Chapter 4: All About Allah

Chapter 4: All About Allah

1. What is intriguing / interesting / insightful about the benefits of Islam forbidding the use of any representations of Allah? More about this later as well.

God is not personified or brought to the level of comprehension that we hold our world at. He is abstract and impossible to understand. I believe that this may hold some realistic qualities in the idea that God is something that no one can explain and we mustn't degrade into the level of human representation as this will never be accurate. I think this is fascinating and the success they have found in keeping Allah out of human concept. 

2. How in some ways is the God of Islam similar to the Hindu concept of Bramha

It is very similar in the idea that God is in all of us and God is everything. God has an endless reservoir of energy and everything on the earth is connected or is God. Brahma encompasses everything too. They are also similar in the indescribable aspects of each. 

3. What is the meaning of the phrase "La ilaha ill Allah" and what are some of the implications of this phrase? (What reasons do Muslims give for this steadfast belief?)

This means "There is no god other than God." This belief is justified by the counter of claims by other religions. The idea that there is a trinity involving God is blasphemous because there is only the one and he does not discriminate. This is shown through the equal punishment of all religious persons all over the world.

4. Why can't Muslims blame anyone or anything (such as Shaytan) at the time of their judgment?

They cannot blame Shaytan because he has no actual power only the ability to suggest. We have free will and choices and this is ultimately what is judged. 

5. What, according Muslim beliefs, is the role of Jesus and how is he much like Adam? What then are the reasons they do not accept Jesus as the son of God or redeemer of sin?

The lack of a father to Jesus is equal to the lack of parents to Adam. They say that if Jesus was the son of God then he would be equal to Adam. Both were created and told to "be" and they were. They accept his virgin birth and his prophet status but not being killed on the cross or redeemer of sin. 

6. If Muslims are forbidden from depicting God in any way, how do they then conceptualize Allah?

He is connected to everything we think and say and he is therefore "as close as a jugular vein."Taqwa is the consiousness of God in ones life. Increasing Taqwa brings one closer to Allah. Muslims are able to conceptualize him through his actions and descriptions including the 99 names of Allah.

7. Why is "He" used to describe Allah if you cannot attribute physical traits to God?

In Arabic, all nouns have a gender, Allah is feminine and is combined with masculin Hoowa to cancel it. It is not accepted that God is either a male nor female, because he can not be compared with our world.