In the name of God
This is an entrypoint in the path towards God, Islam and the Quran.
God, (Allah in Arabic), is the creator of all things, the heavens and the earth, the stars and the sky, the universe and everything in it. Allah is the one and only God, the indivisible, there are none like him. There are two amazing descriptions of God worth noting.
Surah Al-Ikhlas, translated to “The Sincerity” introduces God to us.
Say: He is Allah, the One and Only;
Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
He begetteth not, nor is He begotten;
And there is none like unto Him.
Meaning, Allah is the origin of everything, he always was and always will be, he was not born and does not bear children. Nothing compares to him.
Verse Ayatul-Kursi, meaning literally “Verse Throne” describes God in further detail.
Allah! There is no god except Him, the Ever-Living, All-Sustaining.
Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever
is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who could possibly
intercede with Him without His permission? He knows what is ahead
of them and what is behind them, but no one can grasp any of His
knowledge—except what He wills. His Seat encompasses the heavens
and the earth, and the preservation of both does not tire Him.
For He is the Most High, the Greatest.
God is greater than everything in existence, he is the all knowing, the all powerful, the Creator of all things. The magnitude by which we can only understand by the description of what his throne encompasses. God is ineffable in the sense that anything we describe him as does not compare to his greatness.
The best way to understand God (Allah) is through his names and attributes. His names describe who he is.
Ar-Rahman, the most merciful. Ar-Raheem, the bestower of mercy.
Allah has 99 names describing his attributes, see them all below.
| Number | Arabic | English | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ٱلْرَّحْمَـانُ | AR-RAHMAAN | The Most or Entirely Merciful |
| 2 | ٱلْرَّحِيْمُ | AR-RAHEEM | The Bestower of Mercy |
| 3 | ٱلْمَلِكُ | AL-MALIK | The King and Owner of Dominion |
| 4 | ٱلْقُدُّوسُ | AL-QUDDUS | The Absolutely Pure |
| 5 | ٱلْسَّلَامُ | AS-SALAM | The Perfection and Giver of Peace |
| 6 | ٱلْمُؤْمِنُ | AL-MU’MIN | The One Who gives Emaan and Security |
| 7 | ٱلْمُهَيْمِنُ | AL-MUHAYMIN | The Guardian, The Witness, The Overseer |
| 8 | ٱلْعَزِيزُ | AL-AZEEZ | The All Mighty |
| 9 | ٱلْجَبَّارُ | AL-JABBAR | The Compeller, The Restorer |
| 10 | ٱلْمُتَكَبِّرُ | AL-MUTAKABBIR | The Supreme, The Majestic |
| 11 | ٱلْخَالِقُ | AL-KHAALIQ | The Creator, The Maker |
| 12 | ٱلْبَارِئُ | AL-BAARI’ | The Originator |
| 13 | ٱلْمُصَوِّرُ | AL-MUSAWWIR | The Fashioner |
| 14 | ٱلْغَفَّارُ | AL-GHAFFAR | The All- and Oft-Forgiving |
| 15 | ٱلْقَهَّارُ | AL-QAHHAR | The Subduer, The Ever-Dominating |
| 16 | ٱلْوَهَّابُ | AL-WAHHAAB | The Giver of Gifts |
| 17 | ٱلْرَّزَّاقُ | AR-RAZZAAQ | The Provider |
| 18 | ٱلْفَتَّاحُ | AL-FATTAAH | The Opener, The Judge |
| 19 | ٱلْعَلِيمُ | AL-‘ALEEM | The All-Knowing, The Omniscient |
| 20 | ٱلْقَابِضُ | AL-QAABID | The Withholder |
| 21 | ٱلْبَاسِطُ | AL-BAASIT | The Extender |
| 22 | ٱلْخَافِضُ | AL-KHAAFIDH | The Reducer, The Abaser |
| 23 | ٱلْرَّافِعُ | AR-RAAFI’ | The Exalter, The Elevator |
| 24 | ٱلْمُعِزُّ | AL-MU’IZZ | The Honourer, The Bestower |
| 25 | ٱلْمُذِلُّ | AL-MUZIL | The Dishonourer, The Humiliator |
| 26 | ٱلْسَّمِيعُ | AS-SAMEE’ | The All-Hearing |
| 27 | ٱلْبَصِيرُ | AL-BASEER | The All-Seeing |
| 28 | ٱلْحَكَمُ | AL-HAKAM | The Judge, The Giver of Justice |
| 29 | ٱلْعَدْلُ | AL-‘ADL | The Utterly Just |
