Who is Allah?

By: Umm Muhammad Zawjatu Abdul Malik

Copyright 2010 All Rights Reserved

website the author recommends that you visit: http://www.salaf.com

Allah is the One Who

made us.

He is the One Who made all

things1.

Allah is the One Who made

the sun, moon and sky.

1 6:102

He is the One Who made

the trees, rivers and seas.

He made the animals and

plants.

He made the angels and

jinns1.

1 The jinn are intelligent beings that Allah created who have free will like mankind (and thus will be held accountable for

their actions 55:15, 26:95). They were also created (just like mankind) only for the purpose of worshiping Allah (alone,

the way He commanded 51:56) Their world is mostly hidden from us. The bad jinn are called devils (shayateen) and

they try to harm the good people from men and jinn (15:35-43, chapter 114). But they will only be able to harm those

who follow and obey them (16:99-100). Satan was a jinn, never an angel (18:50). Angels, jinn and mankind were

created from three different substances . The Prophet (sallallahu alayhe wa sallam) said: ئكة من نور, وخلقخلقت المThe angels were created from light, the jinn were created from a“ الجان من مارج من نار, وخلق آدم مما وصف لكم

spark of fire and Adam was created from what has been described to you” (Muslim, in a chapter: Miscellaneous

ahaadeeth). Allah has taught us how to protect ourselves from the shayateen (bad jinn) for example by saying the dua

before entering the bathroom: اللھم إني أعوذ بك من الخبث و الخبائث "O Allah, I seek refuge with You from the male

and female shaytaan” (Muslim, Book of Tahara), saying Bismillah when entering the house and eating (Muslim, Book

of Drinks, chapter: Etiquette related to eating and drinking). The angels are righteous servants and worshippers of Allah

(7:206; 13:13; 16:49; 21:20, 42:5; 43:19). They obey Him and do not disobey Him (66:6). Allah has given the angels

different duties and jobs (8:50; 13:11; 66:6)

Allah made the mountains

and clouds.

Allah made you.

He made your Umm and

Ab.

He made your siblings.

Questions

Who made us?

Who made everything?

What are some things Allah has made?

Allah owns all things.

All things are Allah's1.

The mountains and clouds

are His.

The animals and plants are

His.

The stars and moon are His.1 2:255

The trees and seas are His.

The angels and jinns are

His.

We are His.

Allah made everything

and everything is His.

Questions

Does everything belong to Allah?

What are some things that belong to Allah?

Allah takes care of all the

things He has made.

Allah takes care of the

angels and jinns1.

1 Abu Dharr reported Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) as saying that Allaah, the Exalted and

Glorious, said: “My servants, I have made oppression unlawful for Me and unlawful for you, so do not commit

oppression against one another. My servants, all of you are liable to err except one whom I guide on the right path, so

seek right guidance from Me so that I should direct you to the right path. O My servants, all of you are hungry

(needy) except one whom I feed, so beg food from Me, so that I may give that to you. O My servants, all of you are

naked (need clothes) except one whom I provide garments, so beg clothes from Me, so that I should clothe you. O My

servants, you commit error night and day and I am there to pardon your sins, so beg pardon from Me so that I should

grant you pardon. O My servants, you can neither do Me any harm nor can you do Me any good. O My servants,

even if the first amongst you and the last amongst you and even the whole of human race of yours, and that of jinns

even, become (equal in) God-conscious like the heart of a single person amongst you, nothing would add to My

Power. O My servants, even if the first amongst you and the last amongst you and the whole human race of yours and

that of the Jinns too in unison become the most wicked (all beating) like the heart of a single person, it would cause no

loss to My Power. O My servants, even if the first amongst you and the last amongst you and the whole human race

of yours and that of jinns also all stand in one plain ground and you ask Me and I confer upon every person what he

asks for, it would not. in any way, cause any loss to Me (even less) than that which is caused to the ocean by dipping

the needle in it. My servants, these for you I shall reward you for them, so he who deeds of yours which I am

recording finds good should praise Allaah and he who does not find that should not blame anyone but his own self”

(Muslim, The Book of Righteousness, Manners and Joining the Ties of Kinship, ch: It is forbidden to commit

oppression) Also see 7:206, 8:12; 18:50; 13:13; 16:49; 19:64

Allah takes care of the

animals and plants.

Allah takes care of the sun

and the sky.

Allah takes care of the bugs

and the earth.

Allah takes care of the wind

and the clouds.

Allah takes care of us.

How does Allah take care

of us?

He gives us food and

drinks.

He gives us protection from

bad things.

He gives us good times

after hard times1.1 94:5-6

Allah is always giving us

what we need.

Alhamdulillah!

Questions

Who takes care of us?

Who takes care of everything?

How does Allah take care of us?

Review

Allah is The Only One Who

made everything.

No one else made

everything.

No one else can make

anything - not even a tiny

fly1.

1 22:73

Allah is The Only One Who

owns everything.

Allah is The Only One Who

takes care of everything.

Allah is our Lord.

He is the only Lord.

So we only worship Him.

There is nothing that

deserves any worship

except for Him.

