A lecture on islamic theology university of washington. One of the interesting things that we find in the quran is that there is repetition of concepts, which in reality is a way of emphasizing the significance of any given concept. In fact, religious relativism is logically incoherent, and therefore it cannot be true. There is no god but god, or no divinity but the one divinity. According to islam, god is neither a material nor a spiritual being.
In the name of allah, the most gracious, the most merciful nor say of allah aught but the truth. Every language has one or more terms that are used in reference to god and sometimes to lesser deities. Muslims believe that muhammad was allahs chief servant and messenger. But every time a cause is found it so emerges out that there. This philosophy created independent idols and a deity instead of. In the religion of islam, belief in allah is the single most important tenet. This belief in the unity of god, is the essence of the message of all the prophets of god. Some nonmuslims allege that god in islam is a stern and cruel god who demands to be obeyed fully and is not loving and kind. Monotheism, belief in one god, is the most important and foundational concept in islam. From the most ancient civilizations to the most primitive of modern societies, religions with god at their center have formed the foundation of human culture. His concluding chapter expresses the hope that a democratic reform movement within islam eventually will displace the radical islamist movement, which he believes is. Then, just as he was about to step into the corridor, he turned back into the compartment and pointed a trembling finger at the seated couple. Judaism, therefore, is an ethnic religion and its history is the history of the hebrew people. This book discusses various aspects of godhead allah, the god of islam, whose attributes have been manifested in the quran.
The concept of god in islam and christianity reasonable. According to islamic teachings, beyond the throne and according to the quran, no vision can grasp him, but his grasp is over all vision. For example, christians believe that god is tripersonal, that there are in the one god three persons whom we call the father, son, and holy spirit. One may ask, if both muslims and christians love and respect jesus pbuh, where exactly is the parting of ways. More on some of the unique concept of god in islam, with an emphasis on how this uniqueness effects the life of the muslim. Islam and christianity have different doctrines or teachings about god that make them irreconcilable. Muslims believe that allah is the allpowerful creator of a perfect, ordered universe. The vast majority of human beings have always believed in god. Shahada is the basis for the concept of god in islam. But the islamic concept of god is less personal than in the judeochristian tradition, and. He also explains that the one true god has created one perfect system for the world, islam.
The institute of islamic information and education. The concept of god in islam hasan abdulhakimgai eaton there is no god but allah 2. Islam and buddhism are two major religions in the world with many followers. This category has the following 2 subcategories, out of 2 total. Islam the summit of religious evolution al islam online. Concept of god in major religions english zakir naik. It is different from similar other books in that it tackles the subject with an open mind and appeals to the rational as well as the passionate in our personality. It is enough to know that, with the exception of one, each of the 114 chapters of the quran 4 begins with the verse in the name of god, the merciful, the compassionate. Topics reza aslan, no god but god, islam collection opensource language english. The central doctrine of judaism is the unity of god and the belief that jews are gods chosen people. The islamic understanding of god is distinct from all other religions and beliefs in various respects since it is based on a pure and clear understanding of monotheism. Islam is an abrahamic monotheistic religion teaching that there is only one god allah, and. May god increase your kindness, isaid, and slid open the door. Man is in a never ending search for the cause behind all that exist in this universeright from the sub automic particles to the gigantic stars and unfathomable depths of galaxies and things beyond the bowl of night.
The study of islam and clerical literature has occupied most of his intellectual tiime, and the ideas discussed in the present book have crystallised in the course of his studies, and in conversation with friends and. In particular, the concept of god in islam and christianity is so different that both religions cannot be right. Monotheism, belief in one god, is the most important and fundamental concept in islam. For example, christians believe that god is tripersonal, that there are in the one god three persons whom we call the father, son, and holy. The concept of god in islam muslim beliefs about god belief in one god, is the most important and foundational concept in islam.
