The first part of the Muslim confession of faith (the shahada) is the basis for the concept of God in Islam. The Muslim bears witness that: "There is no god but God", or "no divinity but the (one) Divinity". The revealed Scripture of Islam, the Qur'an, is like a vast commentary on this simple statement, drawing from it all its implications for human life and thought.
This conception of the Deity is strictly monotheistic and unitarian. God alone has absolute being, totally independent and totally self-sufficient. Whatever exists or ever could exist does so by His will. He has no "partner" either in creating the universe or in maintaining it in existence. The Qur'an tells us:
"Say: He is Allah, The One, Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; He begets not, nor is He begotten, and there is none like unto Him". (Quran 112: 1-4)
It tells us also that: "Verily, when He intends a thing to be, He but says into it -Be!; and it is." (Quran 36:82)
He is Al-Ahad, The One, absolute unity. This is in sharp contrast to the Christian conception of the Trinity, The One cannot be divided, nor can it be diminished or "humanized" by incarnation in any created form. God does not become His own creature, in fact He does not "become" anything; He is.
To sum up: the God of Islam is transcendent, the All-Powerful and All-knowing Creator and Lawgiver; though at the same time infinitely merciful, generous and forgiving. Man, His creature and His servant, stands before Him without intermediary or intercessor, meeting Him through prayer during this brief life on earth and meeting Him face-to-face when life is over. In Islam, God does not embody Himself in any human being or make Himself accessible through idols and images.
But he does make Himself accessible through His revealed Names. We, in our small way, can exemplify these qualities and attributes in our daily lives. Inspired and aided by the Most Merciful we can show mercy. Inspired and aided by the One who creates Guidance we can guide our fellow men and women. Through His Light our lives may be illuminated. What we cannot hope to exemplify fully is His Perfection, but we can love it wholeheartedly. We love those who are kind to us, and God is Kindness itself. We love generosity when it is directed towards us, and He is The Generous. We are irresistibly drawn towards beauty, and He is the source of all Beauty. Above all, we love Perfection, and we seek it in vain in this imperfect world. We find it in God, who is alone perfect, and the Quran tells us that "the believers are strong in their love of God". At the end of the road, sign-posted by the divine Names, the Muslim rejoices in an overwhelming love for the One who awaits us at journey's end.
An explanation of the meanings of the 99 divine attributes of God which the Prophet (SAW) said, "Allah has 99 names, one 100 minus one. The one who enumerates them enters Paradise."
| 1. | Allah | God, The One other than whom There is no God | 51. | Ash-Shahid | The Witness |
| 2. | Ar-Rahman | The Most Merciful | 52. | Al-Haqq | The Ultimate Truth |
| 3. | Ar-Rahim | The Most Compassionate | 53. | Al-Wakil | The Ultimate Trustee |
| 4. | Al-Malik | The Sovereign Supreme | 54. | Al-Qawiyy | The Possessor of All Strength |
| 5. | Al-Quddus | The Most Holy One | 55. | Al-Matin | The Firm One |
| 6. | As-Salam | The Sound One with whom all salvation rests | 56. | Al-'Waliyy | The Governor |
| 7. | Al-Mu'min | The Giver of Faith, Safety, and Security | 57. | Al-Hamid | The Ultimately Praiseworthy One |
