Allah—His Very Name Means Love

  

Demystifying Islam

 by Dr. Ali Shehata

Allah – His Very Name Means Love

 

A quick internet search for the origins of the name Allah will yield the most interesting results. There are individuals that would have you believe that Allah is the name of the pagan Moon-god worshipped by prehistoric Arabians—and they even have a nice comic style presentation of the material to teach young children how “Mozlems” worship this moon idol. Christian Arabs though, would be most insulted by this false depiction since the word Allah is used for God in the Arabic Bible—which, in fact, precedes the English language Bible by several centuries. Yet, to understand the name Allah better requires us to delve a little into Arabic grammar and linguistics to arrive at the most precise meaning. 

 

The word Allah is an Arabic word which joins together the two Arabic words: Al and Ilaah, which mean, “The God,” respectively. The “Al” in Arabic grammar serves as the definite article which means:

 

 

A member of the class of determiners that restricts or particularizes a noun. In English, the is the definite article. So when used as above it not only means, “The God,” but it further means: the One and Only God. Breaking it down further, one needs to then understand the meaning of Ilaah which is most often loosely and generally translated as God/god. In Arabic though, all nouns are derived from three letter verb roots which help to elucidate their core meaning. Thus, the noun Ilaah is derived from the three letter Arabic verb Aliha. Searching for these two terms in Lane’s Lexicon of the Arabic Language—the premier lexicon for understanding the Arabic language, especially as spoken during the era of the birth of Islam—we find the following meanings:

 

Aliha – [that which is] served, worshipped and adored

Ilaah – an object of worship or adoration

 

So when combining this deep and core definition of Ilaah with the definite article, which in effect limits it and restricts it to one entity, we arrive at the meaning of Allah as is understood by Muslims; The One and Only object of worship, He who is served with full submission and He who is adored above all else. And this comprehensive definition also summarizes the Islamic approach to worship. 

 

In Islam, worship is not simply a once in a week obligation or chore, but it is a continuous expression of adoration, or immense love, for Our Creator and Sustainer. It is to worship Him, not only by bowing our faces down to Him in honor and reverence, but also by obeying His commands. In other religions, such commands are often viewed as a burdensome and rigid set of rules, but they are not at all seen in this manner by devout Muslims! Instead, they are seen more as loving guidelines given to us by the One whom we love, and in fact the One who loves us, in order that we may be guided to success, honor and happiness, and to not fall into despair, disaster or misguidance. It is the same with parents who lay down careful rules and limitations for their children, not for the purpose of oppressing them or causing them difficulty, but for the exact opposite reason—to protect them, secure them and lead them to success.

 

Furthermore, this impacts a Muslim’s communication with their Lord when they stretch out their hands in prayer. They are conversing, not with a God who is distant and obscure, but with a God who cares for them and listens to them tenderly. When the Companions (disciples of the Prophet Muhammad pbuh) asked him about Allah, Allah Himself answered them with the following beautiful words immortalized in the Quran:

 

And when My servants ask you concerning Me, then surely I am very near; I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he calls upon Me, so let them too answer My call and believe in Me that they may be led to the right way. {2:186}

 

A Muslim knows that they are dealing with a God who loves them and loves what is good for them. In fact, the highest expression of love is mercy and forgiveness, which God has promised to those who believe in Him and act righteously. It is certainly strange that Muslims would be accused of following a God of vengeance and anger when Allah Himself has stated about Himself:

 When Allah decreed the Creation He pledged Himself by writing in His book which is laid down with Him: My Mercy prevails over My wrath. [Muslim]

 

Not only has He promised His devotees and worshippers His expansive forgiveness, but He has promised to fill their hearts with love, as in the following words of the Quran:

 Indeed, upon those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, will Allah, the Most Merciful, bestow love. {19:96}

 

Amazingly, a Quran search for the phrase, “Allah loves,” yields seventeen results, separate from the two times that Allah refers to Himself by the name, “al-Wadood,” which means, the Loving One. Additionally, there are about four or five other mentions of Allah’s love for His servants beyond that, bringing the total to about twenty-five specific references to His love in the Quran alone. Furthermore, there a number of Hadith (statements of the Prophet Muhammad) which also mention and discuss Allah’s love for the believers. Amongst these hadith, there are the following, especially captivating, two:

 

Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah said, “When Allah loves a servant, he calls Gabriel and he says,‘Verily, I love this person so you should love him too.’ Then Gabriel loves him and makes an announcement in the heavens, saying, ‘Allah loves this person and you should love him too.’ Thus, the dwellers of the heavens love him and he is honored on the earth.”  [Bukhari, Muslim]

 

Also …

 

Aishah reported that the Messenger of Allah once appointed a man in charge of an expedition who led the other members in prayer. Soon they noticed that he had the habit of always concluded his prayer recital with one particular “chapter” of the Quran, describing the nature of Allah (Surah 112), as follows: 

 Say, “He is Allah, the One and Only [God]. 

