The Word Allah

[Crabtownboy]

There is much misunderstanding of the word Allah, especially among American Christians and much misinformation spread around.

The word Allah simply means God. There are Christians in many places around the world who use the word Allah when they are praying to God. This is especially true with Arab Christians.

If the Koran is being translated into English the word Allah would be translated as God because God is the English word for Allah. If the Koran is being translated into Spanish it would be Dios.

The term Allah (Arabic: الله, Allāh) is the standard Arabic word for God and is most likely derived from a contraction of the Arabic article al- and ilāh, which means "deity or god" to al-lāh meaning "the [sole] deity, God." There is another theory that traces the etymology of the word to the Aramaic Alāhā.

Today's Arabic speakers from all religious backgrounds (Muslims, Christians, and Jews) use the word Allah to mean God. In pre-Islamic Arabia, pagan Meccans used Allah as a reference to the creator-god, possibly the supreme deity.

The first-known translation of the Bible into Arabic, which took place in the 9th century, uses the word Allah for God (1). In fact, Arab Christians were using the word Allah for God prior to the dawn of Islam, and it is important to note that they were using it in place of Elohim, but not in place of Yahweh. That means Allah is a generic word for God, but not the personal name of God. (Radical Muslims in the West claim that Allah, not Yahweh or any other Bible name, is the name of the one true God.)

http://www.arabicbible.com/for-christians/1810-the-word-allah-and-islam.html

The Aramaic word for "God" in the language of Assyrian Christians is ʼĔlāhā, or Alaha. Arabic-speakers of all Abrahamic faiths, including Christians and Jews, use the word "Allah" to mean "God".[5] The Christian Arabs of today have no other word for "God" than "Allah".[22] (Even the Arabic-descended Maltese language of Malta, whose population is almost entirely Roman Catholic, uses Alla for "God".) Arab Christians, for example, use the terms Allāh al-ab (الله الأب) for God the Father, Allāh al-ibn (الله الابن) for God the Son, and Allāh al-rūḥ al-quds (الله الروح القدس) for God the Holy Spirit. (See God in Christianity for the Christian concept of God.)
Arab Christians have used two forms of invocations that were affixed to the beginning of their written works. They adopted the Muslim bismillāh, and also created their own Trinitized bismillāh as early as the 8th century CE.[46] The Muslim bismillāh reads: "In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful." The Trinitized bismillāh reads: "In the name of Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, One God." The Syriac, Latin and Greek invocations do not have the words "One God" at the end. This addition was made to emphasize the monotheistic aspect of Trinitian belief and also to make it more palatable to Muslims.[46]

According to Marshall Hodgson, it seems that in the pre-Islamic times, some Arab Christians made pilgrimage to the Kaaba, a pagan temple at that time, honoring Allah there as God the Creator.[47]
Some archaeological excavation quests have led to the discovery of ancient pre-Islamic inscriptions and tombs made by Arabic-speaking Christians in the ruins of a church at Umm el-Jimal in Northern Jordan, which contained references to Allah as the proper name of God, and some of the graves contained names such as "Abd Allah" which means "the servant/slave of Allah".[48][49][50]
The name Allah can be found countless times in the reports and the lists of names of Christian martyrs in South Arabia, as reported by antique Syriac documents of the names of those martyrs from the era of the Himyarite and Aksumite kingdoms.[8][51]
A Christian leader named Abd Allah ibn Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad was martyred in Najran in 523 AD, as he had worn a ring that said "Allah is my lord".[8][52]
In an inscription of Christian martyrion dated back to 512 AD, references to Allah can be found in both Arabic and Aramaic, which called him "Allah" and "Alaha", and the inscription starts with the statement "By the Help of Allah".[8][53][54]
In pre-Islamic Gospels, the name used for God was "Allah", as evidenced by some discovered Arabic versions of the New Testament written by Arab Christians during the pre-Islamic era in Northern and Southern Arabia.[55][56][57]
Pre-Islamic Arab Christians have been reported to have raised the battle cry "Ya La Ibad Allah" (O slaves of Allah) to invoke each other into battle.[58]
"Allah" was also mentioned in pre-Islamic Christian poems by some Ghassanid and Tanukhid poets in Syria and Northern Arabia.[59][60][61]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allah

 

[padredurand]

The problem as it confronts Christians is another kind of a problem altogether. It is a question of whether you can say you are worshipping the same God when you have such different understandings of the nature of God. Those who are troubled by this concern say that although Christians and Muslims use the same name for God and many of the same words to describe Him, they are not talking about the same God because Christians are talking about the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit…”

—excerpted from REACHING MUSLIMS FOR CHRIST: A Handbook for Christian Outreach Among Muslims by William J. Saal (Chicago: Moody Press, 1991)

 

[Crabtownboy]

The problem as it confronts Christians is another kind of a problem altogether. It is a question of whether you can say you are worshipping the same God when you have such different understandings of the nature of God. Those who are troubled by this concern say that although Christians and Muslims use the same name for God and many of the same words to describe Him, they are not talking about the same God because Christians are talking about the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit…”

—excerpted from REACHING MUSLIMS FOR CHRIST: A Handbook for Christian Outreach Among Muslims by William J. Saal (Chicago: Moody Press, 1991)

You are correct. That is a good topic for another discussion. People should make clear their meaning and not simply make general statements that are incorrect.

