ALLAH
The origin of the word is elah, and all what is worshipped is so called, but only the truly worshipped God is named Allah. Is the word Allah a defective noun or a derivative noun? There are three viewpoints:
1) The word Allah is a defective noun because it has no dual nor plural form; secondly, it isn’t derivative because if it had beenso, then it should have had a root from which it had been derived andconsequently the word Allah would have been recent. In fact theword Allah is ancient and eternal as the Exalted Self, thereforeit must be a defective noun.
2) The word Allah is a proper noun designated to the Exalted Self that is described by all the divine attributes; this all-inclusive name comprises all the Exalted Self’s attributes, so we say, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful Allah. Apart from the name Allah, each of the names of the Exalted Self concerns a special singular meaning and is a description of it. Since the Exalted Self must have a name that comprises all the Divine attributes and since this name cannot be designated to anyone save the Exalted Self, therefore this name must be exclusive to the Exalted Self. Moreover this is not an epithet because if it were so, then theprofession of faith (There is no god but Allah) would not denotethe Profession of Monotheism, just as the phrase (There is no god butthe Most Merciful), does not denote Monotheism.
3) The most acceptable viewpoint is that the word Allah is a derivative noun, it had been an attribute at the very start but it became the proper noun that pertains exclusively to the Exalted Self and thereupon, we dispense with any other name to define Him and any other name is added to the name Allah, so we say, the Patient, the Omniscient, andthe Subduer are some of the names of Allah, but we cannot say,Allah is one of the names of the Most Merciful, or of the Omniscient.
As the name Allah is a derivative noun then it must be derived from one of the following Arabic verbs:
a) Aliha: to worship.
b)Aliha: to have faith in and to be calm in the presence of someone, because hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of the Exalted Self, and souls pacify in knowing Him.
c) Alaha: to become confused and baffled as minds are bewildered in knowing and comprehending His attributes.
d) Alihahu: to be to succoured, as the afflicted person resorts to Him and He protects him.
e) Aliha: to be emotionally attached to the mother at the time of weaning, since worshippers are emotionally attached to the Exalted Self, and supplicate to him in times of affliction.
f) Laha: to be veiled and high in rank, because the Exalted Self is veiled from perception and vision, and is high above everything.
The name Allah is the greatest of the names of the Exalted Self and the most comprehensive. Furthermore, it is said that it is the most eminent name by which if the human being calls upon the Exalted Self, the call is answered, that is why no one else has been called by that name and this is confirmed in the Quranic verse, “Knowest thou of anywho is worthy of the same Name as He?” (MARYAM, 65).
One of the interpretations of this verse states: Is there anyone who bears a name similar to His name? Allah is the name of the OnlyTruth, Whose existence is the only true existence, the One Who combines all divine attributes, Who is qualified with all the divine epithets. Only to Allah is attributed the real existence, because every existing being is not self-existent but gains its existence from the Existence of Allah, Praise and Glory be to Him, He is Allah.
from the book : he is Allah by YASSIN ROUSHDY
Full Version: What Means : Allah
Unexplained Mysteries Discussion Forums > Unexplained Mysteries > Spirituality, Religion and Beliefs
The religion of Islam has as its focus of worship a deity by the name of "Allah." The Muslims claim that Allah in pre-Islamic times was the biblical God of the Patriarchs, prophets, and apostles. The issue is thus one of continuity. Was "Allah" the biblical God or a pagan god in Arabia during pre- Islamic times? The Muslim's claim of continuity is essential to their attempt to convert Jews and Christians for if "Allah" is part of the flow of divine revelation in Scripture, then it is the next step in biblical religion. Thus we should all become Muslims. But, on the other hand, if Allah was a pre- Islamic pagan deity, then its core claim is refuted. Religious claims often fall before the results of hard sciences such as archeology. We can endlessly speculate about the past or go and dig it up and see what the evidence reveals. This is the only way to find out the truth concerning the origins of Allah. As we shall see, the hard evidence demonstrates that the god Allah was a pagan deity. In fact, he was the Moon-god who was married to the sun goddess and the stars were his daughters........ more here source
QUOTE(Irish @ Sep 7 2007, 12:20 AM) 
The religion of Islam has as its focus of worship a deity by the name of "Allah." The Muslims claim that Allah in pre-Islamic times was the biblical God of the Patriarchs, prophets, and apostles. The issue is thus one of continuity. Was "Allah" the biblical God or a pagan god in Arabia during pre- Islamic times? The Muslim's claim of continuity is essential to their attempt to convert Jews and Christians for if "Allah" is part of the flow of divine revelation in Scripture, then it is the next step in biblical religion. Thus we should all become Muslims. But, on the other hand, if Allah was a pre- Islamic pagan deity, then its core claim is refuted. Religious claims often fall before the results of hard sciences such as archeology. We can endlessly speculate about the past or go and dig it up and see what the evidence reveals. This is the only way to find out the truth concerning the origins of Allah. As we shall see, the hard evidence demonstrates that the god Allah was a pagan deity. In fact, he was the Moon-god who was married to the sun goddess and the stars were his daughters........ more here source
<< the source you quote is wrong its from a non arabic non islamic non academic sourceyou say :the hard evidence demonstrates that the god Allah was a pagan deity. In fact, he was the Moon-god who was married to the sun goddess and the stars were his daughters........ more here <<< Pure lies and no hard evidence as you claim its a pure lie
Arabic-speakers of all faiths, including Christians and Jews, use the word "Allah" to mean "God". source: Columbia Encyclopedia, Allah
let us look what the Catholic Encyclopedia writes : Allah The name of God in Arabic.
It is a compound word from the article, 'al, and ilah, divinity, and signifies "the god" par excellence. This form of the divine name is in itself a sure proof that ilah was at one time an appellative, common to all the local and tribal gods. Gradually, with the addition of the article, it was restricted to one of them who took precedence of the others; finally, with the triumph of monotheism, He was recognized as the only true God.
Let it be noted that although Allah is an Arabic term, it is used by all Moslems, whatever be their language, as the name of God.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01316a.htm << Catholic source
Allah means God , just like Dieu in French and Khuda in Persian ,
Ask any Arab Christian or Jew how they call god they say : Allah
the Arabic bible : Allah
the arabic jewish sources : Allah
other sources : Allah (Arabic: الله, Allāh) is the standard Arabic word for "God". The term is best known in the West for its use by Muslims as a reference to God.
Arabic-speakers of all faiths, including Christians and Jews, use the word "Allah" to mean "God". source: Columbia Encyclopedia, Allah
i advice you to read and study this Link : http://answering-christianity.com/allahorigin.htm carefully it refutes those who claim wrong things about the origin of the name Allah
we Muslims are totally against Paganism , our Prophet Mohammed preached pure monotheism
i brought you enough sources and information , if you have any further questions be free , but no false claims
Ok how about another source!
A Peek Behind The Crescent Moon
Of Islam
An "Assist News Service" (ANS) report on 1/9/02 by Rev. Austin Miles (and read in full on the Marlin Maddous Radio Talk Show on the 15th) was entitled "Public Schools Embrace Islam - A Shocker".
The report covered in considerable detail how a textbook (Across The Centuries, pub. by Houghton-Mifflin) has been adopted by the California School System and has stirred some teachers and parents in Byron, CA to object in the strongest terms.
This Social Studies course specifies "many verses in the Koran that must be memorized". Moreover, "students are taught to pray ‘in the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful’ and to chant, ‘Praise to Allah, Lord of Creation’." Also, there are 25 Islamic terms that must be memorized, six Islamic (Arabic) phrases, 20 Islamic Proverbs to learn along with the Five Pillars of Faith and 10 Key Islamic prophets and disciples to be studied. Even more disturbing," the report notes, "students are to pretend that they are Muslims, wear Muslim clothing to school, stage their own Jihad...and pick out a Muslim name (to replace their own) from a list of thirty. "1
The report quotes the lament of teacher Elizabeth Lemings: "Can you imagine the barrage of lawsuits and problems we would have from the ACLU if Christianity were taught in the public schools...but when it comes to furthering the Islamic religion in the public schools, there is not one word from the ACLU, People For the American Way, or anybody else. This is hypocrisy!"2
And so it is...Big Time! The explanation is simple and well-known to a substantial minority of Americans, viz: The ACLU’s chief reason for existing is to destroy Bible-based Christianity. If that means hypocritically ignoring this obvious transgression of the rights of parents and students because this course promoting Islam fits with the ACLU’s Christian-bashing goals, then it’s "hands off". This duplicity should be shouted out in every School Board Meeting where the ACLU has totally censored the rights of students to learn the scientific (not Biblical) facts which readily prove that Evolution is a contra-scientific myth. Then, once the lid is pried off of that can of worms, students (and teachers!) can begin to recognize the fantastic caravan of pseudo-scientific assumptions upholding today’s Cosmological "science". From there they can go on to uncover the fact that those assumptions (Relativism, Big Bangism, an Expanding Universe) are the fulfillment of a "creation scenario" set forth by Rabbis in the 1st, 12th, 13th, and 16th centuries, a really BIG can of worms indeed!
But what about this sudden and ubiquitous Moslem presence over what was until recently Western Christendom? The mosques, the multiplied millions of immigrants, the increasingly bold evangelism...as in the California School System? What is really going on? Does the Truth have any role to play in any of this?
Let’s take a peek behind the crescent moon and see what scholars using undisputed sources have discovered, i.e., what the Truth is about the religion of Islam.....
Historically, "Allah’ was not invented by Muhammad or revealed for the first time in the Qur’an. In fact, the word ‘Allah’ was used in Arabia long before Muhammad was born.... There are over fifty reference works that state...that Allah was the Moon-god in pre-Islamic times.... For example, The Dictionary of Non-Classical Mythology states that Allah, ‘originally applied to the moon; he seems to be preceded by Ilmaqah, the moon god...Allat; the female counterpart to Allah.’"3
Lots more clic here
A Peek Behind The Crescent Moon
Of Islam
An "Assist News Service" (ANS) report on 1/9/02 by Rev. Austin Miles (and read in full on the Marlin Maddous Radio Talk Show on the 15th) was entitled "Public Schools Embrace Islam - A Shocker".