Allah, the Self-Sufficient.

He begets not [children], nor was He begotten.

And there is nothing equal or even comparable to Him.” {112:1-4} 

 Upon their return to Medina, they mentioned this to Messenger of Allah, who replied, "Ask him why he does so?'' He was asked and the man replied, "This surah contains the qualities and attributes of Allah, the Gracious, and for that reason I love to recite it often. The Messenger of Allah then told them, "Due to that man’s love for that surah from the Quran, tell him that Allah loves him in return."  [Bukhari and Muslim]

 

Thus, love is a commonly mentioned word and concept, both in the Quran and the statements of the Prophet Muhammad (Hadith), illustrating how keen Allah is to guide His servants to that which will bring about their success and happiness, as well lead to His loving them even more.  One last example of the mention of Allah’s love for His servants comes in the following Hadith, wherein Allah is quoted by the Prophet Muhammad as follows:

 

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Allah Almighty has said, ‘Whoever shows hostility to a friend of mine, then I have declared war upon him. My servant does not grow closer to me with anything more beloved to me than the duties I have obligated upon him. My servant continues to grow closer to me with extra good works until I love him. When I love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he grasps, and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask something from me, I would surely give it to him. Were he to ask me for refuge, I would surely grant it to him. I do not hesitate to do anything as I hesitate to take the soul of the believer, for he hates death and I hate to displease him.’”  [Bukhari]

 

Love is a great and comprehensive emotion that is expressed in many different ways, and through different words. Indeed, one of the greatest manifestations of love is mercy, as also expressed in the Bible, “… and show mercy to me according to your great love.” [Nehemiah 13:22] Also, when one considers the greatest bond of love that exists between humans, most will agree that it is the bond which exists between a mother and her children. The Prophet Muhammad pbuh once commented on this by illustrating to his Companions the greatness of Allah’s Mercy to those who submit to Him and worship Him:

 

“Some prisoners were brought to the Messenger of Allah, and there was a woman among them who was searching for her child. When she found her child, she embraced him and put him to her breast. The Messenger of Allah said to us, ‘Do you think that this woman would throw her child in the fire?’ We said, ‘No, by Allah, not if she can resist it.’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘Allah is more merciful to His servants than this woman is to her child.’” [Bukhari and Muslim]

 

Thus, in Islam Allah calls Himself by ninety-nine different names according to His different qualities and attributes. It is interesting to see that the two names Allah most often likes to be remembered by, after the name Allah, are His two names, al-Rahmaan and al-Raheem. Hence, the first verse of the Quran—the opening line to the Quran—is: “In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Graciously Merciful”. Scholars have discussed these two names much, yet what the majority have agreed upon is that there is no difference between these two names, as they both entail mercy. What is special though, is that Allah generally never uses more than one name to describe His attributes—except here. It is not only an emphasis on His Mercy, but a way of showing that His Mercy to all of His creation is so expansive that one name just doesn’t do it justice. 

 

Hence, the Mercy of Allah should be frequently mentioned in the Quran, and indeed it is. The number of times where Allah refers to Himself as the Most Merciful (al-Rahmaan) is well over fifty times, and the number of times He mentions His Mercy is another forty times. The number of instances where He refers to Himself as the Most Graciously Merciful (al-Raheem) is also significant, at about fifty-five times. Thus, the matter of Allah’s Mercy is reported in over 150 places in the Quran! 

 

Compare this with the only nineteen times where Allah mentions His wrath or anger in the Quran, and the fact that Allah never calls Himself with any name containing any attribute of wrath or anger. What's more, Allah also refers to Himself as the Most Forgiving almost one hundred times in the Quran as well!

 

Compare this with a search through the entire Bible* for mention of God’s love for His followers which all-together only yields about sixty results (interestingly most are in the Old Testament). Often times, especially in the New Testament, mention of God’s love is not a new statement, but instead, either a repetition, or quote, of another verse, most often originating in the Old Testament (understood as a way of fulfilling prophecy). Searching for references to God’s Mercy in the Bible generates only another forty-five results, again with several being either repetitions or quotes of other material found elsewhere in the Bible. Thus, the total number of times that God’s love and mercy are mentioned in the Bible, minus the repetitions, is less than one hundred times.

