Allah, the Exalted, says: 'I am as My servant thinks I am. I am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I remember him in Myself. If he remembers Me in a gathering, I remember him in a gathering better than it
In Islam, the concept of Allah (SWT) is the core of the faith. He is the one and only God, the Creator of the universe, the Sustainer of all life, and the Lord of the heavens and the Earth. But who is Allah? What do we truly know about His majesty, His greatness, and His relationship with the world and its inhabitants? To answer these questions, we must explore the vastness of Allah’s creation and the awe-inspiring descriptions found in the teachings of Islam.
Allah is not bound by time, space, or any physical constraints. He is the Creator of everything—the Lord of the Arsh (Throne) and Kursi (Chair), the one who created the heavens and the Earth. He is the Lord of the entire universe and everything that lies within it, from the smallest atom to the largest star. The universe, with all its vastness and complexity, is but a small part of His creation.
The Earth, with its billions of inhabitants, its diverse ecosystems, and its awe-inspiring beauty, is just a speck in the grand scale of Allah’s dominion. There are over 6 billion people currently living on Earth, a planet that Allah created in a beautiful and balanced manner. However, in comparison to Allah’s immense creation, Earth is insignificant.
While we live on Earth, the universe stretches beyond our comprehension. The Sun, which we often think of as enormous, is just one star in the grand scheme of the universe. In fact, the Sun can hold 1.3 million Earths inside it! However, this is just the beginning of the vastness of the universe. There are stars out there that are millions of times larger than the Sun. The universe contains billions of galaxies, and each galaxy is made up of millions of stars.
Now, consider this: When you look up at the night sky, you see just a fraction of the stars and galaxies within the first heaven. Allah (SWT) created seven heavens, each one more grand and awe-inspiring than the last. The sheer magnitude of Allah’s creation is unimaginable, and it serves as a reminder of His supreme power.
Islamic teachings describe the seven heavens as layers upon layers of magnificent creation. The distance between each heaven is enormous, with a journey between the first and second heavens taking 500 years at unimaginable speeds. This same distance is repeated between each successive heaven. The journey to move from the first heaven to the seventh heaven would take thousands of years, a feat beyond human understanding.
After the heavens, we come to the Kursi of Allah, a concept that further emphasizes the greatness of Allah’s dominion. The Kursi is described as a divine seat of authority, a symbol of Allah’s control over the universe. When compared to the seven heavens, the Kursi of Allah makes them seem insignificant. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) provided a powerful metaphor for this comparison, likening the seven heavens to a small ring and the Kursi to the vast Sahara Desert. The scale is so vast that it is impossible to truly grasp.
The angels who carry the Arsh of Allah are described as being so immense that their heads reach the seventh heaven, and their feet rest on the lowest point of Earth. These angels are a further indication of the immensity of Allah’s creation. Despite their grandeur, they are only a part of Allah’s infinite and boundless dominion.
Ultimately, while we can describe the physical manifestations of Allah’s greatness—such as the heavens, the Kursi, and the Arsh—we must recognize that the true nature of Allah is beyond our understanding. Allah’s power, wisdom, and essence cannot be grasped by human comprehension. He is beyond all things—a Being whose greatness cannot be measured.
Allah is the Creator of everything, from the smallest creatures to the largest stars and galaxies. He is the Lord of the Arsh and Kursi, the one who governs all that exists. His greatness surpasses everything in existence, and it is only through worship and submission to His will that we can begin to understand His magnificence.
As humans, we are mere creations in this vast and awe-inspiring universe. Yet, despite our smallness, we are given the opportunity to connect with Allah through worship, prayer, and obedience. Recognizing Allah’s greatness should lead us to humility. It should remind us of our place in His creation and our dependence on His mercy and guidance.
Our understanding of Allah’s greatness and His relationship with the universe should inspire us to live in gratitude, reverence, and submission to His will. Worship is the path through which we connect with our Creator, acknowledging His majesty and submitting to His guidance.