 

[padredurand]

You are correct. That is a good topic for another discussion. People should make clear their meaning and not simply make general statements that are incorrect.

In the department at work we have two women named Christine, one named Christina, a Christa and another named Krista. Each name is a feminine variant or diminutive of the Latin Christian. They all answer to Chris. As you can imagine, it causes some confusion when you call the department and ask for one of the women. The typical conversation starts with an inquiry to speak with Chris which is followed by "Which one?" That is followed by a qualifying identifier such as the last name or the specific work area. Most of the time you get to speak to the Chris you wanted - sometimes not.

Each of these women - Chris - are known by their specific attributes. They are all women just as Allah, in common usage, identifies a deity. Etymologically, the Arabic Allah predates the Quran. Until its publication, Allah would be understood by the Arabic reader as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; as if there were but one Chris in the department at work. In current usage Allah refers to "Allah, whose prophet is Muhammad".

Call the department:

"Could I speak to Allah?"

"Which one?"​

"The Father of the Triune Godhead."

"Let me connect you."​

Christians and Muslims may use the same Arabic word but mean two entirely different things. Not to be trite but I have a better chance of leaving my head on the shores of Tripoli than to convince a Muslim we are batting for the same team.

 

[Crabtownboy]

In the department at work we have two women named Christine, one named Christina, a Christa and another named Krista. Each name is a feminine variant or diminutive of the Latin Christian. They all answer to Chris. As you can imagine, it causes some confusion when you call the department and ask for one of the women. The typical conversation starts with an inquiry to speak with Chris which is followed by "Which one?" That is followed by a qualifying identifier such as the last name or the specific work area. Most of the time you get to speak to the Chris you wanted - sometimes not.

Each of these women - Chris - are known by their specific attributes. They are all women just as Allah, in common usage, identifies a deity. Etymologically, the Arabic Allah predates the Quran. Until its publication, Allah would be understood by the Arabic reader as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; as if there were but one Chris in the department at work. In current usage Allah refers to "Allah, whose prophet is Muhammad".

Call the department:

"Could I speak to Allah?"

"Which one?"​

"The Father of the Triune Godhead."

"Let me connect you."​

Christians and Muslims may use the same Arabic word but mean two entirely different things. Not to be trite but I have a better chance of leaving my head on the shores of Tripoli than to convince a Muslim we are batting for the same team.

Interesting post, thanks.

On your last paragraph. I understand. They would insist we are worshiping three gods because of the trinity. You and I understand this is not true, but they do not understand.

Christians, Jews and Muslims all trace their beginnings to Abraham. Obviously there are huge differences in the understanding of God between the three groups.

 

[Scarlett O.]

If you walk into a Chinese Burger King and ask for a poopoo smoothie, you will get a delicious drink. If you walked into an American Burger King and asked for a poopoo smoothie they would call security.

Yes, the word, Allah, may translate to the literal three letters, G, O, and D, - but the meaning is not the same as Jehovah God.

I think everyone on this boards knows that when a Muslim says "Allah" that he is saying to himself "God".

I thought everyone knew that.

I also thought everyone knew that Muslims are not talking about the same God as Christians are.

The Muslim word "God" and the Christian word "God" don't have the same meaning - just as poopoo in a Chinese Burger King and an American Burger King don't mean the same thing.

They CAN'T be. The characteristics of the Jehovah from the Bible and Allah from the Koran describe two polar opposite characteristics. The description of Allah from the Koran is contradictory to Jehovah from the Bible. The Koran may have stories about some of the same Old Testament people, but that doesn't make the two "Gods" the same.

• As Padre pointed out above, Allah has no Son and no Spirit. That should be enough right there to understand that when a Christian says "God" and when a Muslim says "God" that they are talking about two different Gods.
• God loves all people - Muslims included and wants them to be saved. Christians should be evangelizing Muslims. But Allah hates Jews and Christians. In 5:51 it says "O you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are [in fact] allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you - then indeed, he is [one] of them. Indeed, Allah guides not the wrongdoing people." God loves the Jews and Christians are His children.
  
• And in 5:18 - "The Jews and Christians claim that they are loved ones of Allah. But that is disproved by the fact that he chastises them..." We know that Jehovah indeed chastises those whom He loves. Again - Allah is in direct opposition to Jehovah.

