Allah is All-Powerful

Understanding God in Islam

In Islam, Allah is the main word for “God.” Muslims use 99 Names of God to describe God, but “Allah” is the most common of these and means all of them. When a Muslim says “Allah,” all of the other names of God are thought of as part of it. Muslims also believe that this word tells about God’s being a single entity and as being without wrong or defect and of God having no partner. Allah says:

قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ

“Say: He is Allah, The One and Only.”Allah, the Eternal, Absolute.” He begets not, nor is He begotten. And there is none like unto Him.” (Surah Al-Ikhlas 112:1-4)

Muslims believe that Allah is the all-powerful Creator of a perfect, ordered universe. He is transcendent and not a part of his creation, and is most often referred to in terms and with names that emphasize his majesty and superiority. Allah created human beings as equals. They may distinguish themselves and get His favour through virtue and piety only. 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.” (Surah Az-Zumar 39:62)

He is Self-Sufficient or Self-Subsistent or, to use a Quranic term, Al-Qayyum. The Creator does not create only in the sense of bringing things into being, He also preserves them and takes them out of existence and is the ultimate cause of whatever happens to them. 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)

God created every human soul with some knowledge of His existence. The psychological constitution of man is such that he accepts the existence of the Creator unless he has been conditioned to believe the contrary. In other words, belief in God requires condition, while a rejection of God does. Thus religion is an integral part of human existence.

Allah’s creation has been designed and created everything in the universe:

  1. Allah is the Creator, not created, nor a part of His creation
  2. Allah is with those who fear Him and the good-doers
  3. Allah does not forgive setting up partners with Him
  4. Allah sent His Messengers to guide all of mankind
  5. Allah sent Muhammad (PBUH) as the last Prophet
  6. Allah promises who obey Him to enter Paradise
  7. Allah is very Gracious and Kind to His slaves
  8. Allah is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful
  9. Allah is All-Powerful, absolutely Just
  10. Allah is First, Last, and Everlasting
  11. Allah knows what is in our hearts
  12. Allah is the Maintainer of life
  13. Allah’s Book is the Holy Quran
  14. Allah is also severe in punishment
  15. Allah is First, Last, and Everlasting
  16. Allah is the one, Who has no partner
  17. Allah is everything in His own accord
  18. Allah’s knowledge compasses all things
  19. Allah is very Gracious and Kind to His slaves
  20. Allah warned who disobey Him against the Hell
  21. Allah is All-Merciful, the Supreme, the Sovereign
  22. Allah knows what we conceal and what we reveal
  23. Allah not only warned us against Satan but also his footsteps
  24. Allah sent Muhammad (PBUH) as a messenger for all mankind
  25. Allah is near and he responds to the invocations of the supplicants

Allah is a powerful and strict judge, who will be merciful toward followers depending on the sufficiency of their life’s good works and religious devotion. Allah is surely the best ally to have and even He acknowledges it in the Holy Quran. Allah says:

أَوَلَيْسَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ بِقَادِرٍ عَلَىٰ أَن يَخْلُقَ مِثْلَهُم بَلَىٰ وَهُوَ الْخَلَّاقُ الْعَلِيمُ

“Is it not (He) Who created the heavens and the earth Able to [that] create (the) like of them. Yes, indeed! and He (is) the Supreme Creator, the All-Knower.” (SurahYa-Sin 36:81)

Allah created the order of the universe in superb detail to allow a man to grasp His greatness. Faced with the sublimity of the details of this order, man becomes in awe, recognizing that Allah’s wisdom, knowledge, and might is infinite. So expansive is Allah’s knowledge that what for us is “infinite” is in His Sight already ended. Allah says:

وَقُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ سَيُرِيكُمْ آيَاتِهِ فَتَعْرِفُونَهَا وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ

“And say, “All praise (be) to Allah, He will show you His Signs, and you will recognize them. And your Lord is not unaware of what you do.” (Surah An-Naml 27:93)

The proper terminology used, in Islam, for God is “Allah.” There are a number of reasons for having a special word for God. First of all, the term “Allah” means, in Arabic, the one and only universal God or Creator and Provider of the universe. Allah says:

وَمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا وَيَعْلَمُ مُسْتَقَرَّهَا وَمُسْتَوْدَعَهَا كُلٌّ فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ

“And not any moving creature in the earth but on Allah (is) its provision. And He knows its dwelling place and its place of storage. All (is) in a Record clear.” (Surah Hud 11:6)

It is true that Allah 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. Similarly, God can do injustice if He chooses to, but He will never do it because being unjust is an ungodly act.

