The Divine Identity: Exploring God's Personal Name in Faith
Just as personal names are fundamental to human identity and the bedrock of our relationships, it seems only reasonable to ponder whether the Divine, too, possesses a personal name. In human friendships, knowing and using someone's name fosters intimacy and trust. Should it be any different when it comes to our most profound friendship – that with the Creator of the universe? Across different faiths, the concept of God's personal identity through His name holds profound significance, inviting believers into a deeper, more personal connection.
Jehovah: The Revealed Name in the Bible
Jehovah: The Revealed Name in the Bible
In the Bible, God unveils His personal name with a powerful declaration: "I am Jehovah. That is my name." (Isaiah 42:8)
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However, the association of the word Allah specifically with Islam stems from the unique status of Arabic as the language of the Qurʾān, Islam's holy scripture. Since the Qurʾān in its original Arabic is considered the literal word of God, it is believed that God described Himself in the Arabic language as Allāh (الله). This grants the Arabic word profound special significance for Muslims worldwide, regardless of their native tongue, as it is believed to be the word spoken by God Himself.
Allah stands as the pivot of the Muslim faith. The Qurʾān stresses above all Allah’s absolute singularity and sole sovereignty, a fundamental doctrinal tenet indicated by the Arabic term tawḥīd (“oneness”). Allah is described as eternal and ever-present, never sleeping or tiring. While transcendent, He perceives and reacts to everything everywhere through the omnipresence of His divine knowledge. He creates ex nihilo (from nothing) and is self-sufficient, without need of a consort or offspring.
Three central themes predominate in the Qurʾān concerning Allah: (1) He is the Creator, Judge, and Rewarder; (2) He is unique (wāḥid) and inherently one (aḥad); and (3) He is omnipotent and all-merciful. Allah is revered as the “Lord of the Worlds,” the Most High, and “nothing is like unto him.” This uniqueness compels believers to adore Allah as their Protector and to glorify His boundless compassion and forgiveness.
The Qurʾān affirms that Allah "loves those who do good," and it speaks of a mutual love between Him and humanity. Although infinitely forgiving, the Qurʾān states one unforgivable sin in the hereafter: shirk, the sin of associationism or polytheism. The God of the Qurʾān proclaims Himself to be the one and the same God who has communicated with humanity through various emissaries (rusul) to different communities, including the Jewish and Christian prophets.
Muslim scholars have compiled the 99 “most beautiful names” (al-asmāʾ al-ḥusnā) of Allah from the Qurʾān and the Hadith (the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad). These names describe His attributes and have become objects of devoted recitation and meditation. Among them are the One and Only, the Living One, the Subsisting (al-Ḥayy al-Qayyūm), the Real Truth (al-Ḥaqq), the Sublime (al-ʿAẓīm), the Wise (al-Ḥakīm), the Omnipotent (al-ʿAzīz), the Hearer (al-Samīʿ), the Seer (al-Baṣīr), the Omniscient (al-ʿAlīm), the Witness (al-Shahīd), the Benefactor (al-Raḥmān), the Merciful (al-Raḥīm), and the Constant Forgiver (al-Ghafūr, al-Ghaffār).
In daily Muslim life, devotion to Allah is pervasive. The profession of faith (shahādah) — "there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger" — marks entry into the Muslim community. Every action for a pious Muslim is often opened by an invocation of the divine name (basmalah). The phrase in shāʾa Allāh (“if Allah wills”) frequently appears in daily speech, serving as a constant reminder of divine intervention in the world. While nothing happens except by Allah's will, humans are also individually responsible for their moral choices. Thus, "Islam" itself signifies a conscious, purposeful submission to God, rooted in knowledge of Him and His commandments through His revelations.
A Deeper Connection
Whether known as Jehovah or Allah, the concept of God's personal name, or His revealed attributes, is central to humanity's relationship with the Divine. These names are not mere labels but gateways to understanding God's nature, His dealings with humanity, and the depth of the spiritual connection offered to those who seek Him. Through these sacred names, believers are invited to move beyond abstract concepts and cultivate a personal friendship with the Almighty, knowing and addressing Him by the identity He has revealed.
While He is also known by many awe-inspiring titles such as, "God Almighty", "Sovereign Lord", and "Creator", the Bible emphasises that He honours His worshippers by inviting them to address Him by His personal name (Genesis 17:1; Acts 4:24; 1 Peter 4:19).
Many biblical translations highlight this in passages like Exodus 6:3, where God states, “I used to appear to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as God Almighty, but as respects my name Jehovah I did not make myself known to them”. This suggests a progression in revelation, offering a deeper intimacy through the use of His personal name.
The name, "Jehovah", is an English rendering that has been in use for centuries. While some scholars prefer, "Yahweh", Jehovah remains the most widely recognised form. Etymologically, this name traces back to the earliest part of the Bible, written in Hebrew. There, the divine name appears as four consonants, יהוה (read from right to left). These four Hebrew characters—transliterated as YHWH—are famously known as the Tetragrammaton, representing the unique and personal identifier of God.