*New International Version (NIV Bible) is used for all quotes in this book.

 

Conversely, a basic search for the phrases “wrath of God”, “God’s wrath”, “wrath of the Lord”, “Lord’s wrath,” and similar phrases, substituting anger for wrath, results in about seventy results alone, in addition to mentions of God’s wrath and anger found in other forms and combinations throughout the Bible.

 

In closing, Muslims began all their actions with the statement, “In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Graciously Merciful,” as a reminder of how Allah’s Mercy, Love and Grace encompass and infuse all things. It is also said in order to sanctify and bless their actions, and as an indication of the sincerity of the deed for the sake of God alone. Muslims are commanded to reciprocate this love and mercy in all their dealings, not only with their fellow men, but also towards animals and the environment. Love and mercy are, as illustrated above, common themes in both of the Holy Scriptures in Islam: the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet (Hadith). Thus, in conclusion, it is not fair to characterize Islam as the religion of hate, nor to characterize Allah as the God of vengeance and wrath, when even in His words, His Mercy and Love effortlessly and clearly prevail over His wrath—both in number and in practice. 

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Evidences for God

 

Demystifying Islam

 by Dr. Ali Shehata

 

Undoubtedly, the proof of the existence of God is one the great questions that arise in religious discussion. Furthermore, some who profess to believe in the existence of God as a Higher Power who created the Universe conversely maintain that He has no involvement in His creation—only that He created it and then left it to its own destiny. In this chapter, I will provide some of the evidence for both the existence and the involvement of God, as He plainly and clearly illustrates in His Message to humanity, the Qur’an.

 

Some people today hold the belief that this world is the product of chance, that random selection has led us to this point in existence. The truly sad part of this whole argument is that it isn’t the belief of some poor, blind, uneducated cave-dwellers who know no better and cannot comprehend the greatness of the universe. No, instead it is the belief of some of the otherwise gifted minds of current day science who reject the grandeur and intelligent purpose of that very element which they study—straying, only here, from the logic they otherwise use in their daily work. 

 

Let us take, for example, a page from the field of archaeology. When archaeologists are digging through the soil and they discover an artifact, for example, a piece of pottery or the tip of an ancient weapon, it is amazing how they can often come to very detailed conclusions, not only about the original dimensions and characteristics of the artifact, but also about the people who used it:  their era, their culture, their beliefs, and their society. All this understanding from a fragment of clay or faded metal! 

 

The same logic applies to God as well—how can you deny Him when the “artifacts” of His work lay everywhere around you—the stars and cosmos, the oceans, the plants, the animals, and the diversity as well as the beauty of the different races that make up humankind.   

 

Indeed, God mentions this in the Quran:

 

And among His signs is this that He created for you mates from among yourselves that you may dwell in tranquility with them, and He has put love and mercy between your (hearts). Verily, in that are signs for those who reflect.

 

And among His signs is the creation of the Heavens and the earth, and the variations in your languages and your colors. Verily, in that are signs for those who know.

 

And among His signs is the sleep that you take by night and by day, and the quest that you (make for livelihood) out of His Bounty.

 

And among His signs, He shows you the lightning, by way of both fear and of hope, and He sends down rain from the sky and with it gives life to the earth after it is dead. Verily, in that are signs for those who are wise. {30:21-24} 

 

In these verses, God has instructed those who posses wisdom and intelligence to reflect upon all of the creation—the ultimate proof of His existence.

 

Furthermore, man has been invited to consider his own creation.   

 

Were they created of nothing, or were they themselves the creators? Or did they create the heavens and the earth? No, they have no certainty. {52:35}

 

In other words, is the complexity of structure and function that defines the human body and intellect all the result of chance or an accident, as some people want us to believe?  Is this idea really consistent with intelligence or reason? 

 

Not at all! But, those who believe such a thing should conduct a simple experiment. Take a cup of paint and spatter it over a piece of paper or canvas. The paint on the paper will haphazardly form a certain shape. If we spill another cup of paint on another overlying paper, the new shape will be altogether different. Even if we repeat this experiment a thousand times, no two shapes will be identical. This is because these shapes developed accidentally and cannot be identical.  A similar thing happens when we consider snowflakes, and how each one is unique and different.

