The Question of Allah

Understanding Allah in Islam

Allah is the Arabic word for God, the supreme, omnipotent, omniscient and merciful being in Islamic belief.
Muslims affirm the oneness of Allah (Tawhid), which is a fundamental concept in Islamic monotheism. Tawhid is categorised into aspects such as Oneness in Allah’s Lordship (Tawhid ar-rububiyyah), Oneness in Worship (Tawhid al-uluhiyyah) and Oneness in Allah’s Names and Attributes (Tawhid al-asma’ wa’s-sifat).
The 99 Names of Allah (Asma Al-Husna) represent the divine attributes of Allah, highlighting his characteristics and uniqueness.
Allah is seen as the Creator of everything in the universe, who is self-sustaining and to whom everything will return.
The conception of Allah in Islam advocates that he is beyond human comprehension yet close to his servants through his knowledge, mercy and wisdom.

Allah’s Relationship with Humanity

Allah is believed to be personal and immanent. He responds to prayers and sustains life.
Moreover, Allah is known as ‘Al-‘Adl’ (The Just) and ‘Ar-Rahman’ (The Compassionate), denoting his justice and mercy.
Free will and predestination are key concepts in understanding Allah’s relationship with mankind. Muslims believe that human beings are given free will to make choices; however, Allah’s omniscience means that all their actions are predestined by him.
The concept of ‘Qadr’ (Divine Predestination) states that ultimate authority and knowledge reside with Allah.
Muslims are obliged to submit (‘Islam’ means submission) totally to the will of Allah, observing his commandments as outlined in the Qur’an and the Sunnah.

Allah in Prayer and Worship

Allah is at the centre of all acts of Muslim worship, including the Five Pillars of Islam.
Salat, the prayer performed five times a day, includes the repetition of phrases such as “Allahu Akbar” (Allah is the Greatest) and frequent recitations from the Qur’an praising Allah’s might and mercy.
‘Dhikr’ (Remembrance of Allah) is another practice where the Names of Allah are invoked to experience a closer connection with the divine.

Concepts of Sin, Forgiveness and Judgment

Muslims believe it’s a sin to associate partners with Allah (shirk), which is considered the gravest sin in Islam.
Allah is also ‘Al-Ghaffar’ (the Forgiver), and Muslims believe that sincere repentance and seeking forgiveness can erase sins.
Life after death, judgment day (‘Yawm al-Qiyamah’), and Heaven and Hell are integral beliefs, where Allah will judge individuals based on their deeds. The ultimate aim of a Muslim’s life is to attain ‘Jannah’ (Heaven) and escape ‘Jahannam’ (Hell).

Please note these points should serve as a guide for revision, deeper understanding and analysis are encouraged for reflective thinking and effective answering in any assessment situation.