The report covered in considerable detail how a textbook (Across The Centuries, pub. by Houghton-Mifflin) has been adopted by the California School System and has stirred some teachers and parents in Byron, CA to object in the strongest terms.
This Social Studies course specifies "many verses in the Koran that must be memorized". Moreover, "students are taught to pray ‘in the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful’ and to chant, ‘Praise to Allah, Lord of Creation’." Also, there are 25 Islamic terms that must be memorized, six Islamic (Arabic) phrases, 20 Islamic Proverbs to learn along with the Five Pillars of Faith and 10 Key Islamic prophets and disciples to be studied. Even more disturbing," the report notes, "students are to pretend that they are Muslims, wear Muslim clothing to school, stage their own Jihad...and pick out a Muslim name (to replace their own) from a list of thirty. "1
The report quotes the lament of teacher Elizabeth Lemings: "Can you imagine the barrage of lawsuits and problems we would have from the ACLU if Christianity were taught in the public schools...but when it comes to furthering the Islamic religion in the public schools, there is not one word from the ACLU, People For the American Way, or anybody else. This is hypocrisy!"2
And so it is...Big Time! The explanation is simple and well-known to a substantial minority of Americans, viz: The ACLU’s chief reason for existing is to destroy Bible-based Christianity. If that means hypocritically ignoring this obvious transgression of the rights of parents and students because this course promoting Islam fits with the ACLU’s Christian-bashing goals, then it’s "hands off". This duplicity should be shouted out in every School Board Meeting where the ACLU has totally censored the rights of students to learn the scientific (not Biblical) facts which readily prove that Evolution is a contra-scientific myth. Then, once the lid is pried off of that can of worms, students (and teachers!) can begin to recognize the fantastic caravan of pseudo-scientific assumptions upholding today’s Cosmological "science". From there they can go on to uncover the fact that those assumptions (Relativism, Big Bangism, an Expanding Universe) are the fulfillment of a "creation scenario" set forth by Rabbis in the 1st, 12th, 13th, and 16th centuries, a really BIG can of worms indeed!
But what about this sudden and ubiquitous Moslem presence over what was until recently Western Christendom? The mosques, the multiplied millions of immigrants, the increasingly bold evangelism...as in the California School System? What is really going on? Does the Truth have any role to play in any of this?
Let’s take a peek behind the crescent moon and see what scholars using undisputed sources have discovered, i.e., what the Truth is about the religion of Islam.....
Historically, "Allah’ was not invented by Muhammad or revealed for the first time in the Qur’an. In fact, the word ‘Allah’ was used in Arabia long before Muhammad was born.... There are over fifty reference works that state...that Allah was the Moon-god in pre-Islamic times.... For example, The Dictionary of Non-Classical Mythology states that Allah, ‘originally applied to the moon; he seems to be preceded by Ilmaqah, the moon god...Allat; the female counterpart to Allah.’"3
Lots more clic here
Whether he's Allah, "al-ilah" or someone else makes no difference to me. Yesterday is gone so I certainly won't get myself into a big discussion with you, Irish or anyone else about that stuff. On the other hand, you asked the question, Abdullah, so blame no one but yourself for whatever else is on the way, hehehe
QUOTE(Irish @ Sep 6 2007, 11:20 PM)
[ the god Allah was a pagan deity. In fact, he was the Moon-god who was married to the sun goddess and the stars were his daughters........ more here source
Irish....this actually makes Allah sound quite exciting.
As the Goddess is the oldest, historical deity...it would make sense that all patriarchal religions
draw from her.....and pagan religions...
This is what i wrote in another thread about the allegation of Allah as a moon God from Kuranic perspective;
btw Irısh crestcent moon and star were the symbols of ancient Turanian people before Islam not Arabic, and when they began to lead Islam, all muslims embraced crescent and star.
btw Irısh crestcent moon and star were the symbols of ancient Turanian people before Islam not Arabic, and when they began to lead Islam, all muslims embraced crescent and star.
QUOTE(armegon @ Aug 19 2007, 02:09 PM)
This is how Kuran explains Allah(just 3 examples, one can find more):
1:1 All Praise is due to Allah, the Eternal Source of Life of the Universe and everything therein.
17:111 And say, "All Praise is due to Allah Who begets not an offspring, and has no partner in His Dominion, and has absolutely no weakness, hence no need of any aid." And so, extol His limitless Greatness. (Establish His Greatness in the Earth with all magnificence, as it is in the entire Universe). (9:33, 74:3).
Surah 112 – İhlas – The Pure Monotheism
Author’s note: This a very brief Surah that very forcefully and clearly
expounds strict Monotheism, nothing confusing about it as Trinity, Dualism or any shade of Polytheism.
With the Glorious Name of Allah, the Instant and Sustaining Source of all
Mercy and Kindness.
112:1 Say, "He is Allah, the One!
(He is Unique in His Essence and Attributes and He alone is the Sovereign
Law-Giver in the Universe).
112:2 Allah is Absolute, Eternal, Unique, Self-Sufficient, Perfect, Independent,
the Uncaused Cause of all that exists, Besought of all .
112:3 He begets not, nor is He begotten.
112:4 And there is none that could be comparable unto Him."
Kuran clearly says how moon is rejected as an idol:
41:37 (Divine Laws help you journey through life in great balance as you see in the Nature). Now among His Signs are the night and the day as well as the sun and the moon. Adore neither the sun nor the moon, but adore Allah Who created them, if it is Him you wish to serve.
Detailed analysis of Moon in Kuran:
1) Moon as a calculating device:
55:5 The sun and the moon run by a mathematical design.
6:96 He is the Cleaver of the daybreak. He has appointed the night for stillness, (rest and tranquility) and the sun and the moon to run their well-calculated courses. They become means of calculating time for you (10:5). Such is the Design of the All-Powerful, the All-Knowing.
2:189 (Self-control is a life-long challenge extending beyond the month of Ramadhan.) They ask you (O Messenger) about the phases of the Moon. Say, “They are calendars to help mankind determine certain seasons such as Hajj.” But know that righteousness can never be achieved by entering the System through the back door of ritualism. Only he who lives an upright life attains it. Enter the Divinely Ordained Way of Life straightforward as you must enter houses through their gates. Be mindful of Allah all year round in order to reap a rich harvest. (2:138, 2:177, 2:208. There is no such thing as a part-time Muslim.)
2) Moon is controlled by Allah:
13:2 Allah it is Who raised the heavens without pillars visible to you. Then upon the Throne of His Almightiness He assumed Supreme Control of the entire Universe. He committed the sun and the moon to be of service, each running to an appointed term. He keeps Order in the Universe and He explains His Messages in detail, so that you may be sure of meeting with your Lord. (Studying the Book of Nature will bring mankind closer to their Lord).
14:33 And makes the sun and the moon, both of them constant on their courses. And committed the night and the day to serve you.
16:12 He has committed in your service the night and the day, as well as the sun and the moon, and the stars are committed by His Command. These are sufficient signs for people who use their intellect.
3) Moon adores Allah:
22:18 Don't you see that all things and beings in the heavens and in the earth, the sun and the moon, and the stars and the mountains, and the trees, and the animals, and a great many human beings pay adoration to Allah? And there are a great many human beings who make themselves worthy of Requital. And those whom the Divine Law shall disgrace, none can raise them to honor. For, Allah carries out all actions according to His Laws.
4) Moon's phases also controlled:
36:39 And the moon: We have measured for it phases until it becomes (a crescent) like an old curved date-stalk.
5) Moon as a reflector of Sun’s light and borrows its light:
10:5 He it is, Who appointed the sun as a splendid glow, and the moon as a cool light. He appointed stages for the moon, in due measure. You make your calculations and calendars accordingly (6:97, 17:12). Allah has created the Universe as the Absolute Reality and for a Purpose. (It is neither a dream, nor a reflection of the world of ideas). Allah details His Verses for those who wish to learn.
25:61 Blessed is He (the Beneficent) Who set up in the sky great constellations, and put therein a radiant Lamp, and a Moon giving light.
71:16 And made the moon a light therein, and made the sun a radiant lamp.
91:2 And the Moon that borrows its light.
And many more, moon is controlled by Allah(14:33, 13:2, 16:12), moon is stuck to its orbit(21:33,36:40, 39:5), moon is submitted to Allah(29:61, 31:29, 35:13) etc…
You mean the attributes of Allah, like Most Merciful, Unique, Eternal etc, and Allah is one of these attributes(because of it is firstly mentioned by Cebrail, muslims use Allah) but I have never heard 100th one lol…
1:1 All Praise is due to Allah, the Eternal Source of Life of the Universe and everything therein.
17:111 And say, "All Praise is due to Allah Who begets not an offspring, and has no partner in His Dominion, and has absolutely no weakness, hence no need of any aid." And so, extol His limitless Greatness. (Establish His Greatness in the Earth with all magnificence, as it is in the entire Universe). (9:33, 74:3).
Surah 112 – İhlas – The Pure Monotheism
Author’s note: This a very brief Surah that very forcefully and clearly
expounds strict Monotheism, nothing confusing about it as Trinity, Dualism or any shade of Polytheism.
With the Glorious Name of Allah, the Instant and Sustaining Source of all
Mercy and Kindness.
112:1 Say, "He is Allah, the One!
(He is Unique in His Essence and Attributes and He alone is the Sovereign
Law-Giver in the Universe).
112:2 Allah is Absolute, Eternal, Unique, Self-Sufficient, Perfect, Independent,
the Uncaused Cause of all that exists, Besought of all .
112:3 He begets not, nor is He begotten.
