1. Linguistic Origin
The word “Allah” comes from the Arabic language and is the standard term for “God.”
From an etymological perspective, most linguists agree that:
“Allah” derives from the combination of:
- “al-” = the definite article (“the”)
- “ilāh” (إله) = “god” or “deity”
Thus:
al-ilāh → Allah
= “The God” (the one, supreme God)
This contraction is specific to Arabic and reflects the concept of absolute uniqueness.
2. Common Semitic Root
The word “Allah” is not isolated, but part of a broader family of Semitic terms for God:
- In Hebrew: “El” (אֵל) and “Elohim” (אֱלֹהִים)
- In Aramaic: “Alaha” (ܐܠܗܐ)
These words come from the same Semitic root:
ʾ-L-H (אל/اله) – which denotes divinity
Conclusion:
“Allah” is linguistically equivalent to “God,” not a different deity.
3. Usage Before Islam
The word “Allah” existed before the rise of Islam (7th century).
Evidence:
- Pre-Islamic Arabs used the term “Allah” for the supreme god
- Arab Christians were already using it to refer to the God of the Bible
4. “Allah” in Arabic Christianity
Arabic-speaking Christians still use the word “Allah” today.
For example:
- The Arabic Bible consistently uses “Allah” for God
This clearly shows:
“Allah” is not exclusively Islamic
It is a common linguistic term for God in Arabic
5. Linguistic Characteristics
The word “Allah” has several unique features:
- It has no plural form
- It has no feminine form
- It expresses absolute uniqueness
These features support strict monotheism.
6. Conclusion
“Allah” is an Arabic word meaning “God”
It comes from a common Semitic root shared with “El” and “Elohim”
It was used before Islam
It is also used by Arabic-speaking Christians
It does not refer to a different deity, but to the same general concept of God, understood differently in theology
Sources
- The Encyclopaedia of Islam, Brill Publishers
https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/browse/encyclopaedia-of-islam-2 - A Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic
https://ejtaal.net/aa/ - The Oxford Handbook of Qur’anic Studies
https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-oxford-handbook-of-quranic-studies-9780199698640 - The Cambridge Companion to the Qur’an
https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/cambridge-companion-to-the-quran/ - Arabic-English Lexicon
https://lexicon.quranic-research.net/ - The Bible (Arabic translations)
https://www.bible.com/ar - Semitic languages studies on the root ʾ
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Semitic-languages