Allah is unique for Muslims in many different ways. Looking at a well-known Hadith, or saying of the prophet Muhammad, I was a hidden treasure. I loved to be known. Therefore, I created the creation so that I would be known.
So all creation, all existence is a calling out of Allah's love and compassion, and the names serve to bring one back to Allah.
Hello, welcome. In the study of the monotheistic religions, you come across many names for God. In the Judaic tradition, speaking or writing the name of God in full is considered blasphemous. And there are many other names used in different contexts to refer to the sole creator god. Today we'll look at Allah, the Supreme and all-comprehensive divine name from God in Islam.
You might often hear the god of monotheism referred to in the masculine. In Islam, Allah is not considered male nor female. Allah may be referred to as both depending on the context. For example, in some teachings, Allah's essence is sometimes understood in the feminine form. However, as creator with attention on the world, the masculine form is used.
The teaching expresses that any apparent dualities are transcended by the divine nature of Allah, which is wholly one and unified. Allah has many qualities which are reflected in creation. And for this, the name is given in the Koran as Al-Khaliq, the creator. It's generally agreed in the tradition of Islam that the Koran offers 99 names for Allah. And the names are organized in three categories-- perfection, majesty, and beauty.
Addressing Allah by one of these names is meant to always refer back to the source. Calling attention to Allah through one of these names expresses the adherent's desire to fully affirm the oneness of Allah. And for a Muslim, Allah is the first and the greatest name. All of the other names for Allah in the Koran are equally important, and they're meant to be guides to help one return to Allah.
For example, Al-Wadud, the loving one. In the Koran it states, surely my Lord is all merciful, all love. And this contains the idea which is common to the other Abrahamic traditions that this one god, this single deity, exercises both divine judgment and loving mercy. And for a Muslim, Allah's omnipotence includes all forms of judgment and mercy.
As-Salam is the name that means the source of peace. In the Koran, it says that when one enters a house, one must offer and receive a greeting from Allah. The customary greeting is as-salamu alaykum. In the Koran, peace is identified with the primordial nature of man and woman, a state of perfection that resides within but has been lost and forgotten due to negligence.
So the idea is to remember the way home to this state of being to the abode of peace internally as well as in a world filled with conflict and imbalance. The name and the greetings function as reminders. another reminder if you're a reader of the Koran are two of the divine names Al-Rahman, the infinitely good and compassionate, and Al-Rahim, the all-merciful. And each chapter of the Koran begins with these names except for one chapter.
For a devout Muslim, the world and all aspects of creation are an expression of this mercy and compassion. The Arabic word or term Ramah signifies compassion and mercy, which offers a direct link to Al-Rahman and Al-Rahim, often uttered in the same breath. For a Muslim, these qualities saturate all existence and form an essential aspect of one's awareness during prayer and worship.
Looking at the idea of governing and ruling, Islamic societies are generally ruled by leaders who are believed to be divinely guided and inspired. Yet Muhammad is understood to have said there is no king that has absolute power except Allah. And his name in this case is referred to as absolute ruler, Al-Malik. And one last name that we'll look at is Al-Quddus, the pure one.
Allah is infinitely pure and free of imperfections. One can show devotion and respect by trying to emulate this purity and cleanliness in one's life. Clean faith and belief in the oneness of God, which is called Tawid, and clean heart, meaning clean and pure intention. And clean action, which has a lot to do with the physical body. Cleanliness and respect for the body expresses devotion, positive intention, and love for Allah.
Now we can review. In the monotheistic religions, there are many ways of referring to God. There are many names for God in Islam. The greatest name is Allah. There are also many other names for Allah which are expressed in the Koran, and we looked at several of them. Al-Khaliq, the creator, As-Salam, source of peace, Al-Malik, absolute ruler, Al-Wadud, the loving one, Al-Quddus, the pure one, and Al-Rahman and Al-Rahim, infinitely good and compassionate.
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