 

In the same manner, if each human being had come into existence accidentally, no two people would have any similarity in shape or features. Everyone would be totally different—some with three eyes, others with one; some with noses like cows and others with trunks like elephants; some who slither on their bellies like snakes and others who fly with wings. But instead, what we see is an overwhelming resemblance between the vast majorities of all humans.  And yet, amidst all this resemblance, the Creator has made our features different enough from each other so that we could recognize each other and appreciate one another as unique.

 

Indeed, if man's creation had been just an accident, there would not have been male and female genders, but instead all humans would have had the same gender or be incompatible genders. But, God made two compatible and complementary genders, and furthermore, He programmed love between the two, without which the human race would not have flourished.

 

Those who believe that life is no more than an accident can never explain the natural instinct of a newborn baby as it starts to suckle at its mother’s breast. How is it that all infants know how to suckle and reflexively turn to the breast for food? Or, is it also chance that the mother's breast starts producing milk soon after the child's birth? These examples are just a small sampling of the many clear proofs that naturally lead people who observe and possess wisdom and intellect to the conclusion that the entire creation did not come into being accidentally. Instead, the universe has a Creator, who not only created it for them to see His signs, but who actively participates in its maintenance.

 

Then, we observe how the entire creation is flawless from start to finish. No matter where we look, we are overwhelmed by the beauty and majesty of the whole spectrum of creation.  But, on the other hand, the inventions made by humans are based on research, and are subject to continuous phases of improvement and are sometimes redesigned altogether. Due to this, no invention made by human beings can ever be referred to as perfect.   

 

Concerning the perfection and completeness of His creation, God has said:

 

He it was who created the seven heavens, one above another, no want of proportion will you see in the Creation of God, Most Gracious. So turn your vision to them, do you see any flaw? Again turn your vision a second time, and your vision will come back to you dulled and fatigued from the examination of the heavens. {67:3-4}

 

In other words, we cannot see any defect in God's creation.

 

Indeed, throughout the Qur’an, God invites the skeptics to consider His signs for them in the Universe.  In the following verse, He states:

 

Do not the Unbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were once joined together (as one unit of creation), then We split them? And then We made from water every living thing. Will they not then submit? {21:30}

 

This profoundly meaningful and beautiful verse from the Qur’an is sometimes referred to as the “Big Bang” verse, because it appears to clearly describe the modern theory of the Big Bang. This theory states that before the universe came into existence as we know it today, it was a large mass of matter that was caused to explode. From this explosion, the planets, stars, and everything in the Universe came into existence. Here, we notice how the Creator of the Universe calls the attention of the doubtful atheists to reflect on this event, and hence return to belief in both the existence of God, and His involvement in the creation around us. 

 

Consider and ponder over these simple questions—firstly, who created the large mass of matter that existed before the Big Bang? Secondly, who was the one who caused it to explode and give rise to beautifully ordered galaxies and solar systems? Lastly, how would an illiterate man in the Arabian desert who lived over 1400 years ago (the Prophet Muhammad) describe such a thing that only modern scientists with the most advanced technologic instruments and mathematical formulas have the capability to explain? 

 

The plain and simple answer to these intriguing questions is that the One who created them is also the One who split them and thus formed the Universe. And indeed, He is also the One who revealed His creative design to His Messenger Muhammad in the Qur’an as a sign and a proof of the existence of God—the Creator and Master of the Universe—as well as a clear confirmation of His involvement in His creation.

 

From His Mercy, God doesn’t leave you to wonder or guess. The Qur’an tells you directly the fact that it is God that has done all this, and then revealed the details of it to His Messenger.  And then He concludes with the most relevant and direct question: “Will they not then submit?”

 

So, one of the unique and defining features of Islam in comparison to other religions, is that it is through reason that the existence of God is comprehended.  There is no such call in the Qur’an to have blind faith in matters of theology [existence of God, Messengers and revelations, etc.], but instead, it is through the rational evidences that God leads all humanity to arrive at the conclusion of His existence and His concern for His creation. As such, Islam distinguishes itself as the religion of reason and intellect that leads to faith, based on evidences.  

 

Another compelling evidence is the sending of Prophets with guidance for all of humanity. God repeatedly states in the Quran that He will not judge any community until they have been sent a Messenger.  