| 30 | ٱلْلَّطِيفُ | AL-LATEEF | The Subtle One, The Most Gentle |
| 31 | ٱلْخَبِيرُ | AL-KHABEER | The Acquainted, the All-Aware |
| 32 | ٱلْحَلِيمُ | AL-HALEEM | The Most Forbearing |
| 33 | ٱلْعَظِيمُ | AL-‘ATHEEM | The Magnificent, The Supreme |
| 34 | ٱلْغَفُورُ | AL-GHAFOOR | The Forgiving, The Exceedingly Forgiving |
| 35 | ٱلْشَّكُورُ | ASH-SHAKOOR | The Most Appreciative |
| 36 | ٱلْعَلِيُّ | AL-‘ALEE | The Most High, The Exalted |
| 37 | ٱلْكَبِيرُ | AL-KABEER | The Greatest, The Most Grand |
| 38 | ٱلْحَفِيظُ | AL-HAFEEDH | The Preserver, The All-Heedful and All-Protecting |
| 39 | ٱلْمُقِيتُ | AL-MUQEET | The Sustainer |
| 40 | ٱلْحَسِيبُ | AL-HASEEB | The Reckoner, The Sufficient |
| 41 | ٱلْجَلِيلُ | AL-JALEEL | The Majestic |
| 42 | ٱلْكَرِيمُ | AL-KAREEM | The Most Generous, The Most Esteemed |
| 43 | ٱلْرَّقِيبُ | AR-RAQEEB | The Watchful |
| 44 | ٱلْمُجِيبُ | AL-MUJEEB | The Responsive One |
| 45 | ٱلْوَاسِعُ | AL-WAASI’ | The All-Encompassing, the Boundless |
| 46 | ٱلْحَكِيمُ | AL-HAKEEM | The All-Wise |
| 47 | ٱلْوَدُودُ | AL-WADOOD | The Most Loving |
| 48 | ٱلْمَجِيدُ | AL-MAJEED | The Glorious, The Most Honorable |
| 49 | ٱلْبَاعِثُ | AL-BA’ITH | The Resurrector, The Raiser of the Dead |
| 50 | ٱلْشَّهِيدُ | ASH-SHAHEED | The All- and Ever Witnessing |
| 51 | ٱلْحَقُّ | AL-HAQQ | The Absolute Truth |
| 52 | ٱلْوَكِيلُ | AL-WAKEEL | The Trustee, The Disposer of Affairs |
| 53 | ٱلْقَوِيُّ | AL-QAWIYY | The All-Strong |
| 54 | ٱلْمَتِينُ | AL-MATEEN | The Firm, The Steadfast |
| 55 | ٱلْوَلِيُّ | AL-WALIYY | The Protecting Associate |
| 56 | ٱلْحَمِيدُ | AL-HAMEED | The Praiseworthy |
| 57 | ٱلْمُحْصِيُ | AL-MUHSEE | The All-Enumerating, The Counter |
| 58 | ٱلْمُبْدِئُ | AL-MUBDI | The Originator, The Initiator |
| 59 | ٱلْمُعِيدُ | AL-MU’ID | The Restorer, The Reinstater |
| 60 | ٱلْمُحْيِى | AL-MUHYEE | The Giver of Life |
| 61 | ٱلْمُمِيتُ | AL-MUMEET | The Bringer of Death, the Destroyer |
| 62 | ٱلْحَىُّ | AL-HAYY | The Ever-Living |
| 63 | ٱلْقَيُّومُ | AL-QAYYOOM | The Sustainer, The Self-Subsisting |
| 64 | ٱلْوَاجِدُ | AL-WAAJID | The Perceiver |
| 65 | ٱلْمَاجِدُ | AL-MAAJID | The Illustrious, the Magnificent |
| 66 | ٱلْوَاحِدُ | AL-WAAHID | The One |
| 67 | ٱلْأَحَد | AL-AHAD | The Unique, The Only One |
| 68 | ٱلْصَّمَدُ | AS-SAMAD | The Eternal, Satisfier of Needs |
| 69 | ٱلْقَادِرُ | AL-QADIR | The Capable, The Powerful |
| 70 | ٱلْمُقْتَدِرُ | AL-MUQTADIR | The Omnipotent |
| 71 | ٱلْمُقَدِّمُ | AL-MUQADDIM | The Expediter, The Promoter |
| 72 | ٱلْمُؤَخِّرُ | AL-MU’AKHKHIR | The Delayer, the Retarder |
| 73 | ٱلأَوَّلُ | AL-AWWAL | The First |
| 74 | ٱلْآخِرُ | AL-AAKHIR | The Last |
| 75 | ٱلْظَّاهِرُ | AZ-DHAAHIR | The Manifest |
| 76 | ٱلْبَاطِنُ | AL-BAATIN | The Hidden One, Knower of the Hidden |
| 77 | ٱلْوَالِي | AL-WAALI | The Governor, The Patron |
| 78 | ٱلْمُتَعَالِي | AL-MUTA’ALI | The Self Exalted |
| 79 | ٱلْبَرُّ | AL-BARR | The Source of Goodness, the Kind Benefactor |
| 80 | ٱلْتَّوَّابُ | AT-TAWWAB | The Ever-Pardoning, The Relenting |
| 81 | ٱلْمُنْتَقِمُ | AL-MUNTAQIM | The Avenger |
| 82 | ٱلْعَفُوُّ | AL-‘AFUWW | The Pardoner |
| 83 | ٱلْرَّؤُفُ | AR-RA’OOF | The Most Kind |
| 84 | مَالِكُ ٱلْمُلْكُ | MAALIK-UL-MULK | Master of the Kingdom, Owner of the Dominion |
| 85 | ذُو ٱلْجَلَالِ وَٱلْإِكْرَامُ | DHUL-JALAALI WAL-IKRAAM | Possessor of Glory and Honour, Lord of Majesty and Generosity |
| 86 | ٱلْمُقْسِطُ | AL-MUQSIT | The Equitable, the Requiter |
| 87 | ٱلْجَامِعُ | AL-JAAMI’ | The Gatherer, the Uniter |
| 88 | ٱلْغَنيُّ | AL-GHANIYY | The Self-Sufficient, The Wealthy |