There is so much more that shows the how inconsistent Allah is with Jehovah, but I won't drone on.


Yes, the word "Allah" translates to the word God.


But Allah (God) doesn't mean Jehovah (God) and they are not the same.

 

[padredurand]

Interesting post, thanks.

On your last paragraph. I understand. They would insist we are worshiping three gods because of the trinity. You and I understand this is not true, but they do not understand.

Christians, Jews and Muslims all trace their beginnings to Abraham. Obviously there are huge differences in the understanding of God between the three groups.

Not only would the Muslim insist we were wrong they would insist we were heretics. The first pillar if Islam is the Shahada which states, ""There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah." The phrase is found on the flags of Saudi Arabia, ISIS, ISIL and several al-Qaeda affiliates. I don't mention these groups to be inflammatory but to illustrate there would be no tolerance from their side to Christians co-opting the name Allah.

 

[Crabtownboy]

Not only would the Muslim insist we were wrong they would insist we were heretics. The first pillar if Islam is the Shahada which states, ""There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah." The phrase is found on the flags of Saudi Arabia, ISIS, ISIL and several al-Qaeda affiliates. I don't mention these groups to be inflammatory but to illustrate there would be no tolerance from their side to Christians co-opting the name Allah.

Again, I agree with you.

Nor would they have any tolerance of any criticism or hint of criticism or negative comment about Muhammad.

 

[Don]

Folks, it isn't a question of who God is; it's a question of who we say Jesus is.

The Jews and the muslims say Jesus was a teacher. Christians say He was God in the flesh.

If we agree that this is what Christians believe, then how can we say we all worship the same God when 2 out of 3 of those deny He is God?

 

[matt wade]

I think everyone on this boards knows that when a Muslim says "Allah" that he is saying to himself "God".

No one denies that, you are correct. What is being denied is that when an Arabic Christian says "Allah" that they are also saying to themselves "God" and they mean a completely different God.

Just the same as when a English speaking Mormon says "God" they are refering to a completely different God than I am.

The concern here is that some people believe that the word "Allah" only represents the god of Islam, and that simply isn't true.

 

[Rebel]

If you walk into a Chinese Burger King and ask for a poopoo smoothie, you will get a delicious drink. If you walked into an American Burger King and asked for a poopoo smoothie they would call security.

Yes, the word, Allah, may translate to the literal three letters, G, O, and D, - but the meaning is not the same as Jehovah God.

I think everyone on this boards knows that when a Muslim says "Allah" that he is saying to himself "God".

I thought everyone knew that.

I also thought everyone knew that Muslims are not talking about the same God as Christians are.

The Muslim word "God" and the Christian word "God" don't have the same meaning - just as poopoo in a Chinese Burger King and an American Burger King don't mean the same thing.

They CAN'T be. The characteristics of the Jehovah from the Bible and Allah from the Koran describe two polar opposite characteristics. The description of Allah from the Koran is contradictory to Jehovah from the Bible. The Koran may have stories about some of the same Old Testament people, but that doesn't make the two "Gods" the same.

• As Padre pointed out above, Allah has no Son and no Spirit. That should be enough right there to understand that when a Christian says "God" and when a Muslim says "God" that they are talking about two different Gods.
• God loves all people - Muslims included and wants them to be saved. Christians should be evangelizing Muslims. But Allah hates Jews and Christians. In 5:51 it says "O you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are [in fact] allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you - then indeed, he is [one] of them. Indeed, Allah guides not the wrongdoing people." God loves the Jews and Christians are His children.
  
• And in 5:18 - "The Jews and Christians claim that they are loved ones of Allah. But that is disproved by the fact that he chastises them..." We know that Jehovah indeed chastises those whom He loves. Again - Allah is in direct opposition to Jehovah.

There is so much more that shows the how inconsistent Allah is with Jehovah, but I won't drone on.


Yes, the word "Allah" translates to the word God.


But Allah (God) doesn't mean Jehovah (God) and they are not the same.

So, I guess the Jewish god is a different god than the Christian god also, because the Jewish god does not have a son, either.

Since Islam believes in the God of Abraham, how is that a different god? Are there three gods of Abraham?

 

[padredurand]

So, I guess the Jewish god is a different god than the Christian god also, because the Jewish god does not have a son, either.

Since Islam believes in the God of Abraham, how is that a different god? Are there three gods of Abraham?

The Jewish God has a Son. They just missed His appearing and still await Him.

Luke 19:43-44 NAS77

43 "For the days shall come upon you when your enemies will throw up a bank before you, and surround you, and hem you in on every side,
44 and will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation."​

Islam does not believe in the God of Abraham as Christians understand Him. They recognize His wrath but not mercy. They recognize His power but deny His grace. They acknowledge He is to be feared but is incapable of loving and being loved in return. They hold to the attributes of God that will empower some individuals to hold sway over others.