112:4 And there is none that could be comparable unto Him."
Kuran clearly says how moon is rejected as an idol:
41:37 (Divine Laws help you journey through life in great balance as you see in the Nature). Now among His Signs are the night and the day as well as the sun and the moon. Adore neither the sun nor the moon, but adore Allah Who created them, if it is Him you wish to serve.
Detailed analysis of Moon in Kuran:
1) Moon as a calculating device:
55:5 The sun and the moon run by a mathematical design.
6:96 He is the Cleaver of the daybreak. He has appointed the night for stillness, (rest and tranquility) and the sun and the moon to run their well-calculated courses. They become means of calculating time for you (10:5). Such is the Design of the All-Powerful, the All-Knowing.
2:189 (Self-control is a life-long challenge extending beyond the month of Ramadhan.) They ask you (O Messenger) about the phases of the Moon. Say, “They are calendars to help mankind determine certain seasons such as Hajj.” But know that righteousness can never be achieved by entering the System through the back door of ritualism. Only he who lives an upright life attains it. Enter the Divinely Ordained Way of Life straightforward as you must enter houses through their gates. Be mindful of Allah all year round in order to reap a rich harvest. (2:138, 2:177, 2:208. There is no such thing as a part-time Muslim.)
2) Moon is controlled by Allah:
13:2 Allah it is Who raised the heavens without pillars visible to you. Then upon the Throne of His Almightiness He assumed Supreme Control of the entire Universe. He committed the sun and the moon to be of service, each running to an appointed term. He keeps Order in the Universe and He explains His Messages in detail, so that you may be sure of meeting with your Lord. (Studying the Book of Nature will bring mankind closer to their Lord).
14:33 And makes the sun and the moon, both of them constant on their courses. And committed the night and the day to serve you.
16:12 He has committed in your service the night and the day, as well as the sun and the moon, and the stars are committed by His Command. These are sufficient signs for people who use their intellect.
3) Moon adores Allah:
22:18 Don't you see that all things and beings in the heavens and in the earth, the sun and the moon, and the stars and the mountains, and the trees, and the animals, and a great many human beings pay adoration to Allah? And there are a great many human beings who make themselves worthy of Requital. And those whom the Divine Law shall disgrace, none can raise them to honor. For, Allah carries out all actions according to His Laws.
4) Moon's phases also controlled:
36:39 And the moon: We have measured for it phases until it becomes (a crescent) like an old curved date-stalk.
5) Moon as a reflector of Sun’s light and borrows its light:
10:5 He it is, Who appointed the sun as a splendid glow, and the moon as a cool light. He appointed stages for the moon, in due measure. You make your calculations and calendars accordingly (6:97, 17:12). Allah has created the Universe as the Absolute Reality and for a Purpose. (It is neither a dream, nor a reflection of the world of ideas). Allah details His Verses for those who wish to learn.
25:61 Blessed is He (the Beneficent) Who set up in the sky great constellations, and put therein a radiant Lamp, and a Moon giving light.
71:16 And made the moon a light therein, and made the sun a radiant lamp.
91:2 And the Moon that borrows its light.
And many more, moon is controlled by Allah(14:33, 13:2, 16:12), moon is stuck to its orbit(21:33,36:40, 39:5), moon is submitted to Allah(29:61, 31:29, 35:13) etc…
You mean the attributes of Allah, like Most Merciful, Unique, Eternal etc, and Allah is one of these attributes(because of it is firstly mentioned by Cebrail, muslims use Allah) but I have never heard 100th one lol…
QUOTE(Irish @ Sep 7 2007, 12:53 AM)
Ok how about another source!
A Peek Behind The Crescent Moon
Of Islam
An "Assist News Service" (ANS) report on 1/9/02 by Rev. Austin Miles (and read in full on the Marlin Maddous Radio Talk Show on the 15th) was entitled "Public Schools Embrace Islam - A Shocker".
The report covered in considerable detail how a textbook (Across The Centuries, pub. by Houghton-Mifflin) has been adopted by the California School System and has stirred some teachers and parents in Byron, CA to object in the strongest terms.
This Social Studies course specifies "many verses in the Koran that must be memorized". Moreover, "students are taught to pray ‘in the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful’ and to chant, ‘Praise to Allah, Lord of Creation’." Also, there are 25 Islamic terms that must be memorized, six Islamic (Arabic) phrases, 20 Islamic Proverbs to learn along with the Five Pillars of Faith and 10 Key Islamic prophets and disciples to be studied. Even more disturbing," the report notes, "students are to pretend that they are Muslims, wear Muslim clothing to school, stage their own Jihad...and pick out a Muslim name (to replace their own) from a list of thirty. "1
The report quotes the lament of teacher Elizabeth Lemings: "Can you imagine the barrage of lawsuits and problems we would have from the ACLU if Christianity were taught in the public schools...but when it comes to furthering the Islamic religion in the public schools, there is not one word from the ACLU, People For the American Way, or anybody else. This is hypocrisy!"2
And so it is...Big Time! The explanation is simple and well-known to a substantial minority of Americans, viz: The ACLU’s chief reason for existing is to destroy Bible-based Christianity. If that means hypocritically ignoring this obvious transgression of the rights of parents and students because this course promoting Islam fits with the ACLU’s Christian-bashing goals, then it’s "hands off". This duplicity should be shouted out in every School Board Meeting where the ACLU has totally censored the rights of students to learn the scientific (not Biblical) facts which readily prove that Evolution is a contra-scientific myth. Then, once the lid is pried off of that can of worms, students (and teachers!) can begin to recognize the fantastic caravan of pseudo-scientific assumptions upholding today’s Cosmological "science". From there they can go on to uncover the fact that those assumptions (Relativism, Big Bangism, an Expanding Universe) are the fulfillment of a "creation scenario" set forth by Rabbis in the 1st, 12th, 13th, and 16th centuries, a really BIG can of worms indeed!
But what about this sudden and ubiquitous Moslem presence over what was until recently Western Christendom? The mosques, the multiplied millions of immigrants, the increasingly bold evangelism...as in the California School System? What is really going on? Does the Truth have any role to play in any of this?
Let’s take a peek behind the crescent moon and see what scholars using undisputed sources have discovered, i.e., what the Truth is about the religion of Islam.....
Historically, "Allah’ was not invented by Muhammad or revealed for the first time in the Qur’an. In fact, the word ‘Allah’ was used in Arabia long before Muhammad was born.... There are over fifty reference works that state...that Allah was the Moon-god in pre-Islamic times.... For example, The Dictionary of Non-Classical Mythology states that Allah, ‘originally applied to the moon; he seems to be preceded by Ilmaqah, the moon god...Allat; the female counterpart to Allah.’"3
Lots more clic here
A Peek Behind The Crescent Moon
Of Islam
An "Assist News Service" (ANS) report on 1/9/02 by Rev. Austin Miles (and read in full on the Marlin Maddous Radio Talk Show on the 15th) was entitled "Public Schools Embrace Islam - A Shocker".
The report covered in considerable detail how a textbook (Across The Centuries, pub. by Houghton-Mifflin) has been adopted by the California School System and has stirred some teachers and parents in Byron, CA to object in the strongest terms.
This Social Studies course specifies "many verses in the Koran that must be memorized". Moreover, "students are taught to pray ‘in the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful’ and to chant, ‘Praise to Allah, Lord of Creation’." Also, there are 25 Islamic terms that must be memorized, six Islamic (Arabic) phrases, 20 Islamic Proverbs to learn along with the Five Pillars of Faith and 10 Key Islamic prophets and disciples to be studied. Even more disturbing," the report notes, "students are to pretend that they are Muslims, wear Muslim clothing to school, stage their own Jihad...and pick out a Muslim name (to replace their own) from a list of thirty. "1
The report quotes the lament of teacher Elizabeth Lemings: "Can you imagine the barrage of lawsuits and problems we would have from the ACLU if Christianity were taught in the public schools...but when it comes to furthering the Islamic religion in the public schools, there is not one word from the ACLU, People For the American Way, or anybody else. This is hypocrisy!"2
And so it is...Big Time! The explanation is simple and well-known to a substantial minority of Americans, viz: The ACLU’s chief reason for existing is to destroy Bible-based Christianity. If that means hypocritically ignoring this obvious transgression of the rights of parents and students because this course promoting Islam fits with the ACLU’s Christian-bashing goals, then it’s "hands off". This duplicity should be shouted out in every School Board Meeting where the ACLU has totally censored the rights of students to learn the scientific (not Biblical) facts which readily prove that Evolution is a contra-scientific myth. Then, once the lid is pried off of that can of worms, students (and teachers!) can begin to recognize the fantastic caravan of pseudo-scientific assumptions upholding today’s Cosmological "science". From there they can go on to uncover the fact that those assumptions (Relativism, Big Bangism, an Expanding Universe) are the fulfillment of a "creation scenario" set forth by Rabbis in the 1st, 12th, 13th, and 16th centuries, a really BIG can of worms indeed!
But what about this sudden and ubiquitous Moslem presence over what was until recently Western Christendom? The mosques, the multiplied millions of immigrants, the increasingly bold evangelism...as in the California School System? What is really going on? Does the Truth have any role to play in any of this?
Let’s take a peek behind the crescent moon and see what scholars using undisputed sources have discovered, i.e., what the Truth is about the religion of Islam.....
