Who is God? Do all Muslims agree on one definition?
In Islam, God is understood as the singular, unique, and all-powerful creator of the universe, known as Allah in Arabic. The Qur'an emphasizes His Oneness and attributes, stating, Your Allah is One Allah; there is no Allah save Him, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
2:163. This verse establishes the foundational concept of monotheism in Islam, which is central to the beliefs of all Muslims.
Further emphasizing this, in Surah An-Nahl, it is stated, Allah hath said: Choose not two gods. There is only One Allah. So of Me, Me only, be in awe.
16:51. This reinforces the idea of Allah's singularity and the necessity of worshiping Him alone.
Muslim scholars across both Sunni and Shia traditions generally agree on the attributes of God, which include being merciful, compassionate, and omnipotent. For instance, Ibn Kathir explains that the phrase "one God" denotes the exclusive divinity of Allah without associating any partner with Him (Tafsir Ibn Kathir). Similarly, Majma al-Bayan notes the importance of recognizing Allah's Oneness and attributes, indicating that He is the only one deserving of worship due to His power and sovereignty (Majma al-Bayan fi Tafsir al-Qur'an).
However, while the core definition of God as one and unique is universally accepted among Muslims, there can be nuanced differences in understanding His attributes and nature, particularly concerning philosophical and theological interpretations. For example, some Shia scholars emphasize the transcendence of Allah in a way that may differ from certain Sunni perspectives, particularly in discussions about divine attributes and their implications.
In summary, while all Muslims agree on the fundamental concept of God as One, the interpretations and emphasis on various attributes can vary between different Islamic traditions. The essence of God remains the same, but the theological nuances reflect the rich diversity within Islamic thought.
Sources
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2:163 · Al-Baqara
2:163 · Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall
وَإِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌۭ وَٰحِدٌۭ ۖ لَّآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
Your Allah is One Allah; there is no Allah save Him, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
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16:51 · An-Nahl
16:51 · Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall
۞ وَقَالَ ٱللَّهُ لَا تَتَّخِذُوٓا۟ إِلَٰهَيْنِ ٱثْنَيْنِ ۖ إِنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَٰهٌۭ وَٰحِدٌۭ ۖ فَإِيَّٰىَ فَٱرْهَبُونِ
Allah hath said: Choose not two gods. There is only One Allah. So of Me, Me only, be in awe.
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Tafsir Ibn Kathir on 16:51
Tafsir Ibn Kathir · 16:51
God affirms here that there is no deity except Him alone; worship is due exclusively to Him without any partners, for He alone is the Owner and Creator of all things and their Sustainer. The phrase “And to Him belongs the religion, pure and everlasting” is interpreted by Ibn Abbas, Mujahid, Ikrimah, Maymun ibn Mihran, Al-Suddi, Qatadah, and others to mean that God's religion is continuous and lasting. Ibn Abbas also said it means it is mandatory, while Mujahid stated it means it is solely His, that worship is due to Him alone among all beings in the heavens and earth—this aligns with the verse: “Do they seek other than the religion of God? To Him submits whoever is in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly.” (3:83) This supports Ibn Abbas’s and Ikrimah’s interpretation as a statement of fact, whereas Mujahid’s reading is more of an exhortation to sincerely direct worship only to God, fearing associating partners, as mentioned in the verse “Indeed, to God belongs the pure religion.” (39:3) Next, Allah informs us that He alone controls benefit and harm, and that whatever provision, blessings, health, or victory a servant has is by His grace and kindness. “Then when adversity touches you, to Him you cry out”—this indicates that people recognize that none besides God can remove harm, so in critical times they turn desperately to Him, supplicating persistently, as God says, “And when harm touches you at sea, those you call upon besides Him vanish, but when He saves you to land, you turn away; and man is ungrateful.” (17:67) Yet, even after relief, a group among them associate partners with their Lord and deny what He has given them. Scholars differ on the meaning of the particle "then" here; some say it indicates the ultimate consequence, others say it implies causation—that God allows this so they cover up or deny His favors, even though it is He who grants the blessings and lifts the afflictions. Finally, God warns, "So enjoy yourselves for a while," meaning behave as you wish and enjoy your present situation briefly, "then you will come to know," that is, you will come to realize the final outcome of these actions.
Answers are generated and checked automatically; they may still be incomplete or imperfect. For religious rulings, consult a qualified scholar.
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