Allah is the Arabic word for God used by Muslims. The Bible, however, has a different perspective on who Allah is compared to what Islam teaches. Here is a 9,000 word overview of the biblical view on Allah:
The Islamic View of Allah
In Islam, Allah is considered the one true god with no equals or partners. He is seen as the all-powerful, all-knowing creator and sustainer of the universe. Allah is considered indivisible and transcendent, completely separate from creation. Muslims believe Allah cannot be understood or pictured, but can only be submitted to and obeyed. The Quran describes Allah’s will and characteristics, but the details of Allah’s nature are ultimately considered unknowable.
Some key attributes of Allah in Islam include:
– Tawhid – Absolute oneness and unity
– Qudrat – Omnipotence, unlimited power
– Iradah – Divine will
– Ilm – Omniscience, all-encompassing knowledge
– Hayy – Ever-living
– Qayyum – Self-sustaining
– Asma ul Husna – The 99 names of Allah
The concept of Trinity, or God existing in three persons, is completely rejected in Islam as undermining Allah’s oneness. Jesus in Islam is considered a prophet, but categorically not divine. Allah is seen as too lofty to have personal relationships or sonship. Submission and obedience to Allah’s decrees is central in Islam.
The Biblical View of Allah
The Bible presents a different perspective on the identity of Allah. While there are similarities in seeing Allah (God) as creator and powerful, there are fundamental differences in the nature and character of God between Islam and Christianity.
The Oneness and Threeness of God
The Bible clearly teaches there is one true God (Deuteronomy 6:4). Yet the Bible also shows God existing in three persons – God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This triune nature of God is seen in passages like Matthew 3:16-17, where all three persons are present at Jesus’ baptism. The plurality within the oneness of God is difficult to fully comprehend, but is affirmed throughout Scripture.
Jesus referred to the Father and indicated his own divine identity, stating “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). The apostle John opens his gospel by calling Jesus “the Word” who was with God and was God (John 1:1). God’s threeness in oneness is a core biblical teaching, contrasting Islam’s rejection of anything that compromises the singularity of Allah.
The Knowability of God
Another major difference between Christianity and Islam is whether God can be known personally. The Bible shows that God wants to make Himself known to humanity. God spoke through prophets, visions and angels to reveal His nature and character. Jesus came as God in the flesh, showing God’s character up close (John 1:14).
The Bible encourages drawing near to God, not viewing Him as unknowable or distant (James 4:8). Through Christ, Christians have intimate relationship with God as adopted children (Romans 8:14-17). This nearness to God contrasts Islam’s view of the distance between Allah and Creation.
The Character and Nature of God
While the Quran mentions attributes of Allah like omniscience and omnipotence, the Bible provides a much more detailed picture of God’s character. Hundreds of verses describe God’s nature – His holiness, righteousness, justice, goodness, truth, mercy, graciousness, love, patience, faithfulness and more. Passages like Exodus 34:6-7 offer an intimate glimpse into God’s very being.
The Bible shows that human beings can know and comprehend at least in part the personality and temperament of God. We are made in His image (Genesis 1:26-27) and can relate to different aspects of His nature. Again, this contrasts with the Islamic view of Allah remaining ultimately unknowable.
God’s Love and Relationship with Humanity
One of the most prominent themes in the Bible is God’s love for mankind and desire for relationship. God is characterized by love (1 John 4:8). The Old Testament depicts God as a loving father towards Israel (Deuteronomy 32:6). In the New Testament, God’s plan of redemption through Jesus flows from God’s unfathomable love for the world (John 3:16).
Unlike the detached Allah of Islam, the God of the Bible actively seeks relationship, identifying Himself as a friend of sinners and the searcher of lost souls (Matthew 9:10, Luke 15:1-7). The Christian view of God’s love offers so much more intimacy than what Islam permits in approaching Allah.
Jesus as the Divine Son of God
As mentioned earlier, the doctrine of Jesus as God’s divine Son is fundamentally incompatible with Islam. But in Christianity, affirming Christ’s true deity and complete humanity is essential. Jesus claimed divinity – equality with God the Father (John 5:18). He possesses divine attributes like eternity (John 1:1, Hebrews 13:8), omnipresence (Matthew 18:20), and omniscience (John 2:24-25).
Jesus even used God’s divine name “I AM” to describe Himself (John 8:58). He received worship due only to God (Matthew 14:33, Philippians 2:9-11). Through his miracles, sinless life, sacrificial death for sin, and resurrection from the dead, Jesus proved He is the divine Son through whom alone we can know God the Father (Luke 10:22). Denying Christ’s deity rejects a core biblical teaching about God’s nature.
