Monotheism
According to Islam, God was the initiator of all creation, the God of all time and all places. God has no partners or intermediaries, and nobody shares in His power. In Islam, this Almighty deity is referred to by the proper name, Allah.
Attributes of God
In Islam, God is completely Omnipotent and All-Knowing, and nobody has ever seen Him. Therefore, He can be understood only by description, through His characteristics and attributes. According to Islamic tradition, there are more than ninety-nine such attributes that are used to describe God. For instance, Muslims believe that God is:
Al-Khaliq, the Creator
Al-Rahman, the Merciful
Al-Qudoos, the Holy One
As-Salaam, the Source of Peace
Al-Aziz, the Mighty, Strong
Al-Razzaaq, the Sustainer, Provider
Al'-Aleem, the All-Knowing
Al-Ghafoor, the All-Forgiving
Al-Wadood, the Loving
These and other attributes of God help a Muslim to better understand his or her Creator, to know Him, and to approach Him in love and humility.
Islam is often portrayed as a forceful religion, with warriors demanding populations of people to accept Islam or die. This is both historically inaccurate and fundamentally contrary to the faith's teachings. The Qur'an, the holy Islamic text that contains Allah's revelation to the Prophet Muhammad, states very clearly, “Let there be no compulsion in religion” (Qur'an 2:256).
Up Close and Personal
Muslims believe that God is also close to us; He knows our innermost thoughts, feelings, and fears. God is described as being closer to us than our “jugular vein” (Qur'an 50:16). He hears our prayers: “When My servants ask you concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them). I respond to the prayer of every supplicant when he calls on Me. Let them also, with a will, listen to My call, and believe in Me, that they may walk in the right way” (Qur'an 2:186). He accepts our repentance and grants forgiveness: “But without a doubt, I am He that forgives again and again, to those who repent, believe, and do right. Those who, in truth, are on true guidance” (Qur'an 20:82).
Muhammad once related that God said, “When I love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask something of Me, I would surely give it to him, and were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant him it.”
While God is close to us, Muslims approach God with reverence and respect, not as a personal “friend.” God is Merciful and Loving, but we also have a duty toward Him. If we are neglectful of our duty or reject faith in Him, we have much to be concerned about. God is Merciful but also Just. Muslims speak of God with awe and respect, and they do not joke around about matters of faith.