| 89 | ٱلْمُغْنِيُّ | AL-MUGHNI | The Enricher |
| 90 | ٱلْمَانِعُ | AL-MANI’ | The Withholder |
| 91 | ٱلْضَّارُ | AD-DHARR | The Distresser |
| 92 | ٱلْنَّافِعُ | AN-NAFI’ | The Propitious, the Benefactor |
| 93 | ٱلْنُّورُ | AN-NUR | The Light, The Illuminator |
| 94 | ٱلْهَادِي | AL-HAADI | The Guide |
| 95 | ٱلْبَدِيعُ | AL-BADEE’ | The Incomparable Originator |
| 96 | ٱلْبَاقِي | AL-BAAQI | The Ever-Surviving, The Everlasting |
| 97 | ٱلْوَارِثُ | AL-WAARITH | The Inheritor, The Heir |
| 98 | ٱلْرَّشِيدُ | AR-RASHEED | The Guide, Infallible Teacher |
| 99 | ٱلْصَّبُورُ | AS-SABOOR | The Forbearing, The Patient |
Islam (meaning Submission to God) is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion which centers around the belief in one God, Allah and his messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him).
There are five pillars of faith in Islam
The shahada is the first pillar of Islam. It is the declaration of belief in one, God, and his messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him).
lā ʾilāha ʾillallāh, Muḥammad rasūlu-llāh
There is no God but God, and Muhammad is his messenger
Prayer is the second pillar of Islam. Muslims are expected to pray to God five times a day; dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and evening. The prayer is performed towards the holy house of God in Mecca called the Kaaba.
The third pillar is Zakat, this is a form of obligatory charity to the poor or needy. Every year we must donate 2.5% of our wealth as a way of purifying it and helping those most in need.
Fasting is the fourth pillar. Each year during the month of Ramadan, muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. During that time no food or water is consumed. At the same time we must maintain the best of conduct and character. Fasting is a way to bring us closer to God and realise that we depend entirely on him for our existence.
Hajj is the final pillar of Islam. Every muslim is capable, by health and means, is expected to perform Hajj at least once in their lifetime. This is a journey to the holy city of Mecca to perform the ritual circumambulation of the Kaaba and walking between mount Safa and Marwa. It is believed the Kaaba was the house built by Abraham for God.
The Quran, translated as Reminder, is the sacred book of Islam. It is revelation from God to the prophet Muhammad (pbub) through the Angel Gabriel and the people of that time. It is a guidance from God and a reminder of what was sent before to previous prophets and communities such as the prophets Moses (pbuh) and Jesus (pbuh).
The Quran essentially lays out guidelines to humanity in how to behave and reminds us that this life has a purpose, that we are here for a reason, to worship the almighty God and that ultimately we will return to him to be judged and then appropriately rewarded or punished for our actions.
The Quran reveals stories of past prophets and their enemies in history as a way to teach lessons about what is exemplary behaviour and what is abhorrent e.g a tyrannical pharoah who believed himself to be God on Earth who abused his people and drowned in the sea in pursuit of the prophet Moses.
You can find the Quran in many places online, bookshops, etc. Quran.com is an excellent resource I use daily.
Further resources to take into consideration when learning about God, Islam and the Quran.
Books I would recommend reading to gain a better understanding
Find speakers and leaders in the muslim community who can help you understand Islam
Terms and meanings that are common and useful to know
Motivational and insightful videos, talks and lectures