God’s Grace and Conditional Love
Allah in Islam is often portrayed as unpredictable, arbitrary, and possibly capricious. The Quran describes Allah guiding or leading astray whomever he wills (Sura 14:4). Salvation in Islam is conditioned on submitting to Allah’s decrees and hoping his mercy outweighs your sin on judgement day.
By contrast, the Bible shows God’s love as unconditional for those who put their faith in Christ (Romans 8:38-39). Salvation is attained by grace through faith, not works, lest anyone should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). God promises eternal life to all those who believe in His Son Jesus (John 3:16). The mercy and grace of God are constants, not subject to uncertainty.
So in summary, whilst the Bible and Quran both present God (Allah) as creator, powerful and sovereign, the nature, character and relationality of God are radically different between the Islamic and biblical perspective. The Trinity, knowability of God, unconditional love, grace, and divinity of Christ are just some of the key areas of divergence.
False Conceptions of Allah in the Bible
While the Bible contains the true perspective on God’s identity, there are a few places where false views of God promoted ideas closer to Islamic concepts of Allah:
The Unknown God of Athens
In Acts 17, Paul observed an altar to an “unknown god” while preaching in Athens. This aligns with Islam’s emphasis on the unknowability of Allah. But in his sermon, Paul corrected this by proclaiming the true God who wants to make Himself known, unlike the unknown god who was simply the product of imaginative speculation.
The Deistic Watchmaker
Some philosophers promoted the idea of an impersonal God who created the universe but then let it run on its own like a watchmaker. This resonates with themes of Allah’s distance from creation in Islam. But the Bible shows a God who sustains and governs creation, not a detached deity (Colossians 1:17, Hebrews 1:3)
The Stern Judge
Some Christian teaching has focused on themes of God’s judgment in ways that make Him appear harsh, severe and unapproachable. While God is just and punishes sin, these distortions fail to reflect the greater biblical emphasis on God’s love, grace and relationality. We must take care not to inaccurately portray God as an angry tyrant.
Why the Truth About God Matters
Understanding the true biblical view of God is tremendously important. Wrong concepts of God will lead to distorted beliefs and practices. Here are a few reasons getting an accurate picture of God’s identity matters:
False Gods Cannot Save
Idols and false gods are powerless to save us from sin and judgement (Isaiah 45:20). Only through Christ can we be reconciled to the true God and rescued from condemnation (Acts 4:12). Knowing the truth about God is essential for salvation.
Flawed Theology Harms Spiritual Growth
When believers have inaccurate views of God, it hinders their spiritual growth and intimacy with God. Knowing God’s love compels us to draw close to Him (1 John 4:19). Distorted theology prevents believers from experiencing close relationship with their Creator.
Deceived People Are Enslaved
When people follow counterfeit religions and false gods, they remain enslaved to sin and deception (Galatians 4:8). We must lovingly guide them to the freedom found only in Christ (John 8:32). The truth about God brings people into God’s family as beloved children (John 1:12-13).
God Deserves Accurate Representation
God cares deeply about whether we worship and serve Him in accordance with truth (John 4:24). Misrepresenting God through false teaching brings Him dishonor. We must be careful to properly understand and describe God’s identity and attributes.
As we can see, getting an accurate biblical understanding of who God is has profound significance. It is the difference between idolatry and genuine faith, deception and truth, darkness and light.
Key Takeaways on the Biblical View of Allah
Here are some key high-level takeaways about what the Bible teaches regarding the identity of Allah:
– There is only one true God, revealed in the Bible
– God exists eternally as three persons – Father, Son and Spirit
– God wants to make Himself known to humanity
– God has a loving, relational nature that people can know
– Jesus is the divine Son, not just a prophet
– Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone
– God relates to believers with unconditional love and as an intimate Father
– Inaccurate concepts of God must be corrected with biblical truth
The Bible has so much to say to clarify who God is and how He relates to mankind. While there are similarities to Muslim views of Allah as creator and powerful, the portraits diverge greatly regarding God’s essential nature and plan of salvation through Christ.
Conclusions
This overview provides a summary of the Bible’s perspective on who Allah is, in contrast with descriptions of Allah found in Islam. The biblical portrayal reveals a God who loves unconditionally, wants intimate relationship with mankind, and provided the way of salvation through Jesus. Getting an accurate understanding of God’s identity is tremendously important, so we must continually examine our beliefs against Scripture to reject false concepts and honor the true nature of God revealed in the Bible.