In Islam, the concept of God (Allah) is profound yet beautifully simple. God (Allah) is described as the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful, and the Creator of the heavens and the earth. He is one God (Allah), unique in His essence, with no partners, no equals, and no progeny. The Quran emphasizes this singularity: “He begets not, nor is He begotten.” (Quran 112:3)
Allah’s nature transcends human imagination and limitations. While He is omnipotent and beyond the constructs of human thought, He remains ever-accessible to anyone who sincerely calls upon Him. The Quran states that Allah is closer to us than our jugular vein (Quran 50:16), highlighting His intimate presence in our lives.
The term “Allah” is derived from the Arabic word “Al-Ilah,” which means “The God” or “The Deity.” While many people associate the word exclusively with Islam, it is important to note that it is not unique to Islam or the Arabic language. In fact, the word “Allah” is used by Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews to refer to God. The concept of Allah is not new to the Arabic-speaking world, and it appears in ancient religious texts. For example, in the Coptic Bible’s Arabic translation of Genesis, it is stated, “In the beginning, Allah created the heavens and the earth,” showcasing the historical roots of the term.
For Muslims, Allah represents the one and only God, the eternal, self-sufficient, and unique Creator of the universe. Unlike human beings, Allah has no form or likeness, and there is nothing comparable to Him. This uniqueness is a core aspect of the Islamic understanding of God (Allah).
One of the most crucial aspects of Islam is the recognition of Allah’s attributes, which define His nature and how He relates to the world. Allah is often described in the Quran through names and qualities, each of which offers insight into His perfect nature. There are 99 names and attributes of Allah, with two of the most significant being:
These two attributes underscore the central role of mercy in Allah’s dealings with creation, illustrating His kindness and compassion towards all living beings.
To help humanity understand His will, Allah has sent prophets throughout history, delivering His message and guiding people towards worshiping Him alone. Many of the prophets recognized in Islam, such as Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, are also revered by Jews and Christians. While the messages of these prophets are believed to have been altered over time, Muslims believe that the core message of these prophets is the same: to worship the one true God, Allah.
The most accurate and complete depiction of Allah comes from the Quran, the holy book of Islam, which Muslims believe to be the unaltered word of Allah. The Quran offers direct revelations from Allah to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), providing detailed guidance on how to understand and worship Him. While portions of the Bible and the Torah still contain valuable teachings about Allah, Muslims consider the Quran to be the final and most preserved revelation.
The concept of Tawhid, or the oneness of Allah, is the most important principle in Islam. Tawhid emphasizes that Allah is unique and cannot be compared to anything in creation. In Surah Al-Ikhlas (112:1-4), the Quran describes Allah’s oneness in the following verses:
These verses affirm that Allah is singular and unparalleled in every way. He is self-sufficient, eternal, and beyond any physical or mental comparison. Nothing can be imagined or conceived that resembles Allah in any way.
Allahis known by many names and attributes—Al-Rahman (The Most Merciful), Al-Hakeem (The Most Wise), Al-Ghafoor (The Forgiving)—yet His essence is one. These attributes give us a glimpse of His perfection, but no human likeness or imperfection can ever be attributed to Him. Islam strictly forbids constructing any image of Allah or associating partners with Him. This ensures a pure and unadulterated worship of the one true God (Allah).
Despite His supreme nature, Allah’s closeness to humanity is unparalleled. The feeling of connection to Him is not just emotional but deeply spiritual. While Allah Himself is not a “feeling,” sincere supplication and devotion bring a profound sense of closeness and peace.
This brings us to a big question: Who is Allah? Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala (glorified and exalted is He), is our Creator. We often speak about Allah, but how should we truly think about Him?
In order to understand this, let’s dive deeper.
