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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Religion / Why Muslims Prefer To Use "Allah" Instead Of "God" (687 Views)
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Why Muslims Prefer To Use "Allah" Instead Of "God" by Biodun556(m): 6:53am On Oct 09, 2020 |
Originally Answered: Why do Muslim people use 'Allah' instead of 'God' when speaking English? Allah is the Arabic word for God, although only a relatively small amount of Muslims actually speak Arabic as their first language. Yet, Muslims around the world use the same word for God, Allah. This gives the word a unifying quality. There is nothing wrong with a Muslim saying ‘God’ in his/her own language, but most Muslims prefer to use the word Allah. However, the word Allah also has a unique quality. For example, the English word God is spelled with a capital ‘G’ and we understand it to mean the one almighty God. But if it is spelled with a lower case ‘g’, god, it could refer to anything that people worship. Since capitalisation does not come across in speech, there is no way to distinguish between God and god. The word ‘god’ can also become plural, gods, and it can be male or female, god or goddess. On the other hand, Arabic has two different words for God and god. The word for god is illah, and the word for God is Allah. Furthermore, the word Allah is unlike other Arabic words in that it cannot become plural, or take the role of gender. So when you say Allah, there is no confusion. You are not referring to any god, but the one and only God. Allah is not only exclusive to Muslims, Arab Christians also use the same word. It is interesting to note that the word Allah is also mentioned in the bible, If you read the Bible in the Hebrew language, it calls ‘God Almighty’ as ‘Elohim’. ‘Him’ is a sign of respect in the Semitic languages, so the word God in Hebrew is actually ‘Elo’. And also if you read The Old Testament , it uses the words ‘Elo’ or ‘Ela’ for God. And in the English Bible, revised by Reverend Scofield, he gave the spelling of ‘Ela’as alternatively, either as ‘Elah’ or ‘Alah’. Muslim say Allah, although it is spelt slightly differently from the Hebrew word, they are pronounced the same. Furthermore according to the Bible, when Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) allegedly was crucified - it is mentioned thatwhen he was put on the cross, he cried out ‘Elai Elai Lama Sabach thani’ (Oh God, Oh God, why have thou forsaken me) (Mathew 27:46). This is a Hebrew quotation, but it has been maintained - even in the English Bible. If you translate ‘Elai Elai Lama Sabach thani’ into Arabic… it is ‘Allah Allah Lama Sabachtani’. Does it sound similar? - Yes! Hebrew and Arabic are sister languages. Abuh Alam Updated August 20, 2012 |
Re: Why Muslims Prefer To Use "Allah" Instead Of "God" by Nobody: 7:03am On Oct 09, 2020 |
All this religious were imported thing, Islam was imported from Arab that is why they use Allah instead God. |
Re: Why Muslims Prefer To Use "Allah" Instead Of "God" by longetivity(m): 8:42am On Oct 09, 2020 |
Allahu Akbar |
Re: Why Muslims Prefer To Use "Allah" Instead Of "God" by sagenaija: 9:04am On Oct 09, 2020 |
Biodun556: From your positing can we say then that if a person decides to say the shahada as "There is no 'god' but 'God' ......." can that person be said to have become a Moslem? |
Re: Why Muslims Prefer To Use "Allah" Instead Of "God" by Biodun556(m): 11:22am On Oct 09, 2020 |
sagenaija: Yes |
Re: Why Muslims Prefer To Use "Allah" Instead Of "God" by DeusXmachina: 3:26pm On Oct 09, 2020 |
Well it's just a matter of language. Although Muslims use Allah even when speaking in English as a means of differentiating the Islamic personification of their God from all the other different ones. |
Re: Why Muslims Prefer To Use "Allah" Instead Of "God" by sagenaija: 4:01pm On Oct 09, 2020 |
Biodun556:Then why are all English translations of Islamic texts not rendered as 'God' but rather 'Allah '? Particularly since they are translations into another language - English, who call the Creator by the name 'God'. |
Re: Why Muslims Prefer To Use "Allah" Instead Of "God" by Biodun556(m): 4:59pm On Oct 09, 2020 |
sagenaija: The reasons are in the post. There many English translated Quran that use God instead of Allah |
Re: Why Muslims Prefer To Use "Allah" Instead Of "God" by sagenaija: 11:39pm On Oct 09, 2020 |
Biodun556: Please show us which translations. The Koran does not even make it an article of faith to profess that Allah alone is God AND that Mohamed is his messenger in order to be become a Moslem. Why is not said in line with the below? Narrated ‘Ubada: The Prophet said, "IF ANYONE TESTIFIES that None has the right to be worshipped but Allah Alone Who has no partners, and that Muhammad is His Slave and His Apostle, and that Jesus is Allah's Slave and His Apostle and His Word which He bestowed on Mary and a Spirit from Him, and that Paradise is true, and Hell is true, Allah will admit him into Paradise with the deeds which he had done even if those deeds were few." (Junada, the sub-narrator said, "‘Ubada added, ‘Such a person can enter Paradise through any of its eight gates he likes.’" ![]() It is narrated on the authority of Ubadah b. Samit that the messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) observed: HE WHO SAID: "There is no god but Allah, He is One and there is no associate with Him, that Muhammad is his servant and His messenger, that Christ is servant and the son of His slave-girl and he (Christ) His word which He communicated to Mary and is His Spirit, that Paradise is a fact and Hell is a fact," Allah would make him (he who affirms these truths enter Paradise through any one of its eight doors which he would like. (Sahih Muslim, Book 1, Number 0043) Why is Jesus excluded from the generally said shahada when the above hadiths include him? |
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