The word “Allah”
“Allah” is not a name of a separate deity: it is the Arabic word for God, used by Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews. For Muslims it means the One Creator with no partner, summarised in Surat Al-Ikhlas:
قُلۡ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ لَمۡ يَلِدۡ وَلَمۡ يُولَدۡ وَلَمۡ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدُۢSay, "He is Allāh, [who is] One, Allāh, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent."
Common ground
The Quran calls for courteous dialogue with Christians and Jews and affirms what we share: one God.
۞ وَلَا تُجَٰدِلُوٓاْ أَهۡلَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ إِلَّا بِٱلَّتِي هِيَ أَحۡسَنُ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ مِنۡهُمۡۖ وَقُولُوٓاْ ءَامَنَّا بِٱلَّذِيٓ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡنَا وَأُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكُمۡ وَإِلَٰهُنَا وَإِلَٰهُكُمۡ وَٰحِدٞ وَنَحۡنُ لَهُۥ مُسۡلِمُونَAnd do not argue with the People of the Scripture except in a way that is best, except for those who commit injustice among them, and say, "We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you. And our God and your God is one; and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him."
Where the disagreement lies
- The Trinity: Muslims hold that God is absolutely one and do not accept the Trinity.
- The sonship of Jesus: Muslims do not believe Jesus is God’s son; he is a prophet and messenger.
- Respect: Muslims believe in Moses, Jesus and their scriptures, and worship God alone.
Frequently asked questions
Do Muslims have a different god?
No. Muslims worship the Creator of the heavens and the earth who sent all the prophets.
Texts and translations are under scholarly review.