Are We Dishonoring Allah By Using The Word God?

Question:

Assalamu ‘Alaykum.

Are we dishonoring Allah by using the word God?

Answer:

Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.

I pray you are well.

No. According to the Muslim theologians, it is permissible to refer to Allah with a noun from another language if it does not have any negative connotations and carries sufficient reverence. (Laqani, Hidayat al Murid)

The name ‘God’ with a capital g is used in English to refer to the supreme being who created everything. There are no negative connotations to it. Therefore it is permissible to refer to Allah with it, just as with the Persian word Khuda.

If you prefer, you can use the name ‘Allah’ – especially if you feel more reverence for it. This reverence is rewarded and a blessed quality to have.

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History, he moved to Damascus in 2007, where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital. He was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.