Perhaps the word “Allah” sounds strange to your ears. Maybe you are wondering what it means or maybe you heard something about it but you are not sure. “Allah” is the name of the Creator who created everything and whom every believer worshipped from the beginning of the universe.
Almighty Allah
He is the same God whom the Jews, Christians and Muslims worship and until now Arab Jews and Christians use this name. He has many other names and attributes by which He describes Himself to His creatures. It is as He has said in the Quran: “…To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names…” (59:24)
The Creator , Sustainer, Ever-living, Self-Subsisting
The Muslims believe that Allah alone is the Creator and Sustainer of everything that exists. We believe that He does not die, nor requires food or rest. We believe that He is absolutely without need of support or assistance; rather, the entire creation depends solely upon Him. These beliefs are derived directly from the Quran (the Book revealed by Allah to Prophet Muhammad ) and the Sunnah (the sayings and teachings of Prophet Muhammad himself).
Allah has said in the Quran :
255. Allah! None has the right to be worshipped but He, the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber, nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter. And they will never compass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Kursi extends the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.(2:255)
And indeed We (Allah) created the heavens and the earth and all between them in six days and nothing of fatigue touched Us.(50:38)
The Prophet Muhammad conveyed what Allah revealed to him regarding Himself in the following narration:
“O’ My servants! All of you are without guidance except those whom I guide. So seek guidance from Me, I shall guide you.
The great Allah
O’ My servants! All of you are hungry except those whom I feed. So ask food from Me I shall feed you.
O’ My servants! All of you are naked except those whom I clothed. So ask clothes from Me I shall clothe you.
O’ My servants! You commit mistakes (sins) by night and day and I forgive all sins. So ask forgiveness from Me I shall forgive you.
O’ My servants! You can never reach harming Me so as to harm Me; nor can you ever reach benefiting me so as to benefit Me.
O’ My servants! If the first of you and the last of you and the entirety of this human race of yours, and that of the jinns as well, became as pious as the most pious heart amongst you, by nothing would that increase My kingdom.
O’ My servants! If the first of you and the last of you and the entirety of this human race of yours, and that of the Jinns as well, became as evil as the worst heart amongst you, by nothing would that decrease My Kingdom.
O’ My servants! If the first of you and the last of you and the entirety of this human race of yours, and that of the jinns as well, all stood upon one plain to ask Me and I gave every one what he asked, that would not decrease what I have, anything more than what a needle decreases the sea if it is dipped into it.
O’ My servants! It is only your deeds which I shall reckon up for you, and then recompense you for. So whoever finds good, should praise Me and whoever finds other than that, blame none but himself.”
(Saheeh Muslim, Book 32, Number 6246).
Allah’s Knowledge and Wisdom
The Muslims believe that Allah has perfect knowledge of everything. There is not a single mystery but with it, He is well acquainted. His knowledge encompasses everything including the wondrous galaxies, and each insect as it crawls along its sandy, underground path. We believe that Allah is the sole possessor of perfect knowledge of both the apparent and the unseen.
Allah has said in the Quran :
61. Whatever you may be doing, and whatever portion of the Quran you may be reciting, and whatever deed you may be doing, We are Witness thereof, when you are doing it. And nothing is hidden from your Lord (not even so much as) the weight of an atom on the earth or in the heaven. Nor what is less than that or what is greater than that but is (written) in a Clear Record.(10:61)
59. And with Him are the keys of the Unseen, none knows them but He. And He knows what is in the land and the sea. Not a leaf falls but He knows it, not a grain amid the darkness of the earth neither anything fresh nor dry, but it is written in a Clear Record.(6:59)
11. Allah did create you from dust, then from a little fluid, then He made you pairs (male and female). No female conceives, or lays down (her load), but with His knowledge. And not one grows old who grows old, nor is his life lessened, but it is recorded in a Book, Behold! That is easy for Allah.(35:11)
Mercy and Forgiveness
The Muslims believe that Allah is more merciful with his believing servants than a mother is to her child, and that He loves to forgive sins for those who seek forgiveness from Him. And in spite of our excessive ingratitude and disobedience, He continues to support us with food, shelter, friends and many other resources and always gives us a chance to repent. We believe that Allah forgives whomever turns to Him alone in sincere repentance no matter how grave the sin, and that He alone can forgive sins.
Allah has said in the Quran:
53. Say: O’ My servants who have transgressed against themselves (by committing sins)! Do not despair of the Mercy of Allah, indeed Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.(39:53)
110. And whoever does evil or oppresses himself (by committing sins) and thereafter seeks Allah’s Forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.(4:110)
21. Race towards Forgiveness from your Lord (Allah), and towards Paradise, the width whereof is as the width of heaven and earth, prepared for those who believe in Allah and His Messengers. That is the Grace of Allah which He gives to whom He wills. And Allah is the Owner of Great Bounty.(57:21)
183. And if My servants ask you about Me, then surely I am Close. I answer the prayer of the supplicant when he calls unto Me. So let them answer My Call and believe in Me, in order that they may be led aright.”(2:183)
source : http://www.quranproject.org