Islam's God is not triune but one single person. To deny the Son is to deny the Father. To deny the Spirit is to deny both.

So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, "Three"; desist - it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs," Quran 4:171

Islam's God does not shed his blood for the redemption of those he calls to salvation. He demands to be appeased constantly by the adherent. With Islam there is no Cross, no Christ, no Hope.

"And [for] their saying, "Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah ." And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain," Quran 4:157

For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18 NAS77​

I could go on but I think you get the point.

 

[Rebel]

The Jewish God has a Son. They just missed His appearing and still await Him.

Luke 19:43-44 NAS77

43 "For the days shall come upon you when your enemies will throw up a bank before you, and surround you, and hem you in on every side,
44 and will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation."​

Islam does not believe in the God of Abraham as Christians understand Him. They recognize His wrath but not mercy. They recognize His power but deny His grace. They acknowledge He is to be feared but is incapable of loving and being loved in return. They hold to the attributes of God that will empower some individuals to hold sway over others.

Islam's God is not triune but one single person. To deny the Son is to deny the Father. To deny the Spirit is to deny both.

So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, "Three"; desist - it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs," Quran 4:171

Islam's God does not shed his blood for the redemption of those he calls to salvation. He demands to be appeased constantly by the adherent. With Islam there is no Cross, no Christ, no Hope.

"And [for] their saying, "Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah ." And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain," Quran 4:157

For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18 NAS77​

I could go on but I think you get the point.

Since Arab Muslims are descendants of Abraham, their God is the God of Abraham. Jews, Muslims, and Christians worship the same God. It is their perception of God that is different.

 

[Don]

Since Arab Muslims are descendants of Abraham, their God is the God of Abraham. Jews, Muslims, and Christians worship the same God. It is their perception of God that is different.

If they deny the deity of Christ, they're not worshipping the same God. It's more than just a perception.

 

[Rebel]

If they deny the deity of Christ, they're not worshipping the same God. It's more than just a perception.

So, the Jews also deny the deity of Christ. Are they worshipping a different God?

 

[Don]

So, the Jews also deny the deity of Christ. Are they worshipping a different God?

Already answered.

 

[padredurand]

So, the Jews also deny the deity of Christ. Are they worshipping a different God?

If you would take a moment to read the earlier replies your question has already been answered. I'll type slower this time so try to keep up.

Matthew 16:1-4 NAS77

1 And the Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and testing Him asked Him to show them a sign from heaven.
2 But He answered and said to them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.'
3 "And in the morning, 'There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times?
4 "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah." And He left them, and went away.​

The Jews believe God will send His own Son to be the promised Messiah. Jesus came and they said, "He's a nice little boy but he doesn't look a thing like his father." They are still waiting on God to keep His promise. Same God. Answers to I AM.

 

[Rebel]

If you would take a moment to read the earlier replies your question has already been answered. I'll type slower this time so try to keep up.

Matthew 16:1-4 NAS77

1 And the Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and testing Him asked Him to show them a sign from heaven.
2 But He answered and said to them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.'
3 "And in the morning, 'There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times?
4 "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah." And He left them, and went away.
​

The Jews believe God will send His own Son to be the promised Messiah. Jesus came and they said, "He's a nice little boy but he doesn't look a thing like his father." They are still waiting on God to keep His promise. Same God. Answers to I AM.

With a reply like yours, why would I give a flip about anything you had to say.

 

[padredurand]

With a reply like yours, why would I give a flip about anything you had to say.

I just sent you a PM but I'll do this here, too. I am sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. This appears to be the case here.

I have offended you and extend an olive branch.

 

[Scarlett O.]

So, I guess the Jewish god is a different god than the Christian god also, because the Jewish god does not have a son, either.

I can't tell if you are joking or not, but I will assume you are not.

The God of the Jews has a Messiah that his people looked for. "A" son was foretold in Genesis 3 and Isaiah 9. Hebrews 11 says that the people of old died having faith in the promises that they never witnessed.

Did they understand the full nature of God - as in him having a Son and a Spirit? No. But they understood the promise of a "P"rophet and more.

No, Jews today who reject Jesus as Messiah to not believe in the full characteristics of God the way that Christians do.

And the practicing Jew who dismisses Christ will die in his sins and go to hell just like the practicing Muslim will.

Since Islam believes in the God of Abraham, how is that a different god? Are there three gods of Abraham?

I've already answered that. The Koran states that god (Allah) hates Jews and Christians because he chastises them.

The true God of Abraham (Jehovah) loves Jews and Christians and yes, Muslims and wants all people to be saved. All will not be saved - we know that.

Muslims may claim to serve the God of Abraham, but they do not. It's as clear as day.