Is God a Man?
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As Salaamu 'Alaikum,
Throughout the scriptures, particularly the Bible and Qur'aan, God (Allah) is described in many different ways. Some of these descriptions imply that the God of the Bible and Qur'aan is a living, breathing Human, simply being One Who has surpassed our current level of intelligence and power.
For example, the Biblical book of Genesis says that Allah ("Eloheim" made Man in His image and likeness, and based on many lexicons, this is specifically referring to God's physical attributes, implying the idea that Man LOOKS LIKE God. This thought is also conveyed in the ancient Hebrew Mischna, where the angels are described as nearly mistaking the first man (i.e. "Adam" for Allah Himself! The book of Psalms refers to God as having a physical body, and "ha' eloheim" (the gods) is used separately from "Eloheim" (God), Who is the highest One among them. Psalms 826 even goes to the point of saying that we are ALL "eloheim, benee' Elyon", or 'gods, sons of the Most High (God). This concept was also expressed in ancient Egyptian, Sumerian, and Babylonian literature and writings. Their god is ALWAYS depicted as having a physical form.
Now, when it comes to the Qur'aan, these attributes are expressed differently. According to Dr. D.B MacDonald's article on 'Allah' in the Encyclopedia of Islam, the descriptions of God in the Qur'aan are a "strange combination of anthropomorphism and metaphysics". Many passages directly imply that He is an anthropomorphic deity, having the physical embodiment of a Man. For example, Allah is mentioned as saying to Iblis
"O Iblis, what prevented thee from submitting to him whom I created with MY TWO HANDS (bi-yadayya)?" (Q. 3875)
People say that the "hand" of God is a metaphorical description of His power and might. However, what of TWO HANDS? This sounds like a physical description. This is further implied in 564, which says
"And the Jews say, 'The hand of Allah is tied up.' Their own hands are shackled and they are cursed for what they say! Nay, BOTH HIS HANDS ARE SPREAD OUT." (Q. 564)
On top of this, the Qur'aan specifically mentions Allah as having a face and eyes, and He is said to have a soul (nafs)
Thou (God) knows what is in my soul (nafs), and I know not what is in Thy soul (nafs). (Q. 5116)
He has decreed mercy from His soul (nafs). (Q. 6112)
In addition, Allah is never specifically regarded as being omnipresent. In fact, the Qur'aan repeatedly mentions Him sitting on an 'arsh, or a physical throne. The seat of the king is considered an 'arsh.
There are many more examples I could mention, but these, in my opinion, are fairly sufficient. So, this brings forth the question, Who is this God? The Qur'aan itself reveals this. It says that the angels, along with all the believers submit and prostrate (i.e. 'sudja) to Allah alone. The problem? It specifically says that the angels bowed to the one whom Allah shaped with His two hands, after Allah blew His "ruch" (spirit/self) into Him. Here, it implies that Allah is actually INSIDE the Man who He created, and the angels were instructed to prostrate to this one. The one who refused was "Iblis", who was banished for his refusal. Why? It's because, in doing this, Iblis was refusing to prostrate to Allah Himself, Who was inhabiting this Man (body). This means, at a minimum, that part of God was dwelling inside the original Man on this planet, which is why the Man was considered to be Allah's "khalifa"/successor on this planet. In other words, he was formed to represent God on Earth, to be the lord and controller of it.
Is it possible that Allah could be a physical Person, the Supreme of beings?
Those things are metamophorical right? sun
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Peace Brother Munzir Ali,
Those things are metamophorical right? sun
Many people interpret those things "metaphorically", but I'm starting to interpret some of them literally. For example, most people interpret the "Hand of God" as being a symbolic expression, describing His power. However, when it comes down to specifics, i.e. the "TWO HANDS OF GOD", then this seems more literal than symbolic. That's the difference I'm referring to. It actually leads to the LITERAL conclusion that Allah has two hands, which He uses to perform specific tasks, such as shaping the body of the original Man. Other passages, in the Qur'aan specifically, refer to Allah as having a face, arms, legs, a back, two eyes, ears, and as sitting on a throne. The angels ("mala'ikaat" are also described as being anthropomorphic, even to the point of saying the "spirit" visited Maryam as a 'well-made man'. There is nothing to suggest that Allah and His servants are anything other than Men - they are just implied to be exalted, and possibly immortal, men.
Peace!
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Peace,
1121 Say He is Allah, the One and Only;
1122 Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
1123 He begetteth not, nor is He begotten;
1124 And there is none like unto Him.This does NOT contradict the concept of divine anthropomorphism. For example,
"And the blind and seeing are NOT ALIKE (laa yastawii)." (Q. 3519)
Does this imply that the blind man is not a physical being, while the seeing man is? Of course not! It simply means that they're not equal; the seeing man is in a better physical position than the blind man, particularly when it refers to sight itself. This is the same when it comes to God. It doesn't mean God is totally unalike anything in existence. Men can attain knowledge, while Allah is called the "best knower". Men can attain power and strength, while Allah is called the "almighty" and "most powerful". It means Man can't be EQUAL to God, even though he can be similar. Men can never reach the fullness of where God is, and this is what makes Him "God". He is on a higher level than we are, particularly when it comes to knowledge and power. The passage you mentioned shows absolutely no proof or implication that Allah has no physical form.
Peace!
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Dear Ahmed Bilal
'And there in none like unto Him' means exactly what it says. If he were a man, this whole claim becomes invalid because there IS something like unto Him. i.e. man.
This ayat is giving the reader a clear and precise definition. There is nothing like unto Him in every single manner. Whether it be physical, emotional, spiritual or knowledgeable.
Peace
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god is not a Man. god not limited to Dimensions.