The one true god is a reflection of the unique concept that islam associates with god. And the more likely it is for us to forget about that. If you regularly visit this site and wish to show your appreciation, or if you wish to see further development of al islam. This concept is extremely important for a muslim to understand. For the worlds religions conceive of god or gods in so many different contradictory ways that they cannot all be true. In this video yusha evans discusses the concept of god in islam. The muslim name for god is allah, which is simply arabic for the al god ilah.
It contains a lot of brief, yet informative articles about different aspects of. After a period of introspection and selfdoubt, muhammad accepted his role as gods prophet and began to preach word of the one god, or allah in arabic. We know god allah as he described himself in the quran allah has 99 attributes of perfection the beautiful names of allah and to god belongs the most beautiful names, so call on him by his names, and shun those who distort his names. Say o muhammad he is god the one god, the everlasting refuge, who has not begotten, nor has been begotten, and equal to him is not anyone. Nothing could be farther from the truth than this allegation. Religiously it is gods revelation to his prophet either directly or through intermediary, so it is the transfer of what is within the godly knowledge to the prophet through intermediary which is the angel in christianity there is no intermediary but god reveals directly to man, while in. Some non muslims allege that god in islam is a stern and cruel god who demands to be obeyed fully. The jews believe that god wants them to be an example for all mankind. The significant role of sufism in central asia pdf.
The islamic concept of god the first part of the muslim confession of faith the shahada is the basis for the concept of god in islam. The conductor touched his chest reluctantly and thanked me. In the name of god, the merciful, the compassionate. In islam, god is the absolute one, the allpowerful and allknowing ruler of the universe, and the. It is a known fact that every language has one or more terms that are used in reference to god and sometimes to lesser deities. The concept of revelation in christianity and islam. In islam, god is the absolute one, the allpowerful and allknowing ruler of the universe, and the creator of everything in existence. Allah simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The most concise definition of god in islam is given in the four verses of surah ikhlas which is chapter 112 of the quran. Muslims believe in one god who created the universe and has power over everything within it. Since god in islam is transcendental and sovereign but also immanent and omnipresent, the sufi view holds that in reality, only god exists. Allah has blessed us with a religion that is complete and perfect for all times. As you may know, islam was founded by the prophet muh.
Thus everything in creation is reflecting an attribute of gods names. The quran is the principal source for the islamic concept of angels. The first part of the muslim confession of faith the. Buildings in islam are erected conceived and only to serve god and the noble purpose of creation instituted by the creator. The foregoing detailed exposition of the misguided conceptions of various preislamic people make it patently clear that from earliest times to the revelation of the quran, none of those whom it mentions as the transgressors, the misguided, and the astray, actually denied the existence of god, or his being the rabb and the ilah. Concept of god in islam and christianity 1 youtube. This study relies on the available historical data analyzing and comparing the similarities and differences between the two religions on the concept of god.
Islam and christianity have different doctrines or teachings concerning what god is like. On july 7, 2010 january 12, 2017 by khutbahs in khutbahs. This essentially captures the concept of god in islam, which will be further elaborated in this pamphlet. Say o muhammad, he is god, the one god, the everlasting refuge, who has not begotten, nor has been begotten, and equal to him is not anyone. The major difference between islam and christianity is the christians insistence. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. It contains a lot of brief, yet informative articles about different aspects of islam. This website is for people of various faiths who seek to understand islam and muslims. He is unique and exalted above everything he creates, and his greatness cannot be compared to his creation. He is unique and exalted above everything, he is the creator. He highlights the oneness of god in terms of his lordship and divinity. This is a universal name for god and does not refer to an exclusively islamic god.
God include the familiar muslim acclamation, in the name of god, the compassionate, the merciful. Concept of god in major religions kalamullah mission islam. Concept of god in islam and christianity 1 spring church of christ. Before taking up the subject of islamic theology proper i should like, by way of introduction, to outline the basic religious beliefs which are common to all muslims.
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