When we think about where we come from, we might initially say, “I come from my mom.” But where did your mom come from? Her mom, and so on, all the way back to the first human beings, Adam and Hawwa (Eve). Adam and Hawwa came from Allah. Therefore, we ultimately come from Allah
Our bodies and souls originate from Allah. This is why we say, “To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return.”
The most succinct definition of Allah in Islam comes from Surah Al-Ikhlas (Chapter 112) of the Quran, which states:
These four verses form a theological litmus test to evaluate any claim of divinity. Let us break this down:
This definition serves as a foundation for Muslims to distinguish the Creator from creation.
Islamic theology emphasizes clarity to prevent misunderstandings. By explicitly stating what Allah is not, misconceptions about associating Him with human or material attributes are preemptively addressed. For instance:
This approach provides a framework for Muslims to evaluate other claims of divinity.
Everything in the universe has a cause. If you saw smoke rising from a forest, you’d know there is a fire, even if you can’t see it directly. Similarly, when we look at the world’s perfect order—the Earth’s distance from the Sun, the moon’s orbit, or the love we feel for our family—we know that these could not have happened without a Creator. Allah is our Creator, and one of His names is Al-Awwal, meaning “the First”—the originator of all things.
All praise belongs to Allah, the ultimate author of all existence and the most generous to His creation. He is the only one worthy of worship, having no partners, associates, or dependents. Unlike His creations, Allah is eternal, self-sustaining, and incomparable.
All praise belongs to Allah, the ultimate author of all existence and the most generous to His creation. He is the only one worthy of worship, having no partners, associates, or dependents. Unlike His creations, Allah is eternal, self-sustaining, and incomparable.
The complexity of the universe, from the seen and the unseen to the evident and the speculative, is a testament to Allah’s creative power. He is the originator of the Earth and everything within it. His creation reflects precision and purpose, as He alone orchestrates every detail of existence.
Throughout history, Allah has sent prophets and messengers with a unified message: strict monotheism. This doctrine emphasizes that only Allah is worthy of worship and obedience, without any partners. Despite changes over time, Islam has preserved this essential message in its purest form.
Unlike earlier revelations that were altered over time, the Quran stands unaltered. It serves as the final guidance for humanity, protected because no other prophet will come after Muhammad (peace be upon him). This preservation underscores the Quran’s significance as the ultimate source of divine wisdom.
One of the most striking examples of the Quran’s alignment with scientific discoveries is its mention of the universe’s creation. Over 1,400 years ago, the Quran described the heavens and the Earth being joined together before being separated—a concept remarkably similar to the Big Bang theory, which modern scientists discovered only 40 years ago.
“Do not the unbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were joined together, and We clove them asunder?” (Quran 21:30)
This verse highlights the Quran’s timeless nature, providing insights into concepts long before their scientific discovery.
An interesting question is whether we can see Allah. Once, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) asked a similar question. While we cannot see Allah with our eyes in this world, we recognize His presence through His creations. The beauty and complexity of the world point toward a Creator—Allah
Hindu scriptures like the Upanishads and Vedas echo monotheistic elements:
Despite these declarations, practices such as idol worship are prevalent among many Hindus. Some sects, like the Arya Samaj, align more closely with Islamic views by rejecting idolatry.
Christianity, particularly in Catholicism, often involves depictions of God and Jesus in human forms. However, the Bible itself emphasizes God’s uniqueness:
Moreover, Jesus never unequivocally claimed divinity or demanded worship, a point often highlighted in Islamic critiques.
The Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of Sikhism, emphasizes monotheism:
Japji Sahib (1:1): “There is one God, eternal, true, the creator.”
Sikhism’s description of God as formless and beyond human comprehension aligns with Islamic theology.
The Quranic definition acts as a benchmark. For instance, claims of divinity by figures like Bhagwan Rajneesh fail these criteria:
No Equivalent: His physical form and human attributes contradict the idea of a transcendent God.
Ayatul Kursi, also known as the Throne Verse, is one of...