Historically, "Allah’ was not invented by Muhammad or revealed for the first time in the Qur’an. In fact, the word ‘Allah’ was used in Arabia long before Muhammad was born.... There are over fifty reference works that state...that Allah was the Moon-god in pre-Islamic times.... For example, The Dictionary of Non-Classical Mythology states that Allah, ‘originally applied to the moon; he seems to be preceded by Ilmaqah, the moon god...Allat; the female counterpart to Allah.’"3
Lots more clic here
Allah means God since you dont master the Classical Arabic nor the Modern Standard arabic you base your lies on nothing ,
indeed before our Prophet Mohammed
Arab Christians called god : Allah
Arab Jews called god : Allah
Arab Pagans had many idols but believed that the so called Upper God (creator of everything ) was Allah
ask any christian arab or arab jew how they call God
ask them linguistically the meaning , just like dieu in french and Khuda in Farsi it means God , if you accept it or not
BTW your claim about a moon god is baseless ,
Anti Islamic propoganda teaches that they base it on The So Called Crescent Symbol On Many Mosques
if you would study islamic history you would know that Prophet Mohammed never had such a symbol not on any flag not on early Mosques
The crescent symbol is taken from the Turkish Ottomans they invaded large areas and brought that Nationalistic Symbol to the area
The crescent is a Bidah(innovations)
(Prophet Mohammed has innovations in the religion Forbidden)
crescent symbol is nothing but an unislamic nationalistic symbol it doesnt belong in islam
Where Does the word " Allah " Come From?
"Allah" comes from the Arabic word "elah" - (Arabic) means 'a god' or something that is worshipped. This word (elah) can be made plural, as in "aleha" and it can be male or female. "Allah" comes from "elaha" but it brings more clarification and understanding.
Allah = Has no gender (not male and not female)
* " He " is used only out of respect and dignity - not for gender
Allah = Always singular - Never plural
* " We " is used only as the " Royal WE " just as in English for royalty
Allah = Means "The Only One to be Worshipped"
Is "Allah" only for Islam and Muslims?
"Allah" is the same word used by Christian and Jewish Arabs in the Bible, before Islam came.
On page one [1] of Genesis in the Old Testament, we find the word "Allah" seventeen [17] times.
http://abdurrahman.org/tawheed/asmawasifat/Allah.html
QUOTE(Abdullah @ Sep 7 2007, 11:53 AM)
Allah means God since you dont master the Classical Arabic nor the Modern Standard arabic you base your lies on nothing ,
indeed before our Prophet Mohammed
Arab Christians called god : Allah
Arab Jews called god : Allah
Arab Pagans had many idols but believed that the so called Upper God (creator of everything ) was Allah
ask any christian arab or arab jew how they call God
ask them linguistically the meaning , just like dieu in french and Khuda in Farsi it means God , if you accept it or not
BTW your claim about a moon god is baseless ,
Anti Islamic propoganda teaches that they base it on The So Called Crescent Symbol On Many Mosques
if you would study islamic history you would know that Prophet Mohammed never had such a symbol not on any flag not on early Mosques
The crescent symbol is taken from the Turkish Ottomans they invaded large areas and brought that Nationalistic Symbol to the area
The crescent is a Bidah(innovations)
(Prophet Mohammed has innovations in the religion Forbidden)
crescent symbol is nothing but an unislamic nationalistic symbol it doesnt belong in islam
Where Does the word " Allah " Come From?
"Allah" comes from the Arabic word "elah" - (Arabic) means 'a god' or something that is worshipped. This word (elah) can be made plural, as in "aleha" and it can be male or female. "Allah" comes from "elaha" but it brings more clarification and understanding.
Allah = Has no gender (not male and not female)
* " He " is used only out of respect and dignity - not for gender
Allah = Always singular - Never plural
* " We " is used only as the " Royal WE " just as in English for royalty
Allah = Means "The Only One to be Worshipped"
Is "Allah" only for Islam and Muslims?
"Allah" is the same word used by Christian and Jewish Arabs in the Bible, before Islam came.
On page one [1] of Genesis in the Old Testament, we find the word "Allah" seventeen [17] times.
http://abdurrahman.org/tawheed/asmawasifat/Allah.html
indeed before our Prophet Mohammed
Arab Christians called god : Allah
Arab Jews called god : Allah
Arab Pagans had many idols but believed that the so called Upper God (creator of everything ) was Allah
ask any christian arab or arab jew how they call God
ask them linguistically the meaning , just like dieu in french and Khuda in Farsi it means God , if you accept it or not
BTW your claim about a moon god is baseless ,
Anti Islamic propoganda teaches that they base it on The So Called Crescent Symbol On Many Mosques
if you would study islamic history you would know that Prophet Mohammed never had such a symbol not on any flag not on early Mosques
The crescent symbol is taken from the Turkish Ottomans they invaded large areas and brought that Nationalistic Symbol to the area
The crescent is a Bidah(innovations)
(Prophet Mohammed has innovations in the religion Forbidden)
crescent symbol is nothing but an unislamic nationalistic symbol it doesnt belong in islam
Where Does the word " Allah " Come From?
"Allah" comes from the Arabic word "elah" - (Arabic) means 'a god' or something that is worshipped. This word (elah) can be made plural, as in "aleha" and it can be male or female. "Allah" comes from "elaha" but it brings more clarification and understanding.
Allah = Has no gender (not male and not female)
* " He " is used only out of respect and dignity - not for gender
Allah = Always singular - Never plural
* " We " is used only as the " Royal WE " just as in English for royalty
Allah = Means "The Only One to be Worshipped"
Is "Allah" only for Islam and Muslims?
"Allah" is the same word used by Christian and Jewish Arabs in the Bible, before Islam came.
On page one [1] of Genesis in the Old Testament, we find the word "Allah" seventeen [17] times.
http://abdurrahman.org/tawheed/asmawasifat/Allah.html
am i correct in presuming that you are shia?
QUOTE(1.618 @ Sep 7 2007, 01:06 PM)
am i correct in presuming that you are shia?
I am a Muslim i follow the Quran and the Sunnah as Prophet Mohammed ordered us
i follow the islamic school of Imam Abu Hanifa (one of the sunni imams)
Shia are not Muslims this is a deep topic but if you are interested i could explain you some of their beliefs
Ahmadinejad , Khomeini are not islamic leaders they dont represent Islam
any questions most welcome
QUOTE(Abdullah @ Sep 7 2007, 12:25 PM)
I am a Muslim i follow the Quran and the Sunnah as Prophet Mohammed ordered us
i follow the islamic school of Imam Abu Hanifa (one of the sunni imams)
Shia are not Muslims this is a deep topic but if you are interested i could explain you some of their beliefs
Ahmadinejad , Khomeini are not islamic leaders they dont represent Islam
any questions most welcome
i follow the islamic school of Imam Abu Hanifa (one of the sunni imams)
Shia are not Muslims this is a deep topic but if you are interested i could explain you some of their beliefs
Ahmadinejad , Khomeini are not islamic leaders they dont represent Islam
any questions most welcome
i spent about 8 hours yesterday discussing it with my friend.(one occasion of many!). some of the things yo say struck me as shiite, if you will
QUOTE(1.618 @ Sep 7 2007, 01:27 PM)
i spent about 8 hours yesterday discussing it with my friend.(one occasion of many!). some of the things yo say struck me as shiite, if you will
are you a Shia itna Ashari?
Ok Abdullah, first of all there is no reason to toss around terms like pure lies and anti-Islamics just because you do not agree with another’s interpretation of a word or words. You speak of having friendly discourse and tolerance of others beliefs yet your words are hostile to those that disagree with your interpretations. You might try a more friendly approach like, I’m sorry I don’t agree with that, and here is why I do not! It will go much further in developing respect for your views around here.
I will tell you several reasons why I use the term God instead of a personal name. A personal name denotes an individual from a group as Christians, Moslems and Jews believe there is one God there is only one that holds the title of God. No need to single him out from a group because He is One.
Jehovah Allah Yahweh Adonai are all translation of an unpronounceable Hebrew word for the creator of all things, I believe there is a reason for this that humans can not fully understand.
If my personal name was unpronounceable it would be politeness and courtesy to address me with the title Sir for much the same reason.
Another reason I use the title God rather than a personal name is out of respect for the position much the same way as I do not address my earthly father by his earthly name but use the terms father or dad.
I fully accept that you may not agree with this, but remember that does not make me a liar.
All the best
Irish
I will tell you several reasons why I use the term God instead of a personal name. A personal name denotes an individual from a group as Christians, Moslems and Jews believe there is one God there is only one that holds the title of God. No need to single him out from a group because He is One.
Jehovah Allah Yahweh Adonai are all translation of an unpronounceable Hebrew word for the creator of all things, I believe there is a reason for this that humans can not fully understand.
If my personal name was unpronounceable it would be politeness and courtesy to address me with the title Sir for much the same reason.
Another reason I use the title God rather than a personal name is out of respect for the position much the same way as I do not address my earthly father by his earthly name but use the terms father or dad.
I fully accept that you may not agree with this, but remember that does not make me a liar.
All the best
Irish
QUOTE(Abdullah @ Sep 7 2007, 07:25 AM)
Shia are not Muslims this is a deep topic but if you are interested i could explain you some of their beliefs
Ahmadinejad , Khomeini are not islamic leaders they dont represent Islam
Ahmadinejad , Khomeini are not islamic leaders they dont represent Islam
I don't think it is wise to judge like that. We are all children of Allah subhana wa ta'allah; let Allah judge, and us worry about our own misinterpretations instead of others.
QUOTE(Abdullah @ Sep 6 2007, 03:38 PM)
<< the source you quote is wrong its from a non arabic non islamic non academic source
you say :the hard evidence demonstrates that the god Allah was a pagan deity. In fact, he was the Moon-god who was married to the sun goddess and the stars were his daughters........ more here <<< Pure lies and no hard evidence as you claim its a pure lie
Arabic-speakers of all faiths, including Christians and Jews, use the word "Allah" to mean "God". source: Columbia Encyclopedia, Allah
let us look what the Catholic Encyclopedia writes : Allah The name of God in Arabic.
It is a compound word from the article, 'al, and ilah, divinity, and signifies "the god" par excellence. This form of the divine name is in itself a sure proof that ilah was at one time an appellative, common to all the local and tribal gods. Gradually, with the addition of the article, it was restricted to one of them who took precedence of the others; finally, with the triumph of monotheism, He was recognized as the only true God.
