make choices, but these choices are within the knowledge of Allah. This is sometimes termed as predestination or Qadar.
  • Good or bad fortune is seen as a test from Allah on how individuals respond to them, it reflects his benevolence and wisdom.

Omnipotence of Allah

  • Allah is considered omnipotent, meaning he has absolute power and control over every creation.
  • His omnipotence is asserted in the doctrine that “Allah is capable of doing anything.
  • However, this does not imply that Allah can do unnecessary or absurd things that contradict his nature or his laws. This notion helps protect the dignity and integrity of Allah’s omnipotence.