Allah is utterly and totally transcendent and has nothing in
common with mankind. He cannot be spoken of in human
terms.[1]
For Muslims, Allah is not viewed as a Father, but as a
Master who orders His slaves to obey strict rules. He has no
relationship with them on earth or in Heaven. Muslims obey
His commands in order to gain entry into Paradise. The
concepts of service toothers motivated by divine love, and
love for one’s enemies, are Christian ideas that are foreign
to Islam. The concept of Allah’s love in the Koran is tied to
obedience. Allah’s love is only for Muslims, as Allah hates
unbelievers: ‘‘Allah is an enemy to those who reject faith’’
(Sura 2:98). The idea of a God who sacrifices Himself for us
while we were His enemies is unique to Christianity: ‘‘But
God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we
were still sinners, Christ died for us’’ (Rom 5:8).
- What are the ‘‘99 Names of Allah’’ that we hear
about?
Muslims claim that there are 99 Holy Names (or titles) for
Allah. These are listed in the Hadith collection Sunan Ibn
Majah.[2] These Holy Names of Allah are considered
majestic (see Sura 55:78), and reciting them is said to be a
source of grace and blessings (see Suras 7:180; 17:110;
20:8; and 59:24). In the homes of many Muslims, these Holy
Names in Arabic script decorate the walls. Among the most
popular of these Names are The Compassionate, The
Merciful, The King, The Holy, and The Giver of Faith.
Others include the The Strong, the The Almighty, The
Majestic, The Creator, and The All Knowing. (‘‘The