Let it be noted that although Allah is an Arabic term, it is used by all Moslems, whatever be their language, as the name of God.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01316a.htm << Catholic source
Allah means God , just like Dieu in French and Khuda in Persian ,
Ask any Arab Christian or Jew how they call god they say : Allah
the Arabic bible : Allah
the arabic jewish sources : Allah
other sources : Allah (Arabic: الله, Allāh) is the standard Arabic word for "God". The term is best known in the West for its use by Muslims as a reference to God.
Arabic-speakers of all faiths, including Christians and Jews, use the word "Allah" to mean "God". source: Columbia Encyclopedia, Allah
i advice you to read and study this Link : http://answering-christianity.com/allahorigin.htm carefully it refutes those who claim wrong things about the origin of the name Allah
we Muslims are totally against Paganism , our Prophet Mohammed preached pure monotheism
i brought you enough sources and information , if you have any further questions be free , but no false claims
you say :the hard evidence demonstrates that the god Allah was a pagan deity. In fact, he was the Moon-god who was married to the sun goddess and the stars were his daughters........ more here <<< Pure lies and no hard evidence as you claim its a pure lie
Arabic-speakers of all faiths, including Christians and Jews, use the word "Allah" to mean "God". source: Columbia Encyclopedia, Allah
let us look what the Catholic Encyclopedia writes : Allah The name of God in Arabic.
It is a compound word from the article, 'al, and ilah, divinity, and signifies "the god" par excellence. This form of the divine name is in itself a sure proof that ilah was at one time an appellative, common to all the local and tribal gods. Gradually, with the addition of the article, it was restricted to one of them who took precedence of the others; finally, with the triumph of monotheism, He was recognized as the only true God.
Let it be noted that although Allah is an Arabic term, it is used by all Moslems, whatever be their language, as the name of God.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01316a.htm << Catholic source
Allah means God , just like Dieu in French and Khuda in Persian ,
Ask any Arab Christian or Jew how they call god they say : Allah
the Arabic bible : Allah
the arabic jewish sources : Allah
other sources : Allah (Arabic: الله, Allāh) is the standard Arabic word for "God". The term is best known in the West for its use by Muslims as a reference to God.
Arabic-speakers of all faiths, including Christians and Jews, use the word "Allah" to mean "God". source: Columbia Encyclopedia, Allah
i advice you to read and study this Link : http://answering-christianity.com/allahorigin.htm carefully it refutes those who claim wrong things about the origin of the name Allah
we Muslims are totally against Paganism , our Prophet Mohammed preached pure monotheism
i brought you enough sources and information , if you have any further questions be free , but no false claims
hahaha ur so freakin hilarious, allah is the muslim god, noone elses, god is just god to the cathlics, he has no real name, and u dont even know that mohammed existed, no evidence its all lies, sound familier? i suggest that u stop critisizing others who actually know history. and by the way, u know my religion by my name,
hmm i just re read what u said and saw u say that allah is the standard arabic word for God, so therefore its just another language, thats god in their language, so u dont really have a point.
QUOTE(the_atheist_mind @ Sep 7 2007, 12:33 PM)
hahaha ur so freakin hilarious, allah is the muslim god, noone elses, god is just god to the cathlics, he has no real name, and u dont even know that mohammed existed, no evidence its all lies, sound familier? i suggest that u stop critisizing others who actually know history. and by the way, u know my religion by my name,
hmm i just re read what u said and saw u say that allah is the standard arabic word for God, so therefore its just another language, thats god in their language, so u dont really have a point.
hmm i just re read what u said and saw u say that allah is the standard arabic word for God, so therefore its just another language, thats god in their language, so u dont really have a point.
From the muslim prospective, he is also the god of christians and the jewish as well. You may not agree with that, which is okay, but it won't change the mind of the muslim you are saying that to. History is actually quite keen on the existance of Muhammed, peace be upon him. There is evidence, all you have to do is look for it.
QUOTE(the_atheist_mind @ Sep 7 2007, 06:33 PM)
hahaha ur so freakin hilarious, allah is the muslim god, noone elses, god is just god to the cathlics, he has no real name, and u dont even know that mohammed existed, no evidence its all lies, sound familier? i suggest that u stop critisizing others who actually know history. and by the way, u know my religion by my name,
hmm i just re read what u said and saw u say that allah is the standard arabic word for God, so therefore its just another language, thats god in their language, so u dont really have a point.
hmm i just re read what u said and saw u say that allah is the standard arabic word for God, so therefore its just another language, thats god in their language, so u dont really have a point.
The term is best known in the West for its use by Muslims as a reference to God.[1] Arabic-speakers of all faiths, including Christians and Jews, use the word "Allah" to mean "God" - Columbia Encyclopedia, Allah
Columbia Encyclopedia is a western reliable source but if you want to read more scroll up
i explained myself very well , i backed my claim with many proof from western intellectual sources , aswell with Islamic translated sources , i see many people are fallen into ignorance and hatred , i suggest to stop this discussion since there is no need to discuss with people who are lead by hatred instead of intelligence , i suggest you both go to any , Arab christian or Arab jew or to any Arabic teacher and ask them about the Meaning of Allah most High , but at least respect eachother and dont make false claims about eachother beliefs to justify hatred , salaams May Allah guide us all
It is a known fact that every language has one or more terms that are used in reference to God and sometimes to lesser deities. This is not the case with Allah. Allah is the personal name of the One true God. Nothing else can be called Allah. The term has no plural or gender. This shows its uniqueness when compared with the word god which can be made plural, gods, or feminine, goddess. It is interesting to notice that Allah is the personal name of God in Aramaic, the language of Jesus and a sister language of Arabic.
The One true God is a reflection of the unique concept that Islam associates with God. To a Muslim, Allah is the Almighty, Creator and Sustainer of the universe, Who is similar to nothing and nothing is comparable to Him. The Prophet Muhammad was asked by his contemporaries about Allah; the answer came directly from God Himself in the form of a short chapter of the Quran, which is considered the essence of the unity or the motto of monotheism. This is chapter 112 which reads:
"In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.
Say (O Muhammad) He is God the One God, the Everlasting Refuge, who has not begotten, nor has been begotten, and equal to Him is not anyone."
source Abdurrahman.org
The One true God is a reflection of the unique concept that Islam associates with God. To a Muslim, Allah is the Almighty, Creator and Sustainer of the universe, Who is similar to nothing and nothing is comparable to Him. The Prophet Muhammad was asked by his contemporaries about Allah; the answer came directly from God Himself in the form of a short chapter of the Quran, which is considered the essence of the unity or the motto of monotheism. This is chapter 112 which reads:
"In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.
Say (O Muhammad) He is God the One God, the Everlasting Refuge, who has not begotten, nor has been begotten, and equal to Him is not anyone."
source Abdurrahman.org
Nothing what you said Abdulah, is new for me. As a sunni muslim I know that Allah is the word God in arabic. If others do not agree with it well let it be.
I know that there is a hatered against everything that is islamic - not only since 9/11 - this is just a welcome excuse. But, let it be. We all have our opinions.
What I do not understand is how can you say that shia are not moslems? Who are you to judge? Every person that believes in God/Allah/Bog... no matter of what religion IS a muslim - a believer.
Abdulah, I have many Christian friends that are closer to my soul and to my religion then someone like Ahmedinedjad and Osama wil ever be. Let it be.
One more thing: do not use UM to try to explain Islam. They do not want to understand. Let it be. Selam.
I know that there is a hatered against everything that is islamic - not only since 9/11 - this is just a welcome excuse. But, let it be. We all have our opinions.
What I do not understand is how can you say that shia are not moslems? Who are you to judge? Every person that believes in God/Allah/Bog... no matter of what religion IS a muslim - a believer.
Abdulah, I have many Christian friends that are closer to my soul and to my religion then someone like Ahmedinedjad and Osama wil ever be. Let it be.
One more thing: do not use UM to try to explain Islam. They do not want to understand. Let it be. Selam.
Some of the biggest misconceptions that many non-Muslims have about Islam have to do with the word "Allah". For various reasons, many people have come to believe that Muslims worship a different God than Christians and Jews. This is totally false, since "Allah" is simply the Arabic word for "God" - and there is only One God. Let there be no doubt - Muslims worship the God of Noah, Abraham, Moses, David and Jesus - peace be upon them all. However, it is certainly true that Jews, Christians and Muslims all have different concepts of Almighty God. For example, Muslims - like Jews - reject the Christian beliefs of the Trinity and the Divine Incarnation. This, however, doesn't mean that each of these three religions worships a different God - because, as we have already said, there is only One True God. Judaism, Christianity and Islam all claim to be "Abrahamic Faiths", and all of them are also classified as "monotheistic". However, Islam teaches that other religions have, in one way or another, distorted and nullified a pure and proper belief in Almighty God by neglecting His true teachings and mixing them with man-made ideas.
First of all,[/b] it is important to note that "Allah" is the same word that Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews use for God. If you pick up an Arabic Bible, you will see the word "Allah" being used where "God" is used in English. This is because "Allah" is the only word in the Arabic language equivalent to the English word "God" with a capital "G". Additionally, the word "Allah" cannot be made plural or given gender (i.e. masculine or feminine), which goes hand-in-hand with the Islamic concept of God. Because of this, and also because the Qur'an, which is the holy scripture of Muslims, was revealed in the Arabic language, some Muslims use the word "Allah" for "God", even when they are speaking other languages. This is not unique to the word "Allah", since many Muslims tend to use Arabic words when discussing Islamic issues, regardless of the language which they speak. This is because the universal teachings of Islam - even though they have been translated in every major language - have been preserved in the Arabic language.
