The concept of God in Islam

 What is the concept of God in Islam?  
Muslims believe in the same God as the God of Noah, the God of Moses, the God of Abraham and the God of Jesus (peace be upon them all) as well as all other prophets of Islam. Key to the Islamic concept of God is that Muhammad's prophesy cleaned away all false associations people had made with God and established finally the pure religion of monotheism. The first thing Islam asserts and the last is that there is no god except Allah. Allah being the primary name of God in Arabic and meaning 'the god'.
Defining God?
It is impossible to reach a meaningful definition of God. If we can define God we can have a complete concept of reality and then it is a valid question to ask what is beyond it, i.e. what is beyond God?
Therefore all we can do is form a necessarily incomplete concept by considering how several statements about the attributes of God fit together sensibly. Human beings are not qualified to invent any of these attributes. Instead we must look to what God’s messengers to Mankind have said about God.
In Islam the primary source of statements on the attributes of God is the Qur’an. This is judged by Muslims to be the exact word of God. Muslims also accept what other messengers from God stated though invariably the records of what they said are incomplete and some mistakes have crept in through human error.
In the Qur’an God describes himself in many places and in many ways. In this brief time I can only hope to cover a few.
In choosing which aspects to look at I consider it important to cover first aspects with a bearing on the real and imagined differences between Islam’s concept of God and the Christian concept of God.
Names and Attributes of God
At the heading of the chapters of the Qur’an and at the start of every action by a Muslim, the phrase “Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim” is found. This contains 3 names or attributes of God. It declares that the action is in the name of Allah the Most Gracious, the bestower of Grace. This is the most important set of attributes because of how often they are mentioned.
The first name “Allah” is the common Arabic word for God. Literally it means THE Divinity. It is a word that has no plural and has no gender. It is a uniquely specific word in the Arabic language.
The second name is ar-Rahman. This means the Most Gracious. This is in comparison with ar-Rahim meaning the bestower of grace. The difference between these two words is like the difference between an adjective which describes a nature and a verb which describes an action. Allah is the source of all good and mercies to all of creation: He actively wills good and mercy on creation.
Allah is close

YA - 2:186 (Yusuf Ali translation)
When My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me: Let them also, with a will, Listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way.

Allah is loving and forgiving

YA - 11:90
“But ask forgiveness of your Lord, and turn unto Him (in repentance): For my Lord is indeed full of mercy and loving-kindness.”

Allah is the cherisher and sustainer

YA - 1:2
Praise be to God, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds;

Allah is all-knowing, caring,

YA - 2:268
The Evil one threatens you with poverty and bids you to conduct unseemly. God promiseth you His forgiveness and bounties. And God careth for all and He knoweth all things.

Allah is one

YA - 2:163
And your God is One God: There is no god but He, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

YA - 5:72
They do blaspheme who say: “God is Christ the son of Mary.” But said Christ: “O Children of Israel! worship God, my Lord and your Lord.” Whoever joins other gods with God,- God will forbid him the garden, and the Fire will be his abode. There will for the wrong-doers be no one to help.

YA 112:1-4
Say: He is God, the One and Only;
God, the Eternal, Absolute;
He begetteth not, nor is He begotten;
And there is none like unto Him.

YA 19:35
It is not befitting to (the majesty of) God that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! when He determines a matter, He only says to it, “Be”, and it is.

Allah is Just

YA - 4:40
God is never unjust in the least degree: If there is any good (done), He doubleth it, and giveth from His own presence a great reward.

Other verses
‘The Ayah of the Throne’ (ayat al-Kursiy) from the Qur’an contains some of these Names appear along with other descriptions of Allah:
God! There is no god but He, - the Living, The Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things In the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth? He knoweth What (appeareth to His creatures As) Before or After Or Behind them. Nor shall they compass Aught of His knowledge Except as He willeth. His Throne doth extend Over the heavens And the earth, and He feeleth No fatigue in guarding And preserving them For He is the Most High The Supreme in glory.
(Qur’an 2:255 YA)
The Qur’an contains many such ‘names’ of Allah, These have been made into a list of ‘The Ninety-Nine Beautiful Names’ or ‘Attributes of Perfection’. These are memorised by many Muslims, and used when they wish to praise Allah or call on Him for guidance or help.
Allah is He, than Whom there is no other god; who knows (all things) both secret and open. He, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Allah is He, than Whom there is no other god; the Sovereign, the Holy One, the Source of Peace (and Perfection), the Guardian of the Faith, the Preserver of safety, the exalted in Might, the Irresistible, the Supreme. Glory to Allah! (High is He) above the partners they attribute to Him.
He is Allah, the Creator, the Evolver, the Bestower of Forms (or colours) To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. Whatever is in the heavens and on earth doth declare His Praises and Glory. And He is the exalted in Might, the Wise.”
(Qur’an 59:22-24)(YA)
Other passages of the Qur’an where more of Allah’s attributes of perfection are listed are: 3:31; 11:12; 35:15; 57:1-6 and 66:2-3
The 99 Names of God
These are the 99 Names of God (Asma-ullah) which are given in the Qur’an and Hadith according to at-Tirmidhi. You can also find a set of paintings along with explanations depicting these 99 names here