 

The final evidence to be discussed is the innate feeling of helplessness and turning to a Creator that all humans do in times of severe distress, such as in natural disasters or when lost at sea. This fact led Winston Churchill to once say, “There are no atheists on the battlefield.”  God describes this feeling in the following verse from the Quran:

 

When trouble strikes man, He cries unto Us in all postures- lying down on his side, or sitting, or standing. But when We have solved his trouble, he passes on his way as if he had never cried to Us regarding his troubles! Thus do the deeds of the transgressors seem fair in their eyes. {10: 12}

 

I conclude this chapter with an interesting story depicting an all too common encounter between an atheist who bases his denial of God on “scientific” grounds, and a believing student who gives his professor some much needed perspective on faith in God. 

 

An atheist professor of philosophy speaks to his class 

on the problem science has with God.

 

He asks one of his Muslim students to stand.

 

Professor: “You are a Muslim, aren't you, young man?”

 

Student: “Yes, sir.”

 

Professor: “So you believe in God, or as you call him, Allah?"

 

Student: “Absolutely, sir.”

 

Professor: “Is God good?”

 

Student: “Sure.”

 

Professor: “Is God all-powerful?”

 

Student: “Yes.”

 

Professor: “Well, I should tell you that my mother died of cancer even though she prayed to God to heal her. Most of us would attempt to help others who are sick or in need. But God didn't. How is this God good then? Hmm?”

 

(Student is silent.)

 

Professor: “You can't answer, can you? Let's start again, young man. Is God good?”

 

Student: “Yes.”

 

Professor: “Is Satan good?”

 

Student: “No.”

 

Professor: “Where does Satan come from?”

 

Student: “From...God?”

 

Professor: “That's right. Tell me, son, is there evil in this world?”

 

Student: “Yes.”

 

Professor: “Evil is everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything. Correct?”

 

Student: “Yes.”

 

Professor: “So who created evil?”

 

(Student does not answer.)

 

Professor: “Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don't they?”

 

Student: “Yes, sir.”

 

Professor: “So, who created them?”

 

(Student has no answer.)

 

Professor: “Science says you have 5 senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me ... have you ever seen your God?”

 

Student: “No, sir.”

 

Professor: “Tell us if you have ever heard your God?”

 

Student: “No, sir.”

 

Professor: “Have you ever felt your God, tasted your God, smelled your God? Have you ever had any sensory perception of God for that matter?”

 

Student: “No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.”

 

Professor: “Yes, I’m afraid no one has. Yet you still believe in Him?”

 

Student: “Yes.”

 

Professor: “According to empirical, testable, demonstrable methodology, science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that?”

 

Student: “Nothing. I only have my faith.”

 

Professor: “Yes. Faith. And that is the problem science has. Why don’t you sit down then, as I think you’ve said enough.”

 

Upon this exchange, another student stands up unexpectedly and courageously addresses the Professor.

 

Student #2: “Professor, is there such a thing as heat?”

 

Professor: “Why yes, of course.”

 

Student #2” “And is there such a thing as cold?”

 

Professor: “Yes …”

 

Student #2: “No sir. There isn't”.

 

(The lecture hall becomes very quiet with this turn of events.)

 

Student #2: “Sir, you can have lots of heat, more heat, superheat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don't have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat.  We cannot measure cold.  Heat is energy.  Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.”

 

(There is pin-drop silence in the lecture hall.)

 

Student #2: “What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?”

 

Professor, cautiously: “Yes. What is night if there isn't darkness?”

 

Student #2: “That isn’t correct, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, and bright light ... but if you have no light constantly, it’s called darkness, isn't it? In reality, darkness isn't something distinct. If it were, then you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?”

 

Professor: “So what is the point you are making, young man?”

 

Student #2: “Sir, my point is that your philosophical premise is flawed.”

 

Professor: “Flawed! Would you like to explain to me just how that is?”

 

Student #2: “Yes. You are working on the premise of duality. You argue that there is life and then there is death, a good god and a bad god. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something that can be measured. Sir, science can't even explain a thought or an idea.  It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a separate entity. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?”

 

Professor: “If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.”

 

Student #2: “Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?”

 

(The Professor shakes his head with a sly smile, beginning to see where the argument is heading.)

 

Student #2: “Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that it is an ongoing process, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not then a scientist, but a preacher?”

 

(The class is in uproar.)

 

Student #2: “Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor's brain?”

 

(The class breaks out into laughter.)

 

Student #2: “Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's brain, felt it, touched it, or smelled it? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, demonstrable methodology, science says that your brain doesn’t exist, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures?”

 

(The room is silent. The Professor coldly stares at Student #2, his face expressionless.)

 

Professor: “I guess you'll have to take them on faith, son.”

 

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