It is interesting to note that the Aramaic word "El", which is the word for God in the language that Jesus spoke, is certainly more similar in sound to the word "Allah" than the English word "God". [/b]This also holds true for the various Hebrew words for God, which are "El" and "Elah", and the plural form "Elohim". The reason for these similarities is that Aramaic, Hebrew and Arabic are all Semitic languages with common origins. It should also be noted that in translating the Bible into English, the Hebrew word "El" is translated variously as "God", "god" and "angel"! This imprecise language allows different translators, based on their preconceived notions, to translate the word to fit their own views. The Arabic word "Allah" presents no such difficulty or ambiguity, since it is only used for Almighty God alone. Additionally, in English, the only difference between "god", meaning a false god, and "God", meaning the One True God, is the capital "G". In the Arabic alphabet, since it does not have capital letters, the word for God (i.e. Allah) is formed by adding the equivalent to the English word "the" (Al-) to the Arabic word for "god/God" (ilah). So the Arabic word "Allah" literally it means "The God" - the "Al-" in Arabic basically serving the same function as the capital "G" in English. Due to the above mentioned facts, a more accurate translation of the word "Allah" into English might be "The One -and-Only God" or "The One True God".
More importantly, it should also be noted that the Arabic word "Allah" contains a deep religious message due to its root meaning and origin. This is because it stems from the Arabic verb ta'allaha (or alaha), which means "to be worshipped". Thus in Arabic, the word "Allah" means "The One who deserves all worship". This, in a nutshell, is the Pure Monotheistic message of Islam. You see, according to Islam, "monotheism" is much more than simply believing in the existence of "only One God" - as seemingly opposed to two, three or more. If one understands the root meaning of the word "Allah", this point should become clear. One should understand that Islam's criticism of the other religions that claim to be "monotheistic" is not because they are "polytheistic" in the classic sense, but because they direct various forms of worship to other than Almighty God. We will discuss the meaning of worship in Islam below, however, before moving on it should be noted that many non-Muslims are unaware of the distinction between simply believing in the existence of only One God and reserving all worship for Him alone. Many Christians are painfully unaware of this point, and thus you often find them asking how Muslims can accuse the followers of Jesus, peace be upon him, of being "polytheists" when they were all "monotheistic Jews". First of all, it should be clarified that the word "polytheist" doesn't really sound right in this context, since to many it implies simply believing in the existence of more than one God. So in an Islamic context, "associators", "man-worshippers" or "creature worshippers" might be more accurate and appropriate terms - especially since Christians believe Jesus to be both "100% God and 100% man", while still paying lip-service to God's "Oneness". However, as we're previously touched upon, what is really at the root of this problem is the fact that Christians - as well as the members of other religions - don't really know what "monotheism" means - especially in the Islamic sense. All of the books, articles and papers that I've read which were written by Christians invariably limit "monotheism" to believing in the existence of "One Sovereign and Creator God". Islam, however, teaches much more than this.
Suffice it to say that just because someone claims to be a "monotheistic" Jew, Christian or Muslim, that doesn't keep them from falling into corrupt beliefs and idolatrous practices. Many people, including some Muslims, claim belief in "One God" even though they've fallen into acts of idolatry. Certainly, many Protestants accuse Roman Catholics of idolatrous practices in regards to the saints and the Virgin Mary. Likewise, the Greek Orthodox Church is considered "idolatrous" by many other Christians because in much of their worship they use icons. However, if you ask a Roman Catholic or a Greek Orthodox person if God is "One", they will invariably answer: "Yes!". This lip-service, however, does not stop them from being "creature worshipping" idolaters. The same goes for Hindus, who just consider their gods to be "manifestations" or "incarnations" of the One Supreme God.
Everyone should be aware of the fact that throughout the long history of the "Abrahamic Faiths", there have people who, while believing in "One God", have adopted beliefs and practices that completely nullify their claim to "monotheism". This is the Muslim view of Christians. We're well aware of the fact that they claim belief in "One God" with their lips, but this doesn't mean that they don't nullify their claim in other ways. This is because many people simply haven't been taught everything that Pure Monotheism entails. From an Islamic point of view, "monotheism" can be nullified in many ways. For example, simply believing that it is permissible to rule by Western "liberal" and "democratic" laws in lieu of the Divinely Revealed Law of Almighty God makes one a "polytheist". Certainly, a person who does such a thing, whether Jewish, Christian or Muslim, doesn't ever believe that there is another Almighty Creator and Sovereign Lord. However, for all practical purposes, such a person has take another "god", whether they choose to admit it or not. In this way they are associating partners with Almighty God (Arabic: shirk), and thus become a "polytheist" in a practical sense, regardless of their lip-service to "monotheism". This holds true even if the person doesn't believe what they are doing is "worship". For example, Roman Catholics who pray to the Virgin Mary will staunchly deny that they are "worshipping" her. They instead call it "adoration" or some other watered-down term. However, from an Islamic point of view, what is worship if not this? Islam teaches that prayer and supplication are the marrow of worship, so if one directs their prayers to an intermediary (even if the pray is "ultimately" meant for God), then what is left of worship? Additionally, how can someone who believes in Almighty God follow man-made laws instead of God's Law, without admitting that they've begun worshipping other than God? Do they know better than God?
Additionally, the Old Testament makes it perfectly clear that making a "graven image" of any created thing (not to mention ones which are supposed to "represent" Almighty God) is prohibited. Please see Exodus 20:4-6, Leviticus 26:1 and Deuteronomy 4:16, 23, 25, 5:8 and Nehemiah 9:6 for some statements in regards to this point. Without addressing the issue that Christians commonly violate the unambiguous commandment not to even "make" representations of anything that is in the "heavens above or on the earth beneath", these verses not only teach that worshipping idols is prohibited, but also that Almighty God is eternally distinct from His creation and thus nothing in His creation can represent Him. To believe otherwise is to be a de facto idol worshipper - even if one claims belief in one, and only one, "True God". In Exodus 20:4-6 and Deuteronomy 4:16, Almighty God - who is a "Jealous God" - makes it perfectly clear that He is distinct from His creation.
By giving such clear and merciful guidance to human beings, God is establishing a universal and eternal Truth for the benefit of mankind. This eternal Truth is the bedrock of religious guidance, since once people begin to believe that Almighty God mixes with or can be represented by His creation, they can be duped into believing almost anything. Once someone accepts that God has become "incarnate" in His creation, or that someone or something is a "manifestation" - and thus representation - of Him, the floodgates are open and "Truth" becomes a matter of subjective guesswork. Once the first and most basic concept is violated - regardless of how complicated and sophisticated the rationale for it might be - it is very easy to fall further and further away from the Eternal Truth of Pure Monotheism. In the final analysis, it is not a question of whether God is capable of becoming a man, but rather a question of whether one bases their beliefs about God on clear, unambiguous and authentic guidance. Once it is left up to the human mind to decide what Almighty God can and cannot do, the stage is set for misguidance to take root. Human speculation about God only ends up leading to misguidance and despair, since no clear conclusions can ever be reached. For example, is God capable of creating an object so heavy that He is incapable of moving it? If not, does that mean that He is incapable? It is because of misguided questions like this that Islam clearly teaches that mankind should only say about God what He has said about Himself. This means all of our ideas about God must be based on Revelation - not human speculation. In short, the final prophet of Islam - Muhammad - was sent by Almighty God to preach the same Pure Monotheism that was practiced by Noah, Abraham, Moses, David and Jesus - peace be upon them all. This Pure Monotheism means not only believing that there is only One God in existence, but realizing that He is transcedent above His creation and that all worship is due to Him alone.
Before concluding, we should probably address the practice of those Muslims who insist on using the Arabic word "Allah" even when speaking English. Even though this practice certainly is not to be condemned when it is done around those who understand the meaning of the Arabic word "Allah", it is my experience - both during my years as a non-Muslim and my years as a Muslim - that such a practice can (and usually does) breed misunderstanding. It seems that often times, many of the Muslims who use the word "Allah" in lieu of the word "God", even when trying to attract people to Islam, are unaware of the severe misunderstandings that many non-Muslims have about Islam (and the distorted way which Islam has been portrayed in the West). Insisting on using the word "Allah" only fuels the flames of misunderstanding - so there's no good reason to do it. I've often wondered what value some Muslims think that using the word "Allah" adds to the Pure Message that they are trying to convey. ( . . . and I'm still waiting for an answer!) Unfortunately, those Muslims who insist on using the word "Allah" even when addressing non-Muslims who are unfamiliar with Islam and the Arabic language, do both a disservice to themselves and their religion. Unfortunately, this practice is usually based on the false assumption - by a non-native speaker of English - that the word "God" in English is incapable of expressing a pure and proper belief in Almighty God. This is certainly false. If someone says that the English word "God" cannot be used to express the Pure Islamic Belief in Tawhid, they are wrong not because they don't understand Tawhid, but simply because they don't understand the English language. Many people who insist on using the Arabic word "Allah" usually don't realize this, because in reality, they are not so much affirming the word "Allah" as they are rejecting the word "God" as unsuitable - based on incorrect assumptions. For someone to assume that the word "God" presupposes a certain theological point-of-view (such as the Trinity) is simply Wrong - and that's Wrong with a capital "W". To say the word "God" should be rejected because it can be changed into "god", "gods" or "goddess" is illogical because each of these words has a distinctive meaning and a distinctive spelling - at least to someone who knows how to speak English correctly. Using the same logic, I can demonstrate that the root letters "ktb" can be used to form the Arabic words "kitab" (book), "maktabah" (library), "maktab" (office) and "kaatib" (writer), but does that mean that these words have the same meaning? Do Arabic-speaking people go through life confusing libraries with writers and offices with books (both in conversation and in reality)? I think not! This is not to mention the fact that if the Arabic "Al-" was put in front of these words in order to make them definite, confusion would be even less likely! So the logic in both cases is the same, and this is because even though the same letters are used in "God" and "god", these two words have two different meanings in the English language. The capital "G" implies something different than the small "g" - and anyone who denies this simply doesn't know how to speak the English language.