	1.	Allah (jallah jalaluh) -	God (in all His Majesty)
	Arabic	English		Arabic	English
2.	ar-Rahman	the All-Merciful	51.	ash-Shahid	the Witness
3.	ar-Rahim	the All-Compassionate	52.	al-Haqq	the Truth, the Real, the Absolute
4.	al-Malik	the King	53.	al-Wakil	the Dependable
5.	al-Quddus	the All-Holy	54.	al-Qawiy	the Strong
6.	as-Salam	Peace, Source of Peace	55.	al-Matin	the Steadfast
7.	al-Mu’min	the All-Faithful	56.	al-Waliy	the Patron, the Helper
8.	al-Muhaymin	the Guardian of Faith and Preserver of Safety	57.	al-Hamid	the All-Praiseworthy
9.	al-cAziz	the Almighty, the Hard of Access	58.	al-Muhsi	the Accounter, the Numberer
10.	al-Jabbar	the Irresistible	59.	al-Mubdic	the Initiator
11.	al-Mutakabbir	the Great, the Grand	60.	al-Mucid	the Reinstater, the Bringer-back
12.	al-Khaliq	the Creator	61.	al-Muhyi	the Life-giver
13.	al-Bari’	the Maker	62.	al-Mumit	the Bringer of Death
14.	al-Musawwir	the Fashioner of Forms	63.	al-Hayy	the Ever Living
15.	al-Ghaffar	the Ever-Forgiving	64.	al-Qayyum	the Ever-Self-Sustaining
16.	al-Qahhar	the All-Compelling	65.	al-Wajid	the Finder, the Unfailing
17.	al-Wahhab	the Ever-Giving	66.	al-Majid	the Magnificent
18.	al-Razzaq	the Ever Providing	67.	al-Wahid	the Single, the All-Inclusive, the Indivisible
19.	al-Fattah	the Opener (of the heart),the Victory-Giver	68.	as-Samad	the Self-Sufficient, the Impregnable
20.	al-cAlim	the All-Knowing, the Omniscient	69.	al-Qadir	the All-Able
21.	al-Qabid	the Straitener	70.	al-Muqtadir	the All-Determiner
22.	al-Basit	the Expansive, the Munificent	71.	al-Muqaddim	the Promoter, He who brings forward
23.	al-Khafid	the Abaser	72.	al-Mu’akhkhir	the Delayer, He who puts far away
24.	al-Rafic	the Exalter	73.	al-Awwal	the First
25.	al-Mu'izz	the Honourer	74.	al-Akhir	the Last
26.	al-Mudhill	the Humiliator, the Degrader	75.	az-Zahir	the Outward, the Manifest
27.	as-Sami'eh	the All-Hearing	76.	al-Batin	the Inward, the Hidden
28.	al-Basir	the All-Seeing	77.	al-Waali	the Ruler
29.	al-Hakam	the Arbitrator	78.	al-Mutacali	the Transcendent
30.	al-cAdl	Justice, the Just	79.	al-Barr	the Good, the Beneficent
31.	al-Latif	the Subtle, the All-Pervading, the Gentle	80.	at-Tawwab	the Ever-Returning, the Ever-Relenting
32.	al-Khabir	the Informed, the All-Aware	81.	al-Muntaqim	the Avenger
33.	al-Halim	the Forbearing, the Indulgent	82.	al-cAfuw	the Effacer of Sins
34.	al-cAzim	the Tremendous, the Infinite	83.	ar-Ra’uf	the All-Pitying
35.	al-Ghafur	the Totally Forgiving	84.	Maliku-l-Mulk	the King of the Kingdom
36.	ash-Shakur	the Grateful, the Appreciative	85.	Dhu’-Jalali wa’l-ikram	the Possessor of Majesty and Generosity
37.	al-cAli	the All-High	86.	al-Muqsit	the Equitable, the Requiter
38.	al-Kabir	the Great	87.	al-Jamic	the Unifier, the Gatherer
39.	al-Hafiz	the Safeguard	88.	al-Ghani	the All-Rich, the Independent
40.	al-Muqit	the Nourisher	89.	al-Mughni	the Enricher, the Emancipator
41.	al-Hasib	the All-Calculating	90.	al-Mani'eh	the Shielder, the Defender
42.	al-Jalil	the Majestic	91.	ad-Darr	the Harmer
43.	al-Karim	the Generous	92.	an-Nafi'eh	the Benefactor
44.	ar-Raqib	the Watchful	93.	an-Nur	the Light
45.	al-Mujib	the Answerer	94.	al-Hadi	the Guide
46.	al-Wasic	the All-Encompassing	95.	al-Badi'eh	the Peerless, the Originator
47.	al-Hakim	the Wise	96.	al-Baqic	the Immutable, the Eternal
48.	al-Wadud	the Loving, the Kind One	97.	al-Warith	the Inheritor
49.	al-Majid	the All-Glorious	98.	ar-Rashid	the Infallible Teacher and Knower
50.	al-Bacith	the Raiser of the Dead	99.	as-Sabur	the Patient, the Timeless

 Source:www.islamic.org.uk