I've been noticing a trend among some Muslim writers. In magazines. Online articles. Books.
Allah swt is being referred to simply as "God."
The other day, my copy of Yahiya Emerick's "A Journey Through the Holy Qur'an" arrived. I was very excited to receive it because it has received great reviews by some Muslims. May Allah swt reward Brother Yahiya because his effort was almost 10 years in the making.
Brother Yahiya's books about Islam have helped a lot of Muslims, especially new Muslims. A quick review of his new effort reveals that "A Journey Through the Holy Qur'an" will probably help a lot of Muslims to understand the Qur'an. It is written in very simple English.
But he refers to Allah swt as "God."
This, I don't like.
Why do Muslims do this? Allah swt does not refer to Himself as God. He refers to Himself as "Allah," i.e., Al-Lah. The God. The One. The Unique. There is none like Him. He is different from any God or god(s). This is the essence of tawheed and Islam.
So why use a name for Him that is like the name that others use to refer to their Higher Power?
What's the big deal you may ask. Some claim it's good dawah. Others claim the use of "God" is simply English translation. But I disagree.
We are Muslims. Why not call Him what He calls Himself in the Qur'an?
Have you ever heard an imam refer to Allah swt as "God?"
Have you ever heard a khutbah where the name "God" was used for Allah swt?
So why, I wonder, do some Muslims have no problem using "God" when writing?
I knew a Muslim sister who had a son named Yacoob. When he started pre-school, she told the teacher that his name is Jacob. Why name your kid Yacoob if you're going to have everyone call him Jacob? Why not name him Jacob in the first place? Jeez.
Brother Yahiya does encourage everyone to learn Arabic and to read the Qur'an in Arabic to get the full and rich meaning. But I just don't understand why he chose to use "God" instead of Allah swt?
Maybe I'll ask him :)
Allah swt is being referred to simply as "God."
The other day, my copy of Yahiya Emerick's "A Journey Through the Holy Qur'an" arrived. I was very excited to receive it because it has received great reviews by some Muslims. May Allah swt reward Brother Yahiya because his effort was almost 10 years in the making.
Brother Yahiya's books about Islam have helped a lot of Muslims, especially new Muslims. A quick review of his new effort reveals that "A Journey Through the Holy Qur'an" will probably help a lot of Muslims to understand the Qur'an. It is written in very simple English.
But he refers to Allah swt as "God."
This, I don't like.
Why do Muslims do this? Allah swt does not refer to Himself as God. He refers to Himself as "Allah," i.e., Al-Lah. The God. The One. The Unique. There is none like Him. He is different from any God or god(s). This is the essence of tawheed and Islam.
So why use a name for Him that is like the name that others use to refer to their Higher Power?
What's the big deal you may ask. Some claim it's good dawah. Others claim the use of "God" is simply English translation. But I disagree.
We are Muslims. Why not call Him what He calls Himself in the Qur'an?
Have you ever heard an imam refer to Allah swt as "God?"
Have you ever heard a khutbah where the name "God" was used for Allah swt?
So why, I wonder, do some Muslims have no problem using "God" when writing?
I knew a Muslim sister who had a son named Yacoob. When he started pre-school, she told the teacher that his name is Jacob. Why name your kid Yacoob if you're going to have everyone call him Jacob? Why not name him Jacob in the first place? Jeez.
Brother Yahiya does encourage everyone to learn Arabic and to read the Qur'an in Arabic to get the full and rich meaning. But I just don't understand why he chose to use "God" instead of Allah swt?
Maybe I'll ask him :)
