Who ALLAH is?

One of the central aspects of Islam is Tawheed, the belief in Divine Unity, or the Oneness of God. In answer to the question as to who God is, Allah revealed Surah Al-Ikhlas (The Purity Of Faith). In answer to who Allah is, Allah says:

“Say! He is God, the One!
The Eternally Besought of all!
He does not beget, nor is He begotten.
And there is nothing comparable to Him.”

(Quran, Al-Ikhlas 112:1-4)

Surah Ikhlas is a very important Surah from the Holy Quran because it proclaims the Oneness (Tawheed) and Absolute nature of Divine Essence. This concept is presented in the first ayat. The second ayat declares that Allah is Eternal, i.e., He is beyond the bounds of time and space. The third ayat describes that Allah does not give birth nor is He is given birth and the last ayat declares that Allah is beyond comparison. Surah Ikhlas directly supports the first declaration (shahadah) of Islam: “There is no god but Allah”. In this context, Islam is based on belief in one God (monotheism). From authentic hadiths, it is proven that this surah is equal to one third of the of the Quran.

Tafseer

The answer to the question that how does this surah contain comprehensively the knowledge of Tawheed and its principles which form the essence of the belief in Almighty God. God’s command “He is God, the One” negates partnership with Him in every sense, whether it concerns His Self, Attributes or His Deeds. It also demonstrates the distinctiveness of God in His perfection, magnificence and majesty. The word Ahad is not used in affirmation for anyone besides God, since Ahad is more emphatic than Wahid.

The Tafseer (commentary, exegis) of Ibn ‘Abbaas for the verse “God! al-Samad (i.e. the Eternally Besought of all).” : The Chief who is best in His Nobility. The Great one who is best in His greatness. The Tolerant One who is best in His toleration. The Omnipotent who is the best in His omnipotence, the All Knowing who is best in His knowledge. The Self which is perfect in all types of nobility and greatness – that Self is only God – the Most Revered and the Most Powerful. He alone has these qualities for they do not apply to anyone save Him. No one is equal to Him and no one is like Him.

The Tafseer is also as follows: The Self who has no fear, around whom all creatures turn and Whom they seek after for all their needs and actions.

Affirmation in the Oneness negates all forms of polytheism and similitude. Affirmation of all the meanings of al-Samad includes all the noble Names and the most exalted Attributes. This is the Tawheed of Affirmation.

The Tawheed of Purity is in the statement: “He does not beget not nor is He begotten. And there is none comparable to Him”. This statement can also be understood from the general statement: “Say! He is God! The One”. Nothing came out of Him nor did He come out of anything. He has no equal, no likeness and no similarity.

Domination of of the concept of Tawheed in this surah. The affirmation of Oneness for the Lord in total and absolute contradiction to all forms of Polytheism. His character of being “Eternally Besought of all”, which proves all His Attributes, that He cannot suffer from any defect, negation of father and son which is an implication of Him being in no need and that all is in need of Him. All is characterised in the statement of His being besought and His Oneness. Negation of an equal which includes negation of similarity, resemblances and likeness. This surah includes all of these matters and is therefore rightly deserving of being called equal to a third of the Quran.