Who is Allah in Islam?
Allah is not a tribal deity. The word means, simply, the God. The classical scholars were careful not to reduce Him to a list of attributes — the Qurʾan calls Him Al-Awwal wa Al-Ākhir wa Al-Ẓāhir wa Al-Bāṭin: the First and the Last, the Apparent and the Hidden.
10 passages from 6 books in the library
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 6 books by Ibn Battuta, Ibn Kathir, and Imam al-Ghazali — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.
14th century · Tangier, Morocco
The Riḥlah — a 30-year, 75,000-mile journey across three continents, and the most important travel account of the pre-modern world.
More on Ibn Battuta →
· Provenance →
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"I prayed in the blessed mosque, may Allah purify it and increase its reverence, and visited those in al-Baqi from the companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and may Allah be pleased with them."
14th century · Bosra, Syria
Monumental history Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, the world's most widely read Qurʾanic commentary, and the classical Stories of the Prophets.
More on Ibn Kathir →
· Provenance →
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"Those who were certain that they would meet Allah said how often has a small group overcome a mighty host by Allah's permission and Allah"
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"Those who were certain that they would meet Allah said how many a small force has overcome a large force by permission of Allah and"
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"Allah granted David kingship wisdom and taught him what he willed if it were not for Allah checking some people by means of others"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, shared that if the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, was unable to perform his night prayer due to sleep or illness, he would make up for it by praying 12 units at the start of the day."
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"Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, advised praying two units when leaving the house for protection from evil, and two units when entering."
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"Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, narrated that the Prophet warned against abandoning worship due to weariness, as Allah would despise such behavior."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said, The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, married me in Shawwal and consummated the marriage with me in Shawwal."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Allah also states and when Allah took the covenant from those who were given the scripture to make it clear to the people and"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"If they are all blessings from Allah without prior right or reason to claim, then admiration should be for Allah's bounty and"
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