In concluding this point, it should be mentioned that Arabic-speaking Muslims who believe in Pure Tawhid, Arabic-speaking Christians, the idol worshippers of Mecca and (so-called) Muslims who believe in "Wahdat al-Wujud" all use the word "Allah". However, does this guarantee all of them proper belief in "Allah"? Certainly not, because if they have a corrupt concept of "Allah" it doesn't matter what word they use!
This brings us to a more important point: It should be clearly understood that what Islam is primarily concerned with is correcting mankind's concept of Almighty God. What we are ultimately going to be held accountable at the end of our life is not whether we prefer the word "Allah" over the word "God", but what our concept of God is. Language is only a side issue. A person can have an incorrect concept of God while using the word "Allah", and likewise a person can have a correct concept of God while using the word "God". This is because both of these words are equally capable of being misused and being improperly defined. As we've already mentioned, using the word "Allah" no more insinuates belief in the Unity of God than the use of the word "God" insinuates belief in the Trinity - or any other theological opinion. Naturally, when God sends a revelation to mankind through a prophet, He is going to send it in a language that the people who receive it can understand and relate to. Almighty God makes this clear in the Qur'an, when He states:
"Never did We send a Messenger except (to teach) in the language of his (own) people in order to make (things) clear to them."
(Qur'an, Chapter 14 - "Abraham", Verse 4)
As Muslims, we think that it is unfortunate that we have to go into details on such seemingly minor issues, but so many falsehoods have been heaped upon our religion, that we feel that it is our duty to try to break down the barriers of falsehood. This isn't always easy, since there is a lot of anti-Islamic literature in existence which tries to make Islam look like something strange and foreign to Westerners. There are some people out there, who are obviously not on the side of truth, that want to get people to believe that "Allah" is just some Arabian "god", and that Islam is completely "other" - meaning that it has no common roots with the other Abrahamic religions (i.e. Christianity and Judaism). To say that Muslims worship a different "God" because they say "Allah" is just as illogical as saying that French people worship another God because they use the word "Dieu", that Spanish-speaking people worship a different God because they say "Dios" or that the Hebrews worshipped a different God because they sometimes call Him "Yahweh". Certainly, reasoning like this is quite ridiculous! It should also be mentioned, that claiming that any one language uses the only the correct word for God is tantamount to denying the universality of God's message to mankind, which was to all nations, tribes and people through various prophets who spoke different languages.
Before closing, we would like everyone to be aware of the fact that some Christian missionary organizations print English literature intended to teach Christians about Islam which say such things as: "Allah is the god of the Muslims" and that "Muhammad came to get people to believe in the god Allah" - implying that "Allah" is some sort of false "god". However, when these same organizations print literature in the Arabic language, hoping to lead Arabic-speaking Muslims "to Christ", they use the word "Allah" for God. It seems that if they were on the side of truth, they would not have to resort to such inconsistencies. And on an even more ridiculous note . . . there are also missionary organizations that exceed this in ignorance (or deceit) by writing books that call on Muslims to give up their belief in "Allah", and instead worship the "Lord" Jesus, "the Son of God". Besides making it abundantly clear that they are outside the community of Pure Monotheism, the people who write such material don't even realize that if they wrote such a pamphlet in Arabic, it would be self-contradictory. This is because in an Arabic Bible Jesus is the "Son of Allah"! If an Arabic-speaking person gave up the worship of "Allah", they would have no God to worship, since "Allah" is simply the Arabic word for God!
Before we conclude, however, we would like to ask our readers to ask themselves what they think the reasons are behind all of these lies? If Islam was just some false religion that didn't make any sense, would so many people, from Western scholars to Christian missionaries, have to tell so many lies about it? The reason is that the Ultimate Truth of Islam stands on solid ground and its unshakable belief in the Unity of God is above reproach. Due to this, Christians can't criticize its doctrines directly, but instead make up things about Islam that aren't true so that people lose the desire to learn more. If Muslims were able to present Islam in the proper way to people in the West, it surely might make many people reconsider and re-evaluate their own beliefs. It is quite likely that Christians, when they find out that there is a universal religion in the world that teaches people to worship and love God, while also practicing Pure Monotheism, would at least feel that they should re-examine the basis for their own beliefs and doctrines.
Source:Muslim Answers - Who is Allah ? - http://abdurrahman.org/faith/whoisallah.html
First of all,[/b] it is important to note that "Allah" is the same word that Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews use for God. If you pick up an Arabic Bible, you will see the word "Allah" being used where "God" is used in English. This is because "Allah" is the only word in the Arabic language equivalent to the English word "God" with a capital "G". Additionally, the word "Allah" cannot be made plural or given gender (i.e. masculine or feminine), which goes hand-in-hand with the Islamic concept of God. Because of this, and also because the Qur'an, which is the holy scripture of Muslims, was revealed in the Arabic language, some Muslims use the word "Allah" for "God", even when they are speaking other languages. This is not unique to the word "Allah", since many Muslims tend to use Arabic words when discussing Islamic issues, regardless of the language which they speak. This is because the universal teachings of Islam - even though they have been translated in every major language - have been preserved in the Arabic language.
It is interesting to note that the Aramaic word "El", which is the word for God in the language that Jesus spoke, is certainly more similar in sound to the word "Allah" than the English word "God". [/b]This also holds true for the various Hebrew words for God, which are "El" and "Elah", and the plural form "Elohim". The reason for these similarities is that Aramaic, Hebrew and Arabic are all Semitic languages with common origins. It should also be noted that in translating the Bible into English, the Hebrew word "El" is translated variously as "God", "god" and "angel"! This imprecise language allows different translators, based on their preconceived notions, to translate the word to fit their own views. The Arabic word "Allah" presents no such difficulty or ambiguity, since it is only used for Almighty God alone. Additionally, in English, the only difference between "god", meaning a false god, and "God", meaning the One True God, is the capital "G". In the Arabic alphabet, since it does not have capital letters, the word for God (i.e. Allah) is formed by adding the equivalent to the English word "the" (Al-) to the Arabic word for "god/God" (ilah). So the Arabic word "Allah" literally it means "The God" - the "Al-" in Arabic basically serving the same function as the capital "G" in English. Due to the above mentioned facts, a more accurate translation of the word "Allah" into English might be "The One -and-Only God" or "The One True God".
More importantly, it should also be noted that the Arabic word "Allah" contains a deep religious message due to its root meaning and origin. This is because it stems from the Arabic verb ta'allaha (or alaha), which means "to be worshipped". Thus in Arabic, the word "Allah" means "The One who deserves all worship". This, in a nutshell, is the Pure Monotheistic message of Islam. You see, according to Islam, "monotheism" is much more than simply believing in the existence of "only One God" - as seemingly opposed to two, three or more. If one understands the root meaning of the word "Allah", this point should become clear. One should understand that Islam's criticism of the other religions that claim to be "monotheistic" is not because they are "polytheistic" in the classic sense, but because they direct various forms of worship to other than Almighty God. We will discuss the meaning of worship in Islam below, however, before moving on it should be noted that many non-Muslims are unaware of the distinction between simply believing in the existence of only One God and reserving all worship for Him alone. Many Christians are painfully unaware of this point, and thus you often find them asking how Muslims can accuse the followers of Jesus, peace be upon him, of being "polytheists" when they were all "monotheistic Jews". First of all, it should be clarified that the word "polytheist" doesn't really sound right in this context, since to many it implies simply believing in the existence of more than one God. So in an Islamic context, "associators", "man-worshippers" or "creature worshippers" might be more accurate and appropriate terms - especially since Christians believe Jesus to be both "100% God and 100% man", while still paying lip-service to God's "Oneness". However, as we're previously touched upon, what is really at the root of this problem is the fact that Christians - as well as the members of other religions - don't really know what "monotheism" means - especially in the Islamic sense. All of the books, articles and papers that I've read which were written by Christians invariably limit "monotheism" to believing in the existence of "One Sovereign and Creator God". Islam, however, teaches much more than this.
Suffice it to say that just because someone claims to be a "monotheistic" Jew, Christian or Muslim, that doesn't keep them from falling into corrupt beliefs and idolatrous practices. Many people, including some Muslims, claim belief in "One God" even though they've fallen into acts of idolatry. Certainly, many Protestants accuse Roman Catholics of idolatrous practices in regards to the saints and the Virgin Mary. Likewise, the Greek Orthodox Church is considered "idolatrous" by many other Christians because in much of their worship they use icons. However, if you ask a Roman Catholic or a Greek Orthodox person if God is "One", they will invariably answer: "Yes!". This lip-service, however, does not stop them from being "creature worshipping" idolaters. The same goes for Hindus, who just consider their gods to be "manifestations" or "incarnations" of the One Supreme God.
Everyone should be aware of the fact that throughout the long history of the "Abrahamic Faiths", there have people who, while believing in "One God", have adopted beliefs and practices that completely nullify their claim to "monotheism". This is the Muslim view of Christians. We're well aware of the fact that they claim belief in "One God" with their lips, but this doesn't mean that they don't nullify their claim in other ways. This is because many people simply haven't been taught everything that Pure Monotheism entails. From an Islamic point of view, "monotheism" can be nullified in many ways. For example, simply believing that it is permissible to rule by Western "liberal" and "democratic" laws in lieu of the Divinely Revealed Law of Almighty God makes one a "polytheist". Certainly, a person who does such a thing, whether Jewish, Christian or Muslim, doesn't ever believe that there is another Almighty Creator and Sovereign Lord. However, for all practical purposes, such a person has take another "god", whether they choose to admit it or not. In this way they are associating partners with Almighty God (Arabic: shirk), and thus become a "polytheist" in a practical sense, regardless of their lip-service to "monotheism". This holds true even if the person doesn't believe what they are doing is "worship". For example, Roman Catholics who pray to the Virgin Mary will staunchly deny that they are "worshipping" her. They instead call it "adoration" or some other watered-down term. However, from an Islamic point of view, what is worship if not this? Islam teaches that prayer and supplication are the marrow of worship, so if one directs their prayers to an intermediary (even if the pray is "ultimately" meant for God), then what is left of worship? Additionally, how can someone who believes in Almighty God follow man-made laws instead of God's Law, without admitting that they've begun worshipping other than God? Do they know better than God?
