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From: taqwaa@tahoe.unr.edu
Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam
Subject: Knowing Allah: Islamic topic (II)
Message-ID: <3369@brazos.Rice.edu>
Date: 2 Dec 89 12:54:33 GMT
Sender: root@rice.edu
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Approved: shari@wpi.edu


ALLAH THE UNIQUE :

     Allah  is  one,ie.contrary  to  all  those  who  believe  in

polytheism  and speak of god of species, that is to say, assign a

particular god to a certain act and position: Lord of  Fertility,

Lord of War, Lord of Famine, Lord of Power,etc., Islam introduces

one God for all objects and affairs. He is  called  "ALLAH".   Or

think  of Zoroastrianism which although might have basically been

a monotheistic religion, its followers have gradually  spoken  of

duality : God and Satan - god of good and god of evil.

     Or consider Christianity which assigned a son,Jesus,to  God.

Its  main  scientific  and  philosophical  debate  was to discuss

Jesus' nature to determine whether he himself is God, whether  he

has detached from him, whether he is his manifestation of God, or

still, whether he  has  been  co-substantial  with  God,  or  has

appeared  after  him.  This altogether constituted the discussion

leading to God, the Father, the Son,  the  Holy  Spirit  and  the

Trinity  in  Christianity.   Or else, consider the Pagan Arabs of

the pre-Islamic era,who assumed angels to be God's daughters.

     Islam says that  God  is  one.  He  has  neither  a  son,  a

daughter,  a  mother,  a  father  or  colleague. Even,there is no

intercessor who can act as an intermediarywithout  his  will  and

permission.  Allah  has no partner, that is to say, no perso n or

object collaborates with him in his affairs.  But  Allah  himself

may  decide  to  create  particular  means, agents and causes for

certain affairs. He has, for instance, created the  sun  to  give

heat and light and for some other uses or food for man to eat and

enjoy. But the sun and food are not associates of Allah who  help

him  in  bringing  heat and food to man. These are merely certain

means created by Allah (God) to fulfill his command.  So  is  the

case with intercession: as the sun gives heat and light by divine

will, the holy prophet leads people to the right path, good deeds

and  prosperity  in pursuit of his will.  Whenever Allah deems it

advisable, the Prophet seeks his  blessing  and  forgiveness  for

certain  people.  He  himself  forgives  no  one  and  causes  no

confusion in the Divine system of punishment and reward, nor does

he  ask  for  DIvine  grace on behalf of anyone unless the latter

does merit it. Therefore  people  have  no  absolute  master  and

guardian  on  the Earth (as well as in the sky) except Allah. All

people are Allah's creatures. they are weak and in  need  of  his

blessing.  So, those who obstinately claim lordship or those base

and mean people who praise and worship  earthly,man-made  masters

and  gods  and  regard them as beings possesing independent will,

are but Idolaters who assume partners for Allah.