Who is Allah in Islam?
Understand the Quranic idea of God as one, merciful, and beyond comparison.
Allah means God
Allah is the Arabic word for God. Arabic-speaking Christians also use the word Allah. In Islam, God is one, the creator and sustainer of all things, and is not part of a family or a physical form.
The Quran's short chapter Al-Ikhlas summarizes this emphasis on God's oneness and uniqueness.
Mercy and nearness
The Quran repeatedly describes God as the Most Merciful. It also says God is near and responds to those who call upon Him (2:186). These descriptions are central to Muslim prayer and understanding of divine care.
Muslim theology holds together God's nearness with God's transcendence: God is not limited or comparable to creation.
A name, not a different deity
Allah is not a separate deity from the God referred to by English speakers. The term is used by Muslims across languages and cultures.
If you are comparing religious traditions, attend to what each tradition means by its language for God rather than assuming the words map neatly onto one another.