Is "Allah" a he or she?
In Islamic theology, Allah is considered beyond human attributes, including gender. The Qur'an emphasizes the uniqueness and incomparability of Allah, stating, Naught is as His likeness; and He is the Hearer, the Seer.
42:11. This verse highlights that Allah is not like anything else, and thus cannot be defined by human characteristics, including gendered terms like "he" or "she."
Furthermore, the term "Allah" is grammatically a masculine noun in Arabic, but this does not imply that Allah has male characteristics or a physical form. The understanding is that Allah transcends human notions of gender. Various scholars emphasize the importance of recognizing Allah's oneness and singularity, which is encapsulated in the concept of Tawhid, or monotheism.
In summary, while the Arabic language uses masculine pronouns to refer to Allah, it is essential to understand that Allah is beyond human attributes and should not be confined to human definitions of gender.
Sources
-
42:11 · Ash-Shura
42:11 · Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall
فَاطِرُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَٰجًۭا وَمِنَ ٱلْأَنْعَٰمِ أَزْوَٰجًۭا ۖ يَذْرَؤُكُمْ فِيهِ ۚ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِۦ شَىْءٌۭ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ
The Creator of the heavens and the earth. He hath made for you pairs of yourselves, and of the cattle also pairs, whereby He multiplieth you. Naught is as His likeness; and He is the Hearer, the Seer.
Answers are generated and checked automatically; they may still be incomplete or imperfect. For religious rulings, consult a qualified scholar.
Ask your own question →