Additionally, the Old Testament makes it perfectly clear that making a "graven image" of any created thing (not to mention ones which are supposed to "represent" Almighty God) is prohibited. Please see Exodus 20:4-6, Leviticus 26:1 and Deuteronomy 4:16, 23, 25, 5:8 and Nehemiah 9:6 for some statements in regards to this point. Without addressing the issue that Christians commonly violate the unambiguous commandment not to even "make" representations of anything that is in the "heavens above or on the earth beneath", these verses not only teach that worshipping idols is prohibited, but also that Almighty God is eternally distinct from His creation and thus nothing in His creation can represent Him. To believe otherwise is to be a de facto idol worshipper - even if one claims belief in one, and only one, "True God". In Exodus 20:4-6 and Deuteronomy 4:16, Almighty God - who is a "Jealous God" - makes it perfectly clear that He is distinct from His creation.
By giving such clear and merciful guidance to human beings, God is establishing a universal and eternal Truth for the benefit of mankind. This eternal Truth is the bedrock of religious guidance, since once people begin to believe that Almighty God mixes with or can be represented by His creation, they can be duped into believing almost anything. Once someone accepts that God has become "incarnate" in His creation, or that someone or something is a "manifestation" - and thus representation - of Him, the floodgates are open and "Truth" becomes a matter of subjective guesswork. Once the first and most basic concept is violated - regardless of how complicated and sophisticated the rationale for it might be - it is very easy to fall further and further away from the Eternal Truth of Pure Monotheism. In the final analysis, it is not a question of whether God is capable of becoming a man, but rather a question of whether one bases their beliefs about God on clear, unambiguous and authentic guidance. Once it is left up to the human mind to decide what Almighty God can and cannot do, the stage is set for misguidance to take root. Human speculation about God only ends up leading to misguidance and despair, since no clear conclusions can ever be reached. For example, is God capable of creating an object so heavy that He is incapable of moving it? If not, does that mean that He is incapable? It is because of misguided questions like this that Islam clearly teaches that mankind should only say about God what He has said about Himself. This means all of our ideas about God must be based on Revelation - not human speculation. In short, the final prophet of Islam - Muhammad - was sent by Almighty God to preach the same Pure Monotheism that was practiced by Noah, Abraham, Moses, David and Jesus - peace be upon them all. This Pure Monotheism means not only believing that there is only One God in existence, but realizing that He is transcedent above His creation and that all worship is due to Him alone.
Before concluding, we should probably address the practice of those Muslims who insist on using the Arabic word "Allah" even when speaking English. Even though this practice certainly is not to be condemned when it is done around those who understand the meaning of the Arabic word "Allah", it is my experience - both during my years as a non-Muslim and my years as a Muslim - that such a practice can (and usually does) breed misunderstanding. It seems that often times, many of the Muslims who use the word "Allah" in lieu of the word "God", even when trying to attract people to Islam, are unaware of the severe misunderstandings that many non-Muslims have about Islam (and the distorted way which Islam has been portrayed in the West). Insisting on using the word "Allah" only fuels the flames of misunderstanding - so there's no good reason to do it. I've often wondered what value some Muslims think that using the word "Allah" adds to the Pure Message that they are trying to convey. ( . . . and I'm still waiting for an answer!) Unfortunately, those Muslims who insist on using the word "Allah" even when addressing non-Muslims who are unfamiliar with Islam and the Arabic language, do both a disservice to themselves and their religion. Unfortunately, this practice is usually based on the false assumption - by a non-native speaker of English - that the word "God" in English is incapable of expressing a pure and proper belief in Almighty God. This is certainly false. If someone says that the English word "God" cannot be used to express the Pure Islamic Belief in Tawhid, they are wrong not because they don't understand Tawhid, but simply because they don't understand the English language. Many people who insist on using the Arabic word "Allah" usually don't realize this, because in reality, they are not so much affirming the word "Allah" as they are rejecting the word "God" as unsuitable - based on incorrect assumptions. For someone to assume that the word "God" presupposes a certain theological point-of-view (such as the Trinity) is simply Wrong - and that's Wrong with a capital "W". To say the word "God" should be rejected because it can be changed into "god", "gods" or "goddess" is illogical because each of these words has a distinctive meaning and a distinctive spelling - at least to someone who knows how to speak English correctly. Using the same logic, I can demonstrate that the root letters "ktb" can be used to form the Arabic words "kitab" (book), "maktabah" (library), "maktab" (office) and "kaatib" (writer), but does that mean that these words have the same meaning? Do Arabic-speaking people go through life confusing libraries with writers and offices with books (both in conversation and in reality)? I think not! This is not to mention the fact that if the Arabic "Al-" was put in front of these words in order to make them definite, confusion would be even less likely! So the logic in both cases is the same, and this is because even though the same letters are used in "God" and "god", these two words have two different meanings in the English language. The capital "G" implies something different than the small "g" - and anyone who denies this simply doesn't know how to speak the English language.
In concluding this point, it should be mentioned that Arabic-speaking Muslims who believe in Pure Tawhid, Arabic-speaking Christians, the idol worshippers of Mecca and (so-called) Muslims who believe in "Wahdat al-Wujud" all use the word "Allah". However, does this guarantee all of them proper belief in "Allah"? Certainly not, because if they have a corrupt concept of "Allah" it doesn't matter what word they use!
This brings us to a more important point: It should be clearly understood that what Islam is primarily concerned with is correcting mankind's concept of Almighty God. What we are ultimately going to be held accountable at the end of our life is not whether we prefer the word "Allah" over the word "God", but what our concept of God is. Language is only a side issue. A person can have an incorrect concept of God while using the word "Allah", and likewise a person can have a correct concept of God while using the word "God". This is because both of these words are equally capable of being misused and being improperly defined. As we've already mentioned, using the word "Allah" no more insinuates belief in the Unity of God than the use of the word "God" insinuates belief in the Trinity - or any other theological opinion. Naturally, when God sends a revelation to mankind through a prophet, He is going to send it in a language that the people who receive it can understand and relate to. Almighty God makes this clear in the Qur'an, when He states:
"Never did We send a Messenger except (to teach) in the language of his (own) people in order to make (things) clear to them."
(Qur'an, Chapter 14 - "Abraham", Verse 4)
As Muslims, we think that it is unfortunate that we have to go into details on such seemingly minor issues, but so many falsehoods have been heaped upon our religion, that we feel that it is our duty to try to break down the barriers of falsehood. This isn't always easy, since there is a lot of anti-Islamic literature in existence which tries to make Islam look like something strange and foreign to Westerners. There are some people out there, who are obviously not on the side of truth, that want to get people to believe that "Allah" is just some Arabian "god", and that Islam is completely "other" - meaning that it has no common roots with the other Abrahamic religions (i.e. Christianity and Judaism). To say that Muslims worship a different "God" because they say "Allah" is just as illogical as saying that French people worship another God because they use the word "Dieu", that Spanish-speaking people worship a different God because they say "Dios" or that the Hebrews worshipped a different God because they sometimes call Him "Yahweh". Certainly, reasoning like this is quite ridiculous! It should also be mentioned, that claiming that any one language uses the only the correct word for God is tantamount to denying the universality of God's message to mankind, which was to all nations, tribes and people through various prophets who spoke different languages.
Before closing, we would like everyone to be aware of the fact that some Christian missionary organizations print English literature intended to teach Christians about Islam which say such things as: "Allah is the god of the Muslims" and that "Muhammad came to get people to believe in the god Allah" - implying that "Allah" is some sort of false "god". However, when these same organizations print literature in the Arabic language, hoping to lead Arabic-speaking Muslims "to Christ", they use the word "Allah" for God. It seems that if they were on the side of truth, they would not have to resort to such inconsistencies. And on an even more ridiculous note . . . there are also missionary organizations that exceed this in ignorance (or deceit) by writing books that call on Muslims to give up their belief in "Allah", and instead worship the "Lord" Jesus, "the Son of God". Besides making it abundantly clear that they are outside the community of Pure Monotheism, the people who write such material don't even realize that if they wrote such a pamphlet in Arabic, it would be self-contradictory. This is because in an Arabic Bible Jesus is the "Son of Allah"! If an Arabic-speaking person gave up the worship of "Allah", they would have no God to worship, since "Allah" is simply the Arabic word for God!
Before we conclude, however, we would like to ask our readers to ask themselves what they think the reasons are behind all of these lies? If Islam was just some false religion that didn't make any sense, would so many people, from Western scholars to Christian missionaries, have to tell so many lies about it? The reason is that the Ultimate Truth of Islam stands on solid ground and its unshakable belief in the Unity of God is above reproach. Due to this, Christians can't criticize its doctrines directly, but instead make up things about Islam that aren't true so that people lose the desire to learn more. If Muslims were able to present Islam in the proper way to people in the West, it surely might make many people reconsider and re-evaluate their own beliefs. It is quite likely that Christians, when they find out that there is a universal religion in the world that teaches people to worship and love God, while also practicing Pure Monotheism, would at least feel that they should re-examine the basis for their own beliefs and doctrines.
Source:Muslim Answers - Who is Allah ? - http://abdurrahman.org/faith/whoisallah.html
i Explained myself very well , with enough proof from arabic , islamic , and western academic sources , Discussion closed
QUOTE(Abdullah @ Sep 7 2007, 11:09 AM)
i Explained myself very well , with enough proof from arabic , islamic , and western academic sources , Discussion closed
I am sorry you feel so hostile to those that question.
But as you wish, end of discussion.
Irish
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