If your God is not limited to dimensions, how did he speak to Moses? How did he do anything? Your concept of God is more of an idol representation of an abstract concept.
The God in the Quran is a real entity that has an ego and a a body that doesn't need food and water(Samad).
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The anthropomorphic nature of Allah brings the Jesus/God debate to an absolute end.
Jesus was a man who didn't call himself Allah and he ate food with his mother. Allah is a proper noun of an immortal man who does not need to be fed. This reasoning is found in the Quran.
Combining, we could speculate that Allah, Adam and Jesus looked like each other. Two eat and one doesn't. Two have the holy spirit and one doesn't. Nice puzzle.
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You can speculate that the Sun does not really exist and it is a figment of one's imagination. Because that is exactly what it is, pure speculation!
Just like your speculation, that God is a man.
It's back to the Greek mythology for you buddy.
Now pay homage to Zeus.
Peace
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You can speculate that the Sun does not really exist and it is a figment of one's imagination. Because that is exactly what it is, pure speculation!
Just like your speculation, that God is a man.
It's back to the Greek mythology for you buddy.
Now pay homage to Zeus.
Peace
You are going nowhere...I am just trying to get to the more accurate speculation according to the Quranic text.
Zeus be blessed.
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I'll save you the trouble.
Read Surah 112.
It explains it in real simple and easy to understand terms.
Now pay homage to Hades.
Peace
Surah 112 just says that God was all alone in the beginning and no one helped him to create the heavens and the earth. It also states that God is 'samad' or the one who doesn't need sustenance from someone. But looking at the other verses, you will see that God is like a man, not exactly, but have a similar shape. Surah 112 does little to resolve the issue.
And Hades can kiss my......whatever. laugh
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(1121)
Qul huwa Allahu ahadun
1121 Say He is Allah, the One and Only;(1122)
Allahu alssamadu
1122 Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;(1123)
Lam yalid walam yooladu
1123 He begetteth not, nor is He begotten;(1124)
Walam yakun lahu kufuwan ahadun
1124And there is none like unto Him.Pay close attention to the last verse. I know it can be difficult, but trust me, it really is not that difficult.
How dare you blaspheme against your Greek god!
Now pay homage to Apollo.
Peace
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God is a being conceived as the perfect, omnipotent, omniscient originator and ruler of the universe, the principal object of faith and worship in monotheistic islam religions.
God is Lord, the alpha and omega, has always been and will be everlasting. Since God is our creator, creator of man, woman and all earthly creatures great and small, therefore void of being descriptive into being either man or woman.
Now pay homage to Thor
peace to allsun peace -
(1121)
Qul huwa Allahu ahadun
1121 Say He is Allah, the One and Only;(1122)
Allahu alssamadu
1122 Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;(1123)
Lam yalid walam yooladu
1123 He begetteth not, nor is He begotten;(1124)
Walam yakun lahu kufuwan ahadun
1124And there is none like unto Him.Sure enough, the best description comes from Allah.
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Dear Zulu12, nomis and Ayyub,
Surah 112 states there is none comparable to him. Thats it. It says nothing about whether God is anthropomorphic or not. The rest of the Quranic verses shows you that God is a man but with superpowers. I told you your concept of God doesn't make sense. An all-pervasive God can't be interacted with because the moment you interact with him he must get out of his absoluteness first and limit himself to listen to you.
The Quran attacks the idols because they either represent people that are long dead while Allah is alive or represent forces of nature that have no will or consciousness.
Funny, Abraham smashed the idols because they can't speak. Does your absolute zero point God talk? Does time and space talk?
Pay homage to Allah.
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Dear Rami
What part of 'And there is none like unto Him' don't you understand. As I said before, this sentence relates to physical, emotional, spiritual and knowledgeable plus every other concept imaginable. If God was a man, then the sentence would read 'And there IS like unto Him' because God would be like a man. One other member went as far as stating that God is a man but is immortal rather than a mortal. If that was the case then the following ayat would also be invalid
6103 No human vision can encompass Him, whereas He encompasses all human vision for He alone is unfathomable, all-aware.
Or is one saying that an immortal man is so special that he cannot be seen as well as not die. Immortal means exempt from death. It does not mean invisible. So if God was a man who was immortal, the only difference between mortal man and immortal man would be the death part. We should be able to see him. Right?
Anyway, getting back to your erroneous point, God Himself has given you His descriptive attribute in Chapter 112 but you still cannot see it. When I see your responses, an ayat comes to mind
1514 Yet even had We opened to them a gateway to heaven and they had ascended, on and on, up to it, -
1515 they would surely have said, "It is only our eyes that are spellbound! Nay, we have been bewitched!,As verse 112 is too short and hard for you to understand, I give you something easy
37149 AND NOW ask them to enlighten thee Has thy Sustainer daughters, whereas they would have sons? -
37150 or is it that We have created the angels female, and they have witnessed ? -
37151 Oh, verily, it is out of their own falsehood that some people assert, -
37152 ?God has begotten ?; and, verily, they are lying , -
37153 ?He has chosen daughters in preference to sons?! -
37154 What is amiss with you and your judgment? -
37155 Will you not, then, bethink yourselves? -
37156 Or have you, perchance, a clear evidence ? -
37157 Produce, then, that divine writ of yours, if you are speaking the truth! -
37158 And some people have invented a kinship between Him and all manner of invisible forces although these invisible forces know well that, verily, they shall indeed be arraigned -
37159 limitless is God in His glory, above anything that men may devise by way of definition!Don't think too hard in case you get a headache.
Finally, I have been paying homage to Allah SWT from the day I was born and will do so until the day I die.
Now pay homage to Krishna.
Peace