Questions

Who is our Lord?

Who do we worship?

Do we worship anyone or anything else?

Allah does not need help or

anything else

No one helps Allah1.

Allah does not have a

helper.

Allah does not need any

help.

1 4:173 As for verses like 3:52, then the correct meaning is that they help themselves by spreading the truth (that only

Allah should be worshiped and the rest of what their Messenger came with). Helping the cause of Allah. We can not

benefit Allah (see previous hadeeth recorded in Muslim- “My servants, I have made oppression unlawful for Me ...”)

but we benefit ourselves (hoping that Allah will reward us) by helping in the cause of Allah

Allah does not need

anything2.

Allah does not need us.

But we need Allah.

And everything needs

Allah1.

The sun and moon need

Allah.

2 3:97

1 55:29; 17:43

The stars and sky need

Allah.

The angels and jinns need

Allah.

The mountains and clouds

need Allah.

The plants and bugs need

Allah.

The seas and trees need

Allah.

Everything needs Allah.

Questions

Does Allah need help?

What does Allah need?

Does Allah need us?

What needs Allah?

Do we need Allah?

Allah is One.

He is not one-third.

He is not one-in-three1.

He is One and only One.

Allah is our Lord.

And we only worship Him2.

Questions

Is Allah One?

Is Allah One-in-three?

1 112:1; 4:171; 5:73

2 Said the servant and Messenger of Allah, Jesus the son of Mary (translated): “Indeed Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so

worship Him (alone)-that is the correct religion [straight path]” (3:51). And Allah commanded us (translated): “And

worship Allah alone and don't worship anything else with Him” (4:36)

There is nothing like Allah

Allah is not a statue1.

Allah is not the sun2.

He made the sun.

Allah is not a cow.

Allah is not the universe.

1 “There is nothing whatsoever that is like Him. And He is The All-Hearing, The All Seeing” (42:11)

2 41:37

Allah made the universe

and all within it.

Allah is not a man.

Allah was never a man.

Allah was never born1.

Questions

Is Allah a statue?

Is Allah the universe?

Is Allah a man?

Was Allah ever born?

1 112:3

Allah is Perfect.

Allah does not die1.

Allah does not eat2.

Allah does not drink.

Allah does not sleep3.

Allah does not get tired4.

1 2:255 He is al Hayy-The Ever-Living Who does not die 25:58

2 52:57

3 2:255 neither a heavy nor a light sleep (نوم خفيف ) overtakes Him (Shaikh Fawzaan's sharh of Aqeedatul Waasitiyyah)

4 2:255 , 50:38

Allah does not get hurt.

Nothing can hurt Allah1.

Allah does not err or

forget2.

Allah does not get sick3.

SubhanAllah4!

1 3:144, see previous hadeeth (from Muslim): “My servants, I have made oppression unlawful for Me...”

2 20:52

3 59:23 (As-Salam,) meaning "Free from any defects or shortcomings that lessen or decrease His perfect attributes and

actions.'' (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

4 SubhaanAllah – Allah is free from all imperfections and deficiencies

Questions

Does Allah die?

Does Allah sleep or get tired?

Does Allah eat or drink?

Can anything hurt Allah?

Does Allah forget things or make mistakes?

Allah is not like us.

Allah does not look like us.

Nothing is similar to Allah.

Nothing looks like Allah.

There is nothing like Him1.

Questions

Is Allah like us?

Does Allah look like us?

Is anything similar to Allah?

What looks like Allah?

1 “There is nothing whatsoever that is like Him in any way” 42:11

Allah is our Lord.

And we only worship Him.

Allah cannot be divided

into parts and pieces.

He is One, Indivisible1.

Allah does not have a

mother2.

1 112:1, 5:73; 4:171

2 112:3

Allah does not have a

father.

Allah does not have a wife1.

Allah does not have

siblings.

Allah does not have a son.

Allah does not have

children2.

1 6:101

2 112:3

Allah is One and Only One.

Allah is our Lord.

He is the Only One we

worship.

Questions

Can Allah be divided into parts or pieces?

(No, He is One, Indivisible)

Does Allah have a father or mother?

Does Allah have a wife or children?

Does Allah have a son?

Does Allah have brothers or sisters?

Is there anything that deserves to be worshiped

along with Allah?

What does it mean to only

worship Allah?

It means we love Allah

more than anyone else1.

It means we fear Allah

more than anything else2.

It means we obey Allah and

the Messenger He sent to us

over everyone else3.

1 2:165

2 3:175

3 4:13,14; 4:59,60,64; 33:36

It means we only ask for

forgiveness from Allah

alone.

Only Allah can forgive our

sins1.

It means we do everything

only for Allah2.

1 3:135

2 6:162-3

It means when we ask for

things, we ask for them

only from Allah1.

We don't ask for help from

the stars or planets.

