BELIEF in ALLAH Outline The word Allah Who

BELIEF in ALLAH

Outline • • The word ‘Allah’ Who is Allah? His Names and Attributes How do we know Him? Questions The One God in Holy Books What does Allah want from His believers?

“Allah” ● ● ● ● God Dieu Gott Dios ﺇﻟﻪ Tanrı бог - English - French - German - Italian - Spanish - Arabic - Turkish - Russian Allah is the proper name of the One God

Who is Allah? • He is the One • He is the Creator • He is the Sustainer • He is the True Almighty God • He is the Compassionate • He is the Most Merciful • He is the Most Gracious • He is the Most Powerful… “Say He is Allah, The One, The Self. Sufficient, The Master, whom all creatures need, He begets not, nor was He begotten; And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him. ” [Qur’an 112]

Some of His Beautiful Names Ar-Rahman: The Most Merciful Ar-Raheem: The Most Beneficent Al-Malik: The True King Al-Quddoos: The Pure; the most perfect who does not make mistakes. As-Salaam: The One who gives peace Al-Mu'min: The One who gives security Al-Khaliq: The Creator Al-Ghaffar: The Forgiving Ar-Razzaq: The Sustainer Al-’Alim: The Knower of All

His Attributes • • • Existence Oneness Eternity ( )ﻗﺪﻡ Everlastingness ( )ﺑﻘﺎﺀ Non-neediness of others Non-resemblance to the creatures

His Attributes, cont’d. • • Power Will Knowledge Life Hearing Sight Speech

How do we know Him? Through our observation of: • Our nature • Universe • Holy Books • Prophets

How do we know Him? , cont’d. • • Creation is contingent Things are finite Life Cleanliness Countenances Human intuition Consensus Mutual helping

How do we know Him? , cont’d. • • Mercy and providence Orderliness in creation Artistry in creation Finality in creation Divine teaching and directing The spirit and the conscience Our innate dispositions and history

Question 1 • Why can’t we see God? • Because we have limited sight. • God is beyond all form, quality, quantity, and human conception or reasoning

Question 2 • Does God know everything, even our hearts? • God is All-Knowing (everything in the universe is being sustained at the same time, example of the sun) • “And verily thy Lord knows all that their hearts do hide. As well as all that they reveal. ” [Qur’an 27: 74] Also see [Qur’an 60: 1]

Question 3 • Who created God? • “Cause and Effect” relationships… (Never ending chain of creators) • Only the Creator is Self-Existent and Self-Subsistent (‘ 0’ and ‘ 1’)

Question 4 • Why is God only One? • Harmony of the Universe • Harmony of the Society

The One God in Holy Books • "Hear, O Israel! Yahweh is our God, Yahweh is one [echad]!" [Deuteronomy 6: 4] • "The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one [hen] Lord; " [Mark 12: 29] • “And your Allah is One Allah: There is no god but He, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. ” [Qur’an 2: 163]

What does Allah want from His Believers? • To believe Him • To do good deeds for His sake

Thank you for your patience!

Question 5 • Since God knows what we will do, why does He send us here? • Humanity is placed in creation to be tested, purified, and prepared for eternal bliss in Paradise

What are the Benefits of Belief in Allah? Belief in Allah, His names, and His attributes: • Instills in the individual the love and glorification of Allah • Results in the individual’s performing Allah's instructions and avoiding His prohibitions

What are the Benefits of Belief in Allah? , cont’d. • These are the means of achieving ultimate happiness in this life and the hereafter for both the individual and the society • "Whoever, male or female, does righteous deed, while believing, We shall assuredly grant him a goodly life, and We shall reward them according to the best of their deeds" [Qur’an 16: 97].

What are the Benefits of Belief in Allah? , cont’d. • A good life in this world (An. Nahl: 97) • Guidance (Al-Hajj: 54) • Might and pride (Al-Munafiqoon: 8) • Power in the earth (An-Nur: 55) • Salvation (Yunus: 102) • Allah’s allegiance to us