What is the identity of Allah?

Overview of the Term “Allah”

The word “Allah” is an Arabic term for “God,” used most prominently within Islam to refer to the Supreme Being described in the Quran and other Islamic traditions. In Arabic, it is a compound of “al-” (the) and “ilāh” (god), conjoined into “Allah,” meaning “the God.” Within other contexts, such as among Arabic-speaking Christians, the same word can be used simply to denote “God” in Arabic-language Bibles and liturgical references. However, the historical development and theological beliefs attached to the name “Allah” within Islam diverge significantly from that which the Scriptures present, especially in terms of God’s nature and the person of Jesus Christ.

Historical and Linguistic Background

In pre-Islamic times, various Arab communities worshiped numerous deities, including tribal gods and celestial figures, and some used the word “Allah” as a reference to a chief deity. Over time, Islam consolidated the idea of a singular, all-powerful God referred to as “Allah.” While the Arabic word etymologically means “God,” the identity and attributes attributed to Allah in the Quran are foundational to Islamic theology, which differs in key ways from the portrayal of God found in the Bible.

Comparisons with the God of Scripture

Although both Islam and Christianity affirm belief in a single, all-powerful Creator, the Scriptures consistently reveal God as triune—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—an understanding uniquely anchored by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Islam does not affirm the triune nature of God, nor does it affirm that Jesus is God’s Son in the same sense as Scripture testifies.

Jesus Himself said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). This oneness is upheld throughout the New Testament, underscoring the deity of Christ (John 1:1–14), the personhood of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16–17), and the unity of the Godhead (Matthew 28:19). This distinction is fundamental to understanding why many in the Christian tradition have seen profound differences between the identity of Allah in Islam and the Triune God revealed in the Bible.

Scriptural References on God’s Identity

• Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” The Creator God of Scripture, revealed from the opening line of Genesis, establishes His power and sovereignty very differently than the Islamic depiction of Allah. Biblical texts present an account that leads directly to the covenant God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 3:6), culminating in the revealed Messiah, Jesus Christ.

• Deuteronomy 6:4: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One.” This foundational statement affirms the unity of God while the New Testament clarifies the relationship of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three co-equal persons sharing the one divine essence.

• John 1:14: “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” The incarnation of God as Jesus is a cornerstone of the biblical narrative, in contrast to the Quranic view of Allah, which denies the incarnation and crucifixion of Christ.

• Acts 4:12: “Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” This scriptural assertion stands in tension with Islamic theology, which teaches a different path of salvation not centered on the crucifixion and bodily resurrection of Christ.

Philosophical and Theological Considerations

From a biblical perspective, the nature of God includes both perfect justice and perfect love, expressed supremely through Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection. This act of redemption is central to the gospel message (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). In contrast, concerns arise from various Islamic texts where the divinity and sonship of Christ are denied, and salvation is understood primarily through human obedience and works.

Moreover, the personal relationship with God in the Bible is underscored through passages emphasizing God’s intimate involvement with humanity (Psalm 139:1–4; Matthew 6:9). By contrast, while Islamic traditions emphasize reverence for Allah through submission (Islam means “submission”), the dynamics of knowing God as “Father” through Christ are not shared in the Quranic framework.

Archaeological and Historical Insights

Several archaeological and textual discoveries illustrate the strong manuscript basis underpinning the biblical record:

• The Dead Sea Scrolls (mid-20th-century discovery) confirmed the remarkable preservation of Old Testament texts well before the rise of Islam, reinforcing the continuity of biblical revelation on God’s nature.

• Thousands of New Testament Greek manuscripts, including early fragments such as Papyrus 52 (often dated to the early second century), demonstrate the alignment and reliability of New Testament teachings that affirm the deity of Christ and the necessity of His atoning work.

Such historical evidence supports the consistency of the biblical portrayal of God as an eternally triune Being, which stands as a distinct claim when placed beside the Islamic depiction.

Assessing the Theological Divergence

Because faith in the risen Christ stands in stark contrast with repeated Quranic denials of Jesus’ deity and crucifixion, one must acknowledge that “Allah” as defined in Islamic tradition is the center of a fundamentally different theological system. While surface-level similarities include monotheism and references to certain patriarchs (e.g., Abraham), the core confessions and beliefs diverge in profoundly consequential ways.

Biblical Conclusion on the Identity of Allah

Based on the scriptural revelation of God’s nature, the identity and role of Christ, and the relationship of God’s Spirit to believers, one concludes that the Quranic understanding of Allah differs from the triune God revealed through Scripture. The biblical account, spanning from Genesis to Revelation, highlights the person of Jesus Christ as fully divine and fully human, who rose from the dead to grant believers eternal life (Romans 10:9).

In that light, while the Arabic word “Allah” can generally mean “God,” its theological content in Islamic tradition cannot be equated with the full revelation of God as presented in the Bible—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This difference shapes how Christians have historically interpreted the identity of “Allah” relative to the scriptural testimony of the Creator who was incarnate in Jesus and who redeems humanity through His death and resurrection.

Further Considerations for Study

• Compare the Quranic narratives of creation and key biblical figures (e.g., Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses) with the corresponding biblical texts to see how each Scripture’s portrayal of God diverges.

• Examine the doctrinal emphasis on the Trinity, the Incarnation, and the Holy Spirit in the early church councils (Council of Nicea, AD 325; Council of Chalcedon, AD 451) to contextualize the biblical articulation of God’s nature.

• Investigate the early Christian creeds and confessions that rebut interpretations denying Jesus’ deity and His role as Savior.

These studies enable a fuller appreciation of how scriptural teaching on God’s identity, especially in the person of Jesus Christ, sets biblical faith apart in answering the question: “Who is God?” and, by extension, “What does it mean that Islam refers to their deity as Allah?” Such comparisons illuminate where core doctrinal divergences exist and why Christian tradition has consistently affirmed the unique identity of the God revealed in the pages of Scripture.