WHO IS GOD?

Who is God? This is a profound question. Can we know who He is? Yes, we can, because He tells us in the Quran. Believing in God necessitates believing in His qualities. Without knowing God, there is no belief (23:84-90). Repeatedly, He gives us an insight into who He is. Just look at some of the attributes:

He is Alive, He never dies; He is Most High, Most Exalted; He is Most Merciful, Forgiver; He is the Creator; He is Most Kind, but strict in enforcing retribution; He is Fully Aware; He is Omniscient, Omnipotent, Omnipresent.

This is just a small sample of His attributes, but just from these we can get a clearer picture of who God is. We can’t fully grasp it, simply because it’s way beyond our small brains to comprehend (6:103). He is the Creator, the Initiator, the Designer (59:24)—this means He thought up this whole illusion that we’re living in. It didn’t exist until He designed it, then initiated it, then created it. Then He set it all in motion. But it doesn’t stop there. He didn’t just sit back and watch it all unfold. He is in full control of every single atom and is doing everything (10:56, 22:76, 42:12, 8:17 and others).

[3:109] To GOD belongs everything in the heavens and everything on earth, and all matters are controlled by GOD.

[10:61] You do not get into any situation, nor do you recite any Quran, nor do you do anything, without us being witnesses thereof as you do it. Not even an atom's weight is out of your Lord's control, be it in the heavens or the earth. Nor is there anything smaller than an atom, or larger, that is not recorded in a profound record.

Omni means all. So, when God says He’s Omniscient, it means He knows everything. When He says He’s Omnipotent, it means He has all power. And when He says He’s Omnipresent, it means He is never absent, never! He is with you every minute of the day and night, and at the same time He is with me every minute. We can’t fathom how that can be possible, but God tells us it’s so, so we believe it.

Then He continues to tell us more and more about Himself. We know He is Kind, Clement, Merciful, Forgiving (just a few examples: 1:3, 2:163, 4:110, 5:98, 22:65, 52:28, 2:235, 3:155). Without those traits, we wouldn’t stand a chance here on earth. We sin too often.

 

But He even tells us He overlooks many of our sins (42:30, 34).

He tells us He’s the One who is Alive and never dies (25:58), so why should we turn to a human being with a finite life span, when we can turn to God, who is Eternal, Everlasting. He tells us He’s Most High, Most Honorable, Most Dignified, Most Exalted. When we think of a human with dignity and honor, we know these are good qualities to be admired. Here we have God, who is the “Most” of all those traits, truly far above any human being.

Throughout the Quran, God continues to tell us exactly who He is. And this is absolutely for our benefit. We are the ones who are lost and astray, looking for the guidance so we can attain salvation. God doesn’t need our praise and worship: He is already “Omni-everything” (that He chooses to be)! He’s not telling us all these glorious traits about Himself for His veneration. It’s so we can trust Him. Until we know who God is, we cannot fully trust in Him. And until we fully trust in Him, we are not true believers yet (8:2).

[11:123] To GOD belongs the future of the heavens and the earth, and all matters are controlled by Him.

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