Dinda Dwi F

It is a known fact that every language has one or
more terms that are used in reference to God and
sometimes to lesser deities. This is not the case
with Allah. Allah is the personal name of the One
true God. Nothing else can be called Allah. The
term has no plural or gender. This shows its
uniqueness when compared with the word god
which can be made plural, gods, or feminine,
goddess. It is interesting to notice that Allah is
the personal name of God in Aramaic, the
language of Jesus and a sister language of
Arabic.
The One true God is a reflection of the unique
concept that Islam associates with God. To a
Muslim, Allah is the Almighty, Creator and
Sustainer of the universe, Who is similar to
nothing and nothing is comparable to Him. The
Prophet Muhammad was asked by his
contemporaries about Allah; the answer came
directly from God Himself in the form of a short
chapter of the Quran, which is considered the
essence of the unity or the motto of monotheism.
This is chapter 112 which reads:
"In the name of God, the Merciful, the
Compassionate.
Say (O Muhammad) He is God the One God, the
Everlasting Refuge, who has not begotten, nor
has been begotten, and equal to Him is not
anyone."
Some non-Muslims allege that God in Islam is a
stern and cruel God who demands to be obeyed
fully. He is not loving and kind. Nothing can be
farther from truth than this allegation. It is
enough to know that, with the exception of one,
each of the 114 chapters of the Quran begins
with the verse: "In the name of God, the Merciful,
the Compassionate." In one of the sayings of
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) we are told that
"God is more loving and kinder than a mother to
her dear child."
But God is also Just. Hence evildoers and sinners
must have their share of punishment and the
virtuous, His bounties and favors. Actually God's
attribute of Mercy has full manifestation in His
attribute of Justice. People suffering throughout
their lives for His sake and people oppressing and
exploiting other people all their lives should not
receive similar treatment from their Lord.
Expecting similar treatment for them will amount
to negating the very belief in the accountability of
man in the Hereafter and thereby negating all the
incentives for a moral and virtuous life in this
world. The following Quranic verses are very clear
and straightforward in this respect:
"Verily, for the Righteous are gardens of Delight,
in the Presence of their Lord. Shall We then treat
the people of Faith like the people of Sin? What is
the matter with you? How judge you?" (68:34-36)

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