Allah
- Updated On Monday, 26 May 2014
- Written by Dr. Mohammad Ali Shomali
- Editor Kawther Rahmani
- Supervisor Sayyed Roohullah Musavi
- Published on Friday, 21 January 2011
- Hits: 740 views
- Hits: What is the meaning of the word 'Allah'?
'Allah' is the primary name used for God in the Quran. Indeed, this is the main name of God in Arabic used by Muslims and non-Muslims alike. For example, in the Arabic translation of the Bible, the word 'Allah' is used for God. In the Quran, Allah is mentioned 2816 times (including its variations such as lillah, tallah, billah and Allahumma). There are different views about the origin of this term. The most plausible view seems to be that it is the abbreviated form of al-ilah. In Arabic, 'al-' is the definite article and ilah means god. To be more precise, ilah is derived from the root 'a-la-ha,' which means 'worship.' Thus, ilah means what is worshipped or worthy of being worshipped, just like kitab means what is written or what can be written. The standard formulation of faith in Islam involves the declaration of two facts: La Ilaha Illallah and Muhammadur-Rasullillah (There is no god but God and Muhammad is His messenger). As indicated in the Quran, it is clear that there have always been false gods. So when it is said, 'There is no god but God,' it is obvious that it means, 'There is no real god or no one worthy of worship but God.' Ilah: This is mentioned 120 times. In 37 cases, it is used for false gods. In the rest, it is either used for God specifically or in the general sense. For example, the Quran says: 'Were you witnesses when death approached Jacob, when he said to his children, "What will you worship after me?" They said, "We will worship your Ilah (God), and the Ilah (God) of your fathers, Abraham, Ishmael, and Isaac, the one Ilah (One God), and to Him do we submit"' (2:133).