🏵️🏵️🏵️ Dear G.S. Payne,
I hope this response finds you well. I came across your article on Medium, and I must say that I have some disagreements with your portrayal of God. As an Islamic scholar, I'd like to provide a different perspective on the concept of God.
In Islam, we believe that God is not an old man in the sky, as you mentioned. Rather, we reject anthropomorphism, which is the attribution of human qualities or characteristics to God. According to the Quran, "There is nothing like Him, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing" (Quran 42:11). As the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "Allah has ninety-nine names, one of which is 'The All-Merciful' (Ar-Rahman). Whatever mercy Allah has, it is for His creatures."
In Islam, God is considered to be beyond human comprehension, and we use metaphors and descriptions in the Quran to convey His greatness and majesty. For example, the Quran describes God as "the Most Merciful" (Al-Rahman) and "the Most Compassionate" (Al-Rahim), but these descriptions are not meant to be taken literally. As the Quran says, "No vision can grasp Him, but He grasps all vision" (Quran 6:103).
Your article also mentioned that "God" is a word that has been used to describe a wide range of concepts throughout history. While it's true that different cultures and religions have used similar terms to describe their understanding of a higher power, Islam is unique in its rejection of idolatry and polytheism. As the Quran says, "And whoever assigns partners to Allah, then indeed Allah has forbidden paradise for him and his entry will be into the Fire" (Quran 5:72).
In Islam, we believe that there is only one God, Allah, who is the sole creator of the universe and the ruler of all that exists. We reject any notion of a trinity or multiple deities, and we believe that God's unity is essential to His nature. As the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "Allah is One. He is the One who is Unique, He is not like anything else."
I hope this response has provided a more nuanced understanding of Islam's perspective on God. I encourage you to explore further and learn more about our faith.
🏵️🏵️🏵️
May your heart be filled with the light of knowledge and understanding.
Mohamed, Ph.D