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

  • Allah is Unique: This means that He has no family and He is everything in His own accord and there is none like Him: “And Allah wishes to accept repentance from you but with those who follow the passions that you deviate – (into) a deviation great.” (Surah An-Nisa` 4:27)
  • Allah is the Only Creator: The Quran is full of verses that talk about Allah as “The Creator” and the word of Allah is the Absolute Truth. “Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is, over all things, Disposer of affairs. To Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth. And they who disbelieve in the verses of Allah – it is those who are the losers.” (Quran 39:62-63).
  • Allah is the Most Merciful: Allah Almighty is known to Muslims as the Most Merciful Being, it is only because of His mercy that even when we commit sins, He lets them go and gives us many chances. “And whoever does a wrong or wrongs himself but then seeks forgiveness of Allah will find Allah Forgiving and Merciful.” (Quran 4:110)
  • Allah is the Impartial Judge: And indeed Allah is the most impartial Judge: “Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.” (Quran 16:90)
  • Allah is All-Knowing: Allah is aware of the things that are hidden in our chests. “And with Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them except Him. And He knows what is on the land and in the sea. Not a leaf falls but that He knows it…” (Quran 6:59)
  • Allah is the Loving One: It is well known to us that Allah loves His creation 70 times more than a mother loves her child. He has instilled love in us as well as a sign of Him: “And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquillity in them, and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.” (Quran 30:21)
  • Allah is the Delayer: Known as “Al-Mu’akhkhir”, Allah is the delayer and the One who puts things in their right places. He makes ahead what He wills and delays what He wills. “Allah will forgive you of your sins and delay you for a specified term. Indeed, the time [set by] Allah, when it comes, will not be delayed, if you only knew.” (Quran 71:4)
  • Allah is the Bestower of Sufficiency: Allah is the One who satisfies the necessities of His creations. “O you who have believed, indeed the polytheists are unclean, so let them not approach al-Masjid al-Haram after this, their [final] year. And if you fear privation, Allah will enrich you from His bounty if He wills. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Wise.” (Quran 9:28)
  • Allah is the Maintainer of life: Allah is the Giver of life and it is only through His grace that we breathe as we do and are able to function in our daily lives. “And indeed, it is We who give life and cause death, and We are the Inheritor.” (Quran 15:23)
  • Allah is a Friend: Allah is a true “Al-Waliyy” which means a protecting friend and supporter.

Facts about Allah (God) in Islam:

  1. Allah has sent all of His messengers to invite people to worship Him Alone
  2. Allah is the All-Knowing, and All-Merciful, the Supreme, the Sovereign
  3. Allah promises who obey Him to enter Paradise in the hereafter 
  4. Allah knows what we conceal and what we reveal
  5. Allah is very Gracious and Kind to His slaves
  6. Allah is All-Powerful, absolutely Just
  7. Allah knows what is in our hearts
  8. Allah is First, Last, and Everlasting 
  9. Allah is the one God, Who has no partner
  10. Allah is capable of granting life to anything
  11. Allah is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most-Merciful 
  12. Allah not only warned us against Satan but also his footsteps
  13. Allah does not forgive setting up partners (in worship) with Him
  14. Allah is near and he responds to the invocations of the supplicant

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَنتُمُ الْفُقَرَاءُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ هُوَ الْغَنِيُّ الْحَمِيدُ

“O mankind! You (are) those in need of Allah, while Allah, He (is) Free of need the Praiseworthy.” (Surah Fatir 35:15)

Man must seek to appreciate the extent of Allah’s knowledge, and reflect to comprehend His greatness. Allah also possesses the power to create many other things beyond our limited imagination. Allah says:

اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ وَمِنَ الْأَرْضِ مِثْلَهُنَّ يَتَنَزَّلُ الْأَمْرُ بَيْنَهُنَّ لِتَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَحَاطَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عِلْمًا

”Allah (is) He Who created seven heavens and of the earth, (the) like of them. Descends the command between them that you may know that Allah (is) on everything All-Powerful. And that, Allah indeed, encompasses all things (in) knowledge.” (Surah At-Talaq 65:12)

Allah is the One Who can help man drive away any harm for it cannot occur without His Will and His Power. There is nothing in existence but beauty, for God created the cosmos only in His image, that is, in the image of His infinite beauty. Hence all cosmos with all its objects and events is beautiful.

