Letter 2: The Holy Quran Says God Is One and Only

The Holy Quran Says God Is One and Only

Your God is One God; there is no one worthy of worship except Him,

the Compassionate, the Merciful.

—Quran 2:163

Reverend Franklin Graham:

In this letter, I intend to tell you about Allah, or the God of Islam, as He has described Himself in the Quran through His last prophet, Muhammad. There are countless verses in the Quran in which God makes Himself known to us through His unique essence and attributes. I hope this will help you to know clearly and correctly what kind of God the Muslims really worship, adore and obey.

But before that, I need to mention here two things related to the meaning or the translation of the Quran. First, except for the Quran in Arabic text, which Muhammad received directly from God through Gabriel, the Muslims do not regard its meaning or the translation in other languages as Quran or the revealed Book of God. They mention those books as the meaning of the Quran in English,  French, etc.

          Second, the Quran has 114 Suras, or chapters, consisting of verses of unequal length. The readers need to remember the number of the chapter is placed first, followed by the number of the verse or verses. For example, the numbers in the parenthesis (14:31-34) indicate verses 31 to 34 have been quoted from the chapter 14, the title of which is Ibrahim/ Abraham.

          With this little note of information,  I would like to draw your attention to the meaning and translation of the following verses of the Quran where God of Islam has made Himself and the basic truth of His guidance, known to the people through His last Prophet Muhammad.

God is One and without any partner

 Allah Himself has testified to the fact that there is no God but Him and so do the angels and those who are well grounded in knowledge standing firm on justice. There is no God except Him, the Mighty, the Wise. (3:18)

[To Muhammad] Say: He is Allah, The One and Only.  Allah, The Eternal, The Absolute; He begets not, nor is He begotten; and, there is none comparable to Him. (112:1–4)

     All that exists on the earth will perish, but the Face of your Lord will remain full of Majesty and Glory. (55:26–27)

     This is a Message for the mankind: let them take warning from there, and let them know that He is the One and Only God: and let the men of understanding take heed. (14:52)

    [To Muhammad] Say: O mankind! I am the Messenger of Allah towards all of you from Him to whom, belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. There is no god but Him. (7:158)

Allah is He, beside Him there is no other god, The Knower of all things both secret and open. He is Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Allah is He, besides Him there is no other god. The Sovereign, the Holy One, The Source of Peace, the Guardian of Faith, The Preserver of Security, the Exalted in Might, The Irresistible, the Supreme: Glory be to Allah! High is He above the partners they ascribe to Him. He is Allah, the Creator, the Evolver, the Modeler. To whom belong the Most Beautiful Names: All that is in the heavens and the earth declare His glory: And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise. (59:22–24)

Allah, There is no god but Him; The Living, The Eternal. He has revealed to you this Book [the Quran] with the Truth, confirming the scripture which preceded it, as He revealed the Torah and the Gospel before this. (3:2–3)

          Reverend, there are many oft-repeated verses in the Holy Quran like the last one I quoted above, which tell us clearly and categorically that the Holy Bible including both its Old and the New Part, carry the same eternal truth about God’s being One and worshipping none but Him. We shall check the truth in the next letter.  

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God is Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omniscient

Allah, There is no god but Him: the Living, the Eternal. Neither slumbers nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and in the earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him without His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them. And they encompass nothing of His knowledge except what He pleases. His throne extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Supreme. (2:255)

He Alone has the keys of the unforeseen treasures, of which no one knows except Him. He knows whatever is in the land and in the sea; there is not a single leaf that falls without His knowledge, there is neither a grain in the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry but is written in a Clear Record. (6:59)

            No vision can grasp Him while He grasps all visions. He is the Subtle, the Aware.

             (6:102–103)

          He has the knowledge of all that goes into the earth and that which comes out of it; and all of that which comes down from heaven and that ascends to it. (34:2)

God is He Who has created seven Firmaments and of the earth a similar number. His Command descends through them: that you may know that Allah has power over all things, and that Allah comprehends all things in His knowledge. (65:12)

God is the Creator of all

In the following verses of the Quran, God describes Himself as being the sole Creator of the heavens and earth and everything that comes in between.