1 When you seek help, seek the help from only Allah” from a longer hadeeth recorded by at" إذا استعنت، فاستعن با-

Tirmidhi This is when we are asking for things that only Allah can do. As for asking for help from the creation, it must

meet four conditions: 1.The person is ALIVE 2.PRESENT (or you are communicating by the internet/phone, you cant

just talk into the air) 3.CAPABLE to do what you are asking and 4.Halal. See Shaikh Ubayd al Jaabiree's Explanation

of Thalathatul Usool p.159-160 and Shaikh Uthaymeen's Explanation of Thalathatul Usool (The Three Fundamental

Principles) p.96

'

We don't ask for protection

from the angels and jinns1.

We don't ask for help from

dead people.

1 Before the sending of the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhe wa sallam), some of the disbelievers used to seek

refuge with the jinn from harm. When they did this, then the jinn began harming them (see Tafsir Ibn Kathir of the

opening verses of 72nd surah). If a person wants to be protected from harm, whether it is from the jinn or other than

them, they must seek refuge only with Allah. Allah has taught us to say (translated): “I seek refuge with the Lord of the

Dawn [Allah]” 113:1 and “I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind” (114:1). It is not correct to seek protection from the

angels either. Allah has commanded us numerous times in His Book to only worship Him (4:36). Asking for

protection/seeking refuge is a branch/type of worship, and all branches of worship are to be directed only to Allah. The

Scholar Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhaab said (translated): “Allah is not pleased when that others are worshiped with

Him- not a an angel brought near, nor a sent Messenger (should be worshiped with Him). And the proof is His, The

Most High's statement, “Indeed the masjids are only for Allah, so don't worship anything or anyone with Him” (72:18-

du'a is mentioned here as an example of worship, but the verse means all forms/types of worship). “Qatadah said

concerning Allah's statement [translated]:

(And the Masjids are for Allah, so invoke not anyone along with Allah.) 'Whenever the Jews and Christians used to

enter their churches and synagogues, they would associate partners with Allah. Thus, Allah commanded His Prophet

to tell them that they should single Him out alone for worship.'” (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Additionally, the angels do not want to be worshiped (34:40-41).

Seeking refuge with the creation has to meet the previous 3 condtions mentioned (person is ALIVE, PRESENT,

CAPABLE) See Shaikh Uthaymeen's explanation of the Three Fundamental Principles p.107-110

When we ask for anything,

we ask for it only from

Allah.

He is our Lord and we only

worship Him.

Questions

What does it mean to worship Allah alone?

Who is the Only One Who can forgive our sins?

Who do we ask for all our needs from?

Allah knows everything.

Allah hears everything1.

Allah sees everything2.

We don't know how He

hears, sees and knows.

No one else knows

everything.

1 All-Seeing and All-Hearing, (42:11)

2 All-Knowing (2:32)

No one else hears

everything.

No one else sees

everything.

Only Allah can do these

things.

None deserves any part of

worship except for Him.

Questions

Who sees, hears, and knows everything?

Who else sees, hears and knows everything?

How does Allah see, hear and know everything?

(we don't know how)

Allah is The Most High.

He is above the sky.

He is above space.

He is above everything1.

Nothing is higher than

Allah.1 2:255 “He is the Most High”, nothing is higher than Him, 35:10 “To Him ascend all the goodly words”, 57:4 “And then

He rose over the Throne, 70:4 “The angels and the Ruh [Jibreel] ascend to Him” Shaikh Uthaymeen said (translated):

“Then it must be known that the attribute of Transcendence [Highness] of Allah in the creed of Ahlus Sunnah wal

Jamaa'ah is classified into two types:

(a) The 'uluw [highness] of the thaat : The Transcendence of Allah's Essence [Self]

(b) The 'uluw of the Sifaat: The Transcendence of Allah's Attributes

The 'uluw of the thaat means that Allah in His Essence [Self] is above everything , and everything is below Him, Most

Majestic and Mighty is He” from Tafseer Ayatul Kursi, translated by Dr. Saalih as Saalih, p.71-72, published by Dar al

Khair Islamic Publishing House

Allah is not everywhere.

But His Knowledge is

everywhere1.

And we don't know how

His Knowledge is

everywhere2.

Allah is not in things.1 20:110 “He knows what happens to them and what will happen to them,” He encompasses all creation with His

knowledge. (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

2 The Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhe wa sallam) was not given knowledge of “kayfiyyah”-”How” Allah is. This

is why, when Imam Maalik was asked about the istawa (ascension)-”how” the istawa was, he replied (translated) “The

Istiwaa is known and how (it was) is not known. Imaan in it is obligatory, and asking about “how” it was is bid'ah”

After Shaikh Fawzaan mentions this in his sharh of Aqeedatul Wasitiyyah (arabic matn, p.16), he says (translated), “And

this is what is said (i.e. what we say) about the rest of the Sifaat.”

Allah is not in the masjid.

Allah is not in food.

Allah is not in animals.

Allah is not in statues.

Allah is not in people.

Allah is not in the universe.

Allah is above the universe,

above all things, The Most

High, The Most Great

He is our Lord.

And we only worship Him.

Questions

Where is Allah?

What is higher than Allah?

Is Allah everywhere?

Is Allah in the masjid?

Is Allah in statues?

Is Allah in people?

Is Allah in the universe? (no, He is above it)

Where is Allah

Who is our Lord?

Who is the Only One we worship?