Here is the reason why the Quran speaks, in the following verses:

  • “Allah is the doer of all that He intends.” (Quran 85:16)
  • “There is nothing whatever like unto Him.” (Quran 42:11)
  • “Allah is never unjust In the least degree.” (Al-Quran 4:40)
  •  “And that it is He who enriches and suffices.” (Quran 53:48)
  • “Deaf, dumb, and blind, They will not return (to the path).” (Quran 2:18)
  • “Allah – there is no deity except Him. To Him belong the best names.” (Quran 20:8)
  • “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)
  • “Unquestionably, [for] the allies of Allah there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.” (Quran 10:62)
  • “Whatever is in the heavens and on the earth exalts Allah and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.” (Quran 61:1)
  • “And indeed, it is We who give life and cause death, and We are the Inheritor.” (Quran 15:23)

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.” (Surah Ahzab 33:41)

The knowledge about Allah leads man to know that he is created to live according to Allah’s way as revealed to the last Messenger Muhammad. This Revelation contains a complete code of life. Everything that is beneficial or harmful is established. Allah says:

وَلَوْ أَنَّمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ مِن شَجَرَةٍ أَقْلَامٌ وَالْبَحْرُ يَمُدُّهُ مِن بَعْدِهِ سَبْعَةُ أَبْحُرٍ مَّا نَفِدَتْ كَلِمَاتُ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

“And if whatever (is) in the earth of (the) trees (were) pens and the sea, (to) add to it after it seven seas, not would be exhausted (the) Words (of) Allah. Indeed, Allah (is) All-Mighty, All-Wise.” (Surah Luqman 31:27)

The One true God is a reflection of the unique concept that Islam associates with Allah. To a Muslim, Allah is the Almighty Creator and Sustainer of the universe, Who is similar to nothing, and nothing is comparable to Him. Man can bring harm to himself if he seeks someone other than Allah for help. 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 Al-Sajdah 32:7)

Islam rejects characterizing God in any human form or depicting Him as favouring certain individuals or nations on the basis of wealth, power or race. He created human beings as equals. They may distinguish themselves and get His favour through virtue and piety only.

فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِي وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ

Remember Me and I will remember you, be grateful to Me and do not be ungrateful.” (Baqarah 2:152)

Here are some signs of Allah, we can better understand the different schemes of life:

  • Signs of there are so many different kinds of animals and plant
  • Signs to create the earth with its mountains, rivers and seas
  • Signs of the tiny grains of pollen on a flower
  • Signs to create magnificent stars in the sky
  • Signs of heavy ships to float on water
  • Signs of clouds are made of water
  • Signs of bringing seeds to life
  • Signs of water gets up into the sky
  • Signs of the earth has so much water
  • Signs of all plants have their characteristics
  • Signs of causes the wind to change and blow
  • Signs of two-thirds of the earth is covered by water (the sea)
  • Signs of the clouds coming and going between different seasons

Some may argue that God does not become a human being but only takes a human form. If God only takes a human form but does not become a human being, He should not possess any human qualities. The worship of God in human form is, therefore, a logical fallacy and should be abhorred in all its forms and manifestations. 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.” (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:41)

Islam matches their expectations about religion and deity. Islam teaches that there is one supreme deity, who is worshipped through good deeds and disciplined religious rituals. After death, a person is rewarded or punished according to their religious devotion. Muslims believe that giving up one’s life for Allah is a sure way of entering Paradise. Allah says:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ افْتَرَىٰ إِثْمًا عَظِيمًا

“Indeed, Allah (does) not forgive that partners be associated with Him, but He forgives other than that for whom He wills. And whoever associates partners with Allah, then surely he has fabricated a sin – tremendous.” (Surah An-Nisa 4:48)

The scriptures of all major religions exhort mankind to follow that which is good and eschew that which is evil. All scriptures remind mankind that good will not go unrewarded and evil will not go unpunished. Allah says:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا بَعِيدًا

“Indeed, Allah does not forgive that partners be associated with Him, but He forgives [what] other than that for whom He wills. And whoever associates partners with Allah then surely he lost (the) way, straying far away.” (Surah an-Nisa 4:116)

Islam rejects associating partners with God like depicting Him like humans or considering that humans can help us like God. All the concepts like God can incarnate in any idol or human being are completely rejected by Islam. Considering human beings as partners in matters and decisions of Allah is blasphemous in Islam.