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Foundations

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 8 books in the library

Allah is the one God — the word itself means simply "the God," not a tribal deity. The classical scholars knew Him not chiefly through definition but through relationship and worship. The passages here show this lived knowledge: "In the name of Allah… there is no power except with Allah"; "Whoever gives for Allah, loves for Allah, hates for Allah, and marries for Allah" has fulfilled faith; and "Whoever fears Allah, everything fears him, and whoever does not fear Allah, Allah will make him fear everything." He is the One toward whom love, fear, and every action are turned.

Drawn from the classical sources below — in the scholars' own words.

Where the answer comes from

The classical approach.

These passages are drawn from 8 books by Imam al-Ghazali, Ibn Kathir, and Imam al-Dhahabī — 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.

Read them closely. If a passage doesn't sit right, open the full book in the library and listen to the chapter around it. Context in the classical tradition is everything.

Cover of Book 17: Etiquettes of Travel
Book 17: Etiquettes of Travel
Imam al-Ghazali · Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din

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 →

  1. "He should say: "In the name of Allah, what Allah wills will be, there is no might except with Allah. Allah is sufficient for me; I relied on Allah. What Allah wills, no one brings benefits but Allah, no one averts harm but Allah. Allah is sufficient for me, and He suffices. Allah hears those who call; there is no end beyond Allah, nor refuge except Allah."

Cover of Volume 2 — From the Israelite Prophets to Pre-Islamic Arabia
Volume 2 — From the Israelite Prophets to Pre-Islamic Arabia
Ibn Kathir · Al-Bidāya wal-Nihāya

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 →

  1. "the Royal Library of Egypt. The story of Jesus, son of Mary, the servant of Allah and his messenger. Allah the Exalted says in Surah al-Imran, addressing the Christians, May the curse of Allah be upon those who claim that Allah has a son. Exalted is Allah above what they say. A delegation from Najran came to the messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and spoke of their belief in the Trinity, claiming that Allah is the third of three, including Jesus and Mary. In response, Allah revealed the beginning of this Surah, clarifying that Jesus is a servant of Allah, created in the womb just as others are. He was created without a father, just as Adam was created without"

Cover of The Prophets of Bani Israil
The Prophets of Bani Israil
Ibn Kathir · Stories of the Prophets

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 →

  1. "pits entrance. Daniel asked, who is this? Armia replied, I am Armia. Daniel asked, what brought you? Armia answered, your Lord sent me to you. Daniel then praised Allah saying, praise be to Allah who does not forget one who remembers him. Praise be to Allah who answers one who hopes in him. Praise be to Allah who does not entrust one who trusts him to others. Praise be to Allah who rewards good deeds with good. Praise be to Allah who rewards patience with deliverance. Praise be to Allah who removes our difficulties after our distress. Praise be to Allah who safeguards us when we suspect our deeds. And praise be to Allah who is our hope when our plans fail."

Cover of Volume 3 — The Sīrah: From the First Revelation to Badr
Volume 3 — The Sīrah: From the First Revelation to Badr
Ibn Kathir · Al-Bidāya wal-Nihāya

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 →

  1. "good word, for indeed a good deed is rewarded tenfold to seven hundred times, peace be upon the Messenger of Allah and the mercy of Allah and his blessings. Then the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, delivered another sermon and said, Indeed all praise is due to Allah. I praise him and seek his help. We seek refuge in Allah from the evils of ourselves and the misdeeds of our actions. Whomever Allah guides, there is no misleader for him, and whomever he leads astray, there is no guide for him. I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah, alone with no partner. Indeed the best speech is the Book of Allah. Successful is the one whom Allah adorns with"

  2. "of mankind. Indeed it is the best speech and the most eloquent. Love those who love Allah, love Allah with all your hearts, and do not grow weary of the words of Allah and his remembrance, nor let your hearts become hardened against it. For indeed, whoever Allah chooses and selects, he has named him among his chosen ones from among the deeds and the righteous among the speech, and from all that has been granted to mankind of the lawful and the unlawful. So worship Allah and do not associate anything with him and fear him as he deserves to be feared. Be truthful to Allah in what you say with your mouths and love one another for the sake of Allah. Indeed, Allah is angry"

Cover of Yusha, al-Khidr & Ilyas
Yusha, al-Khidr & Ilyas
Ibn Kathir · Stories of the Prophets

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 →

  1. "Keter and Ilyas meet every year during the pilgrimage season, where each one of them shaves the other's head and they part after these words. In the name of Allah, whatever Allah wills, no one brings good except Allah. Whatever Allah wills, no one repels evil except Allah. Whatever Allah wills, no blessing is there, but from Allah, whatever Allah wills, there is no power and no strength except with Allah."

Cover of Book 7: The Mysteries of Pilgrimage
Book 7: The Mysteries of Pilgrimage
Imam al-Ghazali · Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din

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 →

  1. "Allah is sufficient for me, and upon Allah, I rely. What Allah wills; only He brings good; what Allah wills, only He can ward off evil. Allah is sufficient for me, He heard the caller. There is no refuge beyond Allah and no protection except with Allah. Allah has decreed, 'I will surely prevail, I and My messengers. Verily, Allah is Mighty, Powerful."

Cover of Al-Kabā'ir — The Major Sins
Al-Kabā'ir — The Major Sins
Imam al-Dhahabī · Timeless Classics

13th–14th century · Damascus, Syria
Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalāʾ — the monumental biographical dictionary of Islamic scholarship, from the companions of the Prophet ﷺ through al-Dhahabī's own era. A working-scholar reference used for seven centuries.
More on Imam al-Dhahabī → · Provenance →

  1. "and entry into hell. In one narration, three lines will be written on their face, O neglecter of the rights of Allah, O one marked by the wrath of Allah, and despair of the mercy of Allah as you neglected his rights in this world. Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, narrated that on the day of resurrection, a man will be brought before Allah who will command him to hell for delaying prayer and swearing falsely by Allah. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, once said to his companions, O Allah, do not leave among us anyone who is wretched or deprived. When asked who this is, he replied, the one who abandons prayer. It is narrated"

  2. "Allah? I said, Allah and His Messenger know best. He said, The right of Allah upon His servants is that they worship Him and do not associate anything with Him, and the right of the servants upon Allah is that He does not punish anyone who does not associate anything with Him. Ibn Mas'ud, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that a Bedouin came to the Prophet, peace be upon him, and said, O Messenger of Allah, advise me. He said, Do not associate anything with Allah, even if you are cut or burned, and do not abandon the prayer at its appointed time, for it is the covenant of Allah, and do not drink alcohol, for it is the key to all evil."

Cover of Book 12: Book of Marriage
Book 12: Book of Marriage
Imam al-Ghazali · Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din

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 →

  1. "elderly women. This position was even considered appropriate during the time of the companions. Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, remarked that if the Prophet had known what changes women introduced after him, he would have prohibited them from going out. Ibn Umar once said, The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, Do not prevent the female servants of Allah from the mosques of Allah. One of his sons replied, By Allah we will indeed prevent them. Ibn Umar struck him and became angry, saying, You hear me say that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, Do not prevent, yet you say,"

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