Allah: The Singular God in Islam
In Islam, the divine name is Allah. Etymologically, Allah is believed to be a contraction of the Arabic al-Ilāh, meaning "the God". This name's roots can be traced back to the earliest Semitic writings, where the word for god was il, el, or eloah—the latter two also found in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). Importantly, "Allah" is the standard Arabic word for God and is used not only by Muslims but also by Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews.
Many biblical translations highlight this in passages like Exodus 6:3, where God states, “I used to appear to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as God Almighty, but as respects my name Jehovah I did not make myself known to them”. This suggests a progression in revelation, offering a deeper intimacy through the use of His personal name.
The name, "Jehovah", is an English rendering that has been in use for centuries. While some scholars prefer, "Yahweh", Jehovah remains the most widely recognised form. Etymologically, this name traces back to the earliest part of the Bible, written in Hebrew. There, the divine name appears as four consonants, יהוה (read from right to left). These four Hebrew characters—transliterated as YHWH—are famously known as the Tetragrammaton, representing the unique and personal identifier of God.
Allah: The Singular God in Islam
In Islam, the divine name is Allah. Etymologically, Allah is believed to be a contraction of the Arabic al-Ilāh, meaning "the God". This name's roots can be traced back to the earliest Semitic writings, where the word for god was il, el, or eloah—the latter two also found in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). Importantly, "Allah" is the standard Arabic word for God and is used not only by Muslims but also by Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews.
.jpg)
However, the association of the word Allah specifically with Islam stems from the unique status of Arabic as the language of the Qurʾān, Islam's holy scripture. Since the Qurʾān in its original Arabic is considered the literal word of God, it is believed that God described Himself in the Arabic language as Allāh (الله). This grants the Arabic word profound special significance for Muslims worldwide, regardless of their native tongue, as it is believed to be the word spoken by God Himself.
Allah stands as the pivot of the Muslim faith. The Qurʾān stresses above all Allah’s absolute singularity and sole sovereignty, a fundamental doctrinal tenet indicated by the Arabic term tawḥīd (“oneness”). Allah is described as eternal and ever-present, never sleeping or tiring. While transcendent, He perceives and reacts to everything everywhere through the omnipresence of His divine knowledge. He creates ex nihilo (from nothing) and is self-sufficient, without need of a consort or offspring.
Three central themes predominate in the Qurʾān concerning Allah: (1) He is the Creator, Judge, and Rewarder; (2) He is unique (wāḥid) and inherently one (aḥad); and (3) He is omnipotent and all-merciful. Allah is revered as the “Lord of the Worlds,” the Most High, and “nothing is like unto him.” This uniqueness compels believers to adore Allah as their Protector and to glorify His boundless compassion and forgiveness.
The Qurʾān affirms that Allah "loves those who do good," and it speaks of a mutual love between Him and humanity. Although infinitely forgiving, the Qurʾān states one unforgivable sin in the hereafter: shirk, the sin of associationism or polytheism. The God of the Qurʾān proclaims Himself to be the one and the same God who has communicated with humanity through various emissaries (rusul) to different communities, including the Jewish and Christian prophets.
Muslim scholars have compiled the 99 “most beautiful names” (al-asmāʾ al-ḥusnā) of Allah from the Qurʾān and the Hadith (the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad). These names describe His attributes and have become objects of devoted recitation and meditation. Among them are the One and Only, the Living One, the Subsisting (al-Ḥayy al-Qayyūm), the Real Truth (al-Ḥaqq), the Sublime (al-ʿAẓīm), the Wise (al-Ḥakīm), the Omnipotent (al-ʿAzīz), the Hearer (al-Samīʿ), the Seer (al-Baṣīr), the Omniscient (al-ʿAlīm), the Witness (al-Shahīd), the Benefactor (al-Raḥmān), the Merciful (al-Raḥīm), and the Constant Forgiver (al-Ghafūr, al-Ghaffār).
In daily Muslim life, devotion to Allah is pervasive. The profession of faith (shahādah) — "there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger" — marks entry into the Muslim community. Every action for a pious Muslim is often opened by an invocation of the divine name (basmalah). The phrase in shāʾa Allāh (“if Allah wills”) frequently appears in daily speech, serving as a constant reminder of divine intervention in the world. While nothing happens except by Allah's will, humans are also individually responsible for their moral choices. Thus, "Islam" itself signifies a conscious, purposeful submission to God, rooted in knowledge of Him and His commandments through His revelations.
A Deeper Connection
Whether known as Jehovah or Allah, the concept of God's personal name, or His revealed attributes, is central to humanity's relationship with the Divine. These names are not mere labels but gateways to understanding God's nature, His dealings with humanity, and the depth of the spiritual connection offered to those who seek Him. Through these sacred names, believers are invited to move beyond abstract concepts and cultivate a personal friendship with the Almighty, knowing and addressing Him by the identity He has revealed.