Who Is Allah?

Allah (Arabic: الله) is the personal name of the One true God in Islam. It literally means “the one and only God,” the singular universal Creator and Sustainer of the universe. In Arabic there is no plural form and no gender (no “goddess”), emphasizing pure monotheism. Muslims – like Arab Christians and Jews – use this name for God, since Islam teaches there is only one Creator. The Qur’an stresses Allah’s uniqueness: He is “Almighty, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, similar to nothing and nothing is comparable to Him.”. In short, Allah is not one God among many – He is the single, all-powerful God of all existence.

Tawhid: Oneness and Uniqueness

A central Islamic belief (Tawḥīd) is that Allah is absolutely one and unique. The Qur’an declares: “Say: He is Allah, [who is] One; Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent.” (Surah Al-Ikhlāṣ 112:1–4). Makes clear that Allah has no partners, no children, and nothing like Him. Allah “has always been one… unique in His being… the only One who deserves to be worshipped”. Islamic scholars note that the Creator must be of a totally different nature than His creation: He is eternal and self-sufficient. If Allah were like something He created, He would need a creator as well – which is impossible. Therefore, Allah stands alone in His oneness, incomparable to anything.

Names and Attributes of Allah

Islamic teachings emphasize knowing Allah through His beautiful names (Asmaʼul-Ḥusnā). The Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ said, “Allah has ninety-nine names; whoever memorizes them will enter Paradise.”. These names each reflect an attribute of Allah. Some examples are:

• Allah (الله) – The personal name of God. It signifies the one true God who alone deserves worship.
• Al-Aḥad (الأحد) – “The One.” Allah is unique in His essence and oneness; “He is the One and Unique”.
• Ar-Raḥmān (الرحمن) & Ar-Raḥīm (الرحيم) – “The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful.” The Qur’an and Hadith repeatedly describe Him as Most Compassionate to all creation.
• Al-Ḥayy (الحيّ) – “The Ever-Living.” Allah’s life is eternal and perfect in every way; He never dies nor sleeps.
• Ar-Rabb (الربّ) – “The Lord.” He is the Creator, Owner, and Sustainer of all worlds. Every creature depends on Him, and He directs every affair.
• Al-‘Alīm (العليم) – “All-Knowing.” He knows everything – past, present, and future. Indeed, “Surely Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware”.
• As-Samī‘ (السميع) & Al-Baṣīr (البصير) – “All-Hearing, All-Seeing.” Allah hears and sees all things. Nothing is hidden from Him; as the Qur’an says, “Surely Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.”.
• Al-‘Aliyy (العليّ) & Al-‘Aẓīm (العظيم) – “The Most High, the Most Great.” He is exalted above all; the Qur’an affirms “He is the Most High, the Most Great.”.

These examples are only a few of the many attributes. Each name highlights a facet of Allah’s majesty and how He relates to creation.

Mercy and Justice

Allah’s mercy is especially emphasized in Islam. Virtually every chapter of the Qur’an (113 of 114) begins with “In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful”, underscoring that compassion is intrinsic to Allah’s nature. A famous hadith even says, “Allah is more loving and kinder than a mother to her child.” This highlights that Allah’s care and forgiveness are boundless. At the same time, Allah is just and fair: He will reward the righteous and hold wrongdoers accountable. Both mercy and justice are part of understanding who Allah is.

Allah and the Universe

Allah is the Creator and Sustainer of all things. The Qur’an declares “Allah is the Creator of all things” and that His Throne (Kursi) extends over the heavens and the earth. He controls nature (sending rain, life and death, etc.) and nothing happens without His will. His knowledge encompasses every detail: “He knows what is [presently] before [His creatures] and what will be after them… Surely Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.” No word is uttered and no deed done without Allah hearing and seeing it. As the opening chapter of the Qur’an (Al-Fātiḥah) declares: “All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.” This verse beautifully captures that Allah is Lord over the entire universe – our Lord, Sustainer, and Guardian.

To summarize, Allah in Islam is the one indivisible God: the eternal, all-powerful Creator who is supremely merciful yet perfectly just. The Quran and authentic teachings encourage every believer to learn His names and attributes – for example, memorizing the 99 names of Allah – as a way of truly knowing Him. By studying the Qur’an’s descriptions of Allah and reflecting on the Prophet’s teachings, newcomers and devout Muslims alike can deepen their understanding of the Creator. May this detailed introduction, grounded in the Quran and reliable Islamic sources, help readers know who Allah is more clearly.