In Islam, God is Allah: the one creator, sustainer, and judge of all that exists. The Arabic word Allah is the ordinary Arabic term for God and is also used by Arabic-speaking Christians. Islamic theology is defined by tawhid, the affirmation that God is one, unique, and without partner.
Tawhid: the oneness of God
Tawhid is foundational to Muslim belief. The Qur’an repeatedly rejects the idea that God has equals, partners, or rivals. Surah al-Ikhlas (Qur’an 112) presents a concise statement of divine oneness, while Qur’an 42:11 states that nothing is like God. Muslims therefore understand worship as belonging to God alone.
Creator and sustainer
The Qur’an describes God as creator of the heavens and the earth and as the one on whom creation depends. Islamic thought does not understand God as a being located inside the universe or as one creature among others. God is the source of creation while remaining distinct from created things.
Divine names and attributes
Muslim devotion frequently speaks of the “beautiful names” of God. Names such as the Merciful, the Compassionate, the Knowing, the Just, and the Forgiving describe attributes emphasized throughout the Qur’an. The traditional list of ninety-nine names is widely used in devotion, although Islamic theology does not teach that God is limited to a numerical list.
Does Islam teach that God is the same God worshipped by Jews and Christians?
Islam places itself within an Abrahamic history that includes figures such as Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. The Qur’an presents the God of revelation to Muhammad as the God who sent earlier prophets. At the same time, Islam rejects specifically Christian doctrines such as the Trinity and the divine sonship of Jesus. Describing the traditions as worshipping “the same God” can therefore be meaningful historically, while major theological differences remain.
God, mercy, and judgment
Islamic teaching holds together divine mercy and moral accountability. God is described as forgiving and compassionate, but also as judge. Human beings are called to worship, repentance, justice, charity, and responsibility for their actions.
Allah as an Arabic word
The word Allah predates Islam as an Arabic term for God and continues to be used by Arabic-speaking Christians as well as Muslims. In Islamic usage, however, the word is embedded in specifically Qur’anic teaching about tawhid, prophecy, worship, and divine attributes. This linguistic point helps distinguish the question “What does the word Allah mean?” from the theological question “How does Islam understand God?”