          All praises be to Allah, the One Who has created the heavens and the earth and made the darkness and the light; yet the unbelievers set up equal partners with their Lord. He is the One Who has created you from clay, then decreed a fixed term of life and set a deadline for you Himself; yet you go on doubting! (6:1–2)

          Allah is the One Who raised the heavens without any pillars that you can see, then firmly established Him on the throne of authority and subjected the sun and the moon to His Law, each one pursuing its course for an appointed time. He regulates all affairs. He has spelled out His revelations so that you may believe in meeting your Lord. (13:2)

          He is the One Who spread out the earth and placed thereon mountains and rivers, created fruits of every kind in pairs, two and two, and makes the night cover the day. Certainly, in these things there are signs for those who use their common sense. (13:3)

          He brings out the living from the dead and the dead from the Living, and gives life to the earth after its death. Likewise you shall be brought forth to life after your death. (30:19)

          Verily, whenever He intends doing a thing, He says to it “Be” and it is! (36:82)

God Is the Planner and the Controller of Everything

          The sun runs its course which is predetermined by the Almighty, the All-Knowing. As for the moon, We have designed phases for it till it again becomes like an old dry palm branch. Neither it is possible for the sun to overtake the moon, nor for the night to outstrip the day: each floats along in its own orbit (According to the Law of God). When Allah commands, there is none to reverse His Command and He is swift in taking accountability. Allah is the Master of all planning. He knows the actions of every soul. (13:41)

          Allah is the creator of all things and He is the Guardian and Disposer of all affairs.    (39:62)

He is the One, Who has given you life, will cause you to die and then will bring you back to life again. (22:66)

God Is the Provider and the Sustainer of All

In the following verses of the Quran, we shall see that God of Islam is not only the Creator of all or the master of all planning, but He is also the provider and the sustainer of every living thing that exists on, above, or beneath the earth.

          We send the fertilizing winds and send down water from the sky for you to drink; and it is not you who own the storage of this wealth. (15:22)

          We have spread out the earth and set mountains upon it; and caused to grow therein every suitable thing in due proportion. And we have provided therein means of subsistence for you and for those whom you do not provide. (15:19–20)

          Let man reflect on the food he eats, how we pour down rainwater in abundance and cleave the soil asunder. How we bring forth grain, grapes and nutritious vegetations, olives and dates, lush gardens, fruit and fodder, as a mean of sustenance for you and for your cattle. (80:24–32)

How many creatures are there that do not carry their provisions with them. Allah provides them as He provides for you. (29:60)

On God’s Endless Favors, Mercy, and Forgiveness

          Allah brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers when you knew nothing, and He gave you hearing, sight and intelligence so that you might give thanks to Allah. (16:78)

          It is Allah, Who has created the heavens and the earth. He sends down rain from the sky with which He brings forth fruits for your sustenance. He has made the ships subservient to you, which may sail through the sea by His Command; and likewise the rivers are made for your benefit. The sun and the moon are also assigned for your benefit, which diligently pursue their courses to cause the night and day for your service. He has given you all that you could ask for and if you want to count the favors of Allah, you will never be able to count them. (14:32-34)

He has also subjected to you whatever is in between the heavens and the earth: it is all as a favor and kindness from Him. Verily, there are signs in it for those who reflect. (45:13)

                  

Allah says: O my servants, who have transgressed against their souls, do not despair of the mercy of Allah, for Allah forgives all sins: Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (39:53)

No One Is Worthy of Worship Besides God

Reverend, the verses I quoted above are sufficient to know and realize that God alone has the right to be worshipped since no one in the entire heavens and earth could be His equal or worthy of worship besides Him. I have quoted below a few more verses from the Quran with the same eternal message that God sent through Muhammad following the footsteps of all his predecessors for the guidance of His people.

          O Muhammad, tell them: I am but a human being like you; the revelation is sent to me to declare that your God is One God; therefore, whoever hopes to meet his Lord, let him do good deeds and join no partner in the worship of his Lord. (18:110)

          Invoke no other god besides Allah. There is no god besides Him. Everything is perishable except Him. To Him belongs the judgment and to Him you will be returned. (28:88)

[To Muhammad] Say: O ignorant! Do you bid me to worship someone other than Allah? But it has already been revealed to you as it was revealed to those before you that if you ascribe a partner to Allah, all your deeds will go in vain and you will surely be among the losers. Therefore, worship Allah and be among His thankful servants. (39:65–66)

          O Prophet, tell them: ‘I have been forbidden to invoke them who you invoke besides Allah. How could I do so after clear revelations came to me from my Lord and I have commanded to submit myself to the Lord of the worlds? (40:66)

          O mankind! Worship your Lord Who created you and created those who came before you. Who has made the earth your couch, and the sky your canopy, and sent down rain from the heavens; and brought forth therewith fruits for your sustenance; Then do not set up rivals unto Allah [in worship] when you know the truth [that He alone has the right to be worshipped]. (2:21–22)

Reverend, on the basis of the above verses, the Muslims, or the followers of Muhammad, believe absolutely that there is none but Allah/God, whose glory and greatness, wisdom and authority,  compassion and kindness, and favors and forgiveness are beyond any measure, and therefore, no one has the right to be worshipped except Him. This is Allah, whom the Muslims worship, obey and constantly seek for His pleasure, mercy and guidance in every walk of their life.