Muslims believe in the one Creator of the Universe, referring to Him as “Allah” which is the Arabic word for “God”. 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. In the English language, He is most commonly referred to as “God”. Allah says: 

لَّهُ مَقَالِيدُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ

“For Him (are the) keys (of) the heavens and the earth. And those who disbelieve in (the) Verses (of) Allah, those – they (are) the losers.” (Surah Az-Zumar 39:63)

The Islamic concept of God is that He is loving, merciful and compassionate. Islam also teaches that He is all-knowing and the perfect judge of affairs, and will punish (or forgive) accordingly. However, Allah once said to Muhammad, “My mercy prevails over my wrath”. Allah says:

مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِي كُلِّ سُنبُلَةٍ مِّائَةُ حَبَّةٍ وَاللَّهُ يُضَاعِفُ لِمَن يَشَاءُ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

“The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed which grows seven spikes, in each spike is a hundred grains. Allah multiplies His reward for whom He wills, for Allah is vast and knowing.” (Surat Al-Baqarah 2:261)

So Islam teaches a balance between fear and hope, protecting one from both complacency and despair. Islam considers associating any deity or personality with God as a deadly sin that God will never forgive, despite the fact He may forgive all other sins. Allah says:

اتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ

“Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Verily, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, but the remembrance of Allah is greater.” (Surat Al-Ankabut 29:45)

Allah is near and he responds to the prayers of the supplicants. It is well known to us that Allah Almighty loves His creation 70 times more than a mother loves her child. Allah says in the Quran, “Why should Allah punish you if you have thanked (Him) and have believed in Him.” He has instilled love in us as well as a sign of Him:

Here are some facts about Allah Almighty that all Muslims should know:

1. Allah is very Gracious and Kind to His slaves
2. Allah is everything in His own accord
3. Allah is the Supreme, the Sovereign
4. Allah is First, Last, and Everlasting
5. Allah knows what is in our hearts
6. Allah gives us many chances
7. Allah is the Impartial Judge
8. Allah is the Absolute Truth
9. Allah is the Most Merciful
10. Allah is the Only Creator
11. Allah is All-Knowing
12. Allah has no family
13. Allah is the Loving One
14. Allah is the Oft-Forgiving
15. Allah is the Maintainer of life
16. Allah is the Bestower of Sufficiency
17. Allah is the one, Who has no partner
18. Allah is All-Powerful, absolutely Just
19. Allah’s knowledge compasses all things
20. Allah is very Gracious and Kind to His slaves
21. Allah promises who obey Him to enter Paradise
22. Allah knows what we conceal and what we reveal

They may distinguish themselves and get His favour through virtue and piety only. The unique usage of Allah as a personal name of God is a reflection of Islam’s emphasis on the purity of the belief in God which is the essence of the message of all God’s messengers. Allah says: 

اللَّهُ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَكِيلٌ

“Allah (is the) Creator (of) all things, and He (is) over all things a Guardian.” (Quran 39:62)

Allah (according to Arabic lexis) means “a Being Who has all the attributes of perfection” – the Allah of the Muslims is the most perfect and noble being that has ever existed. His book is the Holy Qur’an, the only authentic revealed book in the world that has been kept without change. Allah not only warned us against Satan but also his footsteps. Allah says:

الَّذِي أَحْسَنَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقَهُ وَبَدَأَ خَلْقَ الْإِنسَانِ مِن طِينٍ

“The One Who made good everything He created, and He began (the) creation (of) man from clay.” (Surah As-Sajdah 32:7)

Allah has sent all of His messengers to invite people to worship Him Alone. Allah is the Bestower of Sufficiency, Allah is the One who satisfies the necessities of His creations. Allah is with those who fear Him (keep their duty unto Him) and the good-doers.

Here are some facts about Allah (God) in Islam:

1. Allah is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most-Merciful and he is also Severe in punishment
2. He sent Muhammad (PBUH) as the last Prophet and Messenger for all mankind
3. Allah has sent all of His messengers to invite people to worship Him Alone
4. Nothing is like Him. He is the Creator, not created, nor a part of His creation
5. Here is no other entity in the entire universe worthy of worship besides him
6. He sent His Messengers (peace be upon them) to guide all of mankind
7. He is the All-Knowing, and All-Merciful, the Supreme, the Sovereign
8. Allah is near and he responds to the invocations of the supplicants
9. Allah does not forgive setting up partners (in worship) with Him
10. Allah not only warned us against Satan but also his footsteps
11. It is only He Who is capable of granting life to anything
12. He knows what we conceal and what we reveal
13. Allah is very Gracious and Kind to His slaves
14. He is the one God, Who has no partner
15. He is All-Powerful, absolutely Just
16. Allah knows what is in our hearts
17. His book is the Holy Quran, the only authentic revealed book in the world that has been kept without change
18. He is First, Last, and Everlasting; He was when nothing was and will be when nothing else remains
19. Allah promises who obey Him to enter Paradise in the hereafter and warned who disobey Him against the Hell
20. Allah is with those who fear Him (keep their duty unto Him) and the good-doers
21. Allah says in the Quran, “Why should Allah punish you if you have thanked (Him) and have believed in Him.”

Although the God of Islam has revealed his will through the prophets, his actual nature remains ultimately unknowable. According to one Islamic scholar, Allah’s will “is all we have, and we have it in perfection in the Quran. But Islam does not equate the Quran with the nature or essence of God. It is the Word of God, the Commandment of God, the Will of God. 

Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran:

• “And that it is He who enriches and suffices.” (Quran 53:48)
• “Do you worship what you have carved yourself?” (Quran 37:95)
• “Allah – there is no deity except Him. To Him belong the best names.” (Quran 20:8)
• “On the earth are Signs for those of assured Faith; as also in your selves: will ye not then see?” (al-Dhariyat 51:20 – 21)
• “And Allah is most knowing of your enemies, and sufficient is Allah as an ally, and sufficient is Allah as a helper.” (Quran 4:45)
• “Such is the Creation of Allah: now show Me what is there that others besides Him have created…” (Luqman 31:11)
• “…(Such is) the artistry of Allah, Who disposes of all things in perfect order…” (al-Naml 27:88)
• “And indeed, it is We who give life and cause death, and We are the Inheritor.” (Quran 15:23)

Allah is true “Al-Waliyy” which means a protecting friend and supporter. Allah indeed knows all that is in our hearts. Allah’s knowledge compasses all things, as does His mercy and wisdom. There is nothing in the heavens or on Earth that escapes His notice. Allah says: 

إِنَّا كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقْنَاهُ بِقَدَرٍ

“Indeed, [We] everything We created it by a measure.” (Surah Qamar 54:49)

A believer loves and is grateful to God for the bounties He bestowed upon him, but being aware of the fact that his good deeds, whether mental or physical, are far from being commensurate with Divine favours, he is always anxious lest God should punish him, here or in the Hereafter. Allah says: 

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيرًا وَسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا

“O you who believe, remember Allah with much remembrance and exalt Him in the morning and evening.” (Surat Al-Ahzab 33:41)

He, therefore, fears Him, surrenders himself to Him and serves Him with great humility. One cannot be in such a mental state without being almost all the time mindful of God. Remembering God is thus the life force of faith, without which it fades and withers away.