| 8. | Al-Muhaymin | The Protector and Guardian | 58. | Al-Muhsi | The Absolute Reckoner |
| 9. | Al-Aziz | The Incomparable and Unparalleled One | 59. | Al-Muhyi | The Giver of Life |
| 10. | Al-Jabbar | The Compeller | 60. | Al-Mubdi | The Originator |
| 11. | Al-Mutakabbir | The One Supreme in Pride and Greatness | 61. | Al-Muid | The Restorer |
| 12. | Al-Khaliq | The Creator | 62. | Al-Mumit | The Taker of Life |
| 13. | Al-Bari | The Executive and The Maker | 63. | Al-Hayy | The Ever-Living |
| 14. | Al-Musawwir | The Fashioner | 64. | Al-Qayyum | The Self-Existing One |
| 15. | Al-Ghaffar | The Very Forgiving One | 65. | Al-Waahid | He Who is Uniquely One |
| 16. | Al-Qahhar | The Dominating One | 66. | Al-Maajid | The Glorified One |
| 17. | Al-Wahhab | The Giver of All | 67. | Al-Wajid | The Founder Who Has No Needs |
| 18. | Ar-Razzaq | The One Who Provides All Sustenance | 68. | As-Samad | The Satisfier of All needs |
| 19. | Al-Fattah | The Opener | 69. | Al-Qadir | The All-Powerful |
| 20. | Al-Alim | The Omniscient One | 70. | Al-Muqtadir | The Bestower of Power upon Things |
| 21. | Al-Qabid | The One Who Takes Away | 71. | Al-Muqaddim | The One Who Causes Advancement |
| 22. | Al-Basit | The One Who Gives Abundantly | 72. | Al-Mu'akhkhir | The One Who Causes Retardation |
| 23. | Al-Khafid | The Abaser | 73. | Al-Awwal | The First |
| 24. | Ar-Rafi' | The Exalter | 74. | Al-Akhir | The Last |
| 25. | Al-Mu'izz | The One Who Raises to Honor | 75. | Ad-Dahir | The Manifest One |
| 26. | Al-Mudhill | The One Who Humiliates | 76. | Al-Batin | The Hidden One |
| 27. | As-Sami | The Hearing of All | 77. | Al-Wali | He Who has Charge Over All |
| 28. | Al-Basir | The Seer of All | 78. | Al-Muta'ali | The Highly Exalted One |
| 29. | Al-Hakam | The Arbiter Supreme (Judge) | 79. | Al-Barr | The Beneficent One |
| 30. | Al-Adl | The Just One | 80. | At-Tawwab | He Who Accepts Repentance |
| 31. | Al-Latif | The Subtle | 81. | Al-Muntaqim | The Avenger |
| 32. | Al-Khabir | The All-Aware | 82. | Al-'Afuww | The Forgiver |
| 33. | Al-Halim | The Forbearing | 83. | Ar-Ra'uf | The Most Compassionate |
| 34. | Al-Adim | The Magnificent | 84. | Malik Al-Mulk | The Owner of All |
| 35. | Al-Ghafur | The Forgiver and Hider of Faults | 85. | Dhul-Jalal Wal-ikram | Lord of Majesty and Bounty |
| 36. | Ash-Shakur | The Rewarder of Thankfulness | 86. | Al-Muqsit | The Upholder of Equity |
| 37. | Al-'Aliyy | The Highest | 87. | Al-Jami | The Gatherer |
| 38. | Al-Kabir | The Truly Grand One | 88. | Al-Ghani | The Independently Rich |
| 39. | Al-Hafid | The Preserver | 89. | Al-Mughni | The Enriching One |
| 40. | Al-Muqit | The Nourisher and The Watcher | 90. | Al-Mani | The Preventer of Harm |
| 41. | Al-Hasib | The Accounter | 91. | Ad-Darr | The Creator of The Harmful |
| 42. | Al-Jalil | The Mighty | 92. | An-Nafi | The Creator of Good |
| 43. | Al-Karim | The Generous | 93. | An-Nur | The Light |
| 44. | Ar-Raqib | The Ever Watchful over everything | 94. | Al-Hadi | The One who creates Guidance |
| 45. | Al-Mujib | The Responder | 95. | Al-Badi'a | The Originator of Creation |
| 46. | Al-Wasi | The All- Comprehending | 96. | Al-Baqi | The Everlasting One |
| 47. | Al-Hakim | The Perfect Wise | 97. | Al-Warith | The Ultimate Inheritor |
| 48. | Al-Wadud | The Loving One | 98. | Ar-Rashid | The Righteous Teacher |
| 49. | Al-Majid | The Majestic One | 99. | As-Sabur | The Patient One |
| 50. | Al-Ba'ith | The Resurrector |
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