Answer
Short Answer: Because God never said his name was Yahweh. YHWH is the representation of the Hebrew characters into English. That’s why it is all capitalized. Therefore, this is not God’s name; it is an assumption to claim that it is Yahweh just because this is how it sounds when you pronounce the four letters YHWH in English. The word “Allah” is very similar to the name Elohim, which means god in Hebrew.
Salam (Peace) Dear Reader,
Thank you for your question and for contacting Ask About Islam.
Initially, YHWH is the representation of the Hebrew characters into English. That’s why it is all capitalized.
Therefore, this is not God’s name; it is an assumption to claim that it is Yahweh just because this is how it sounds when you pronounce the four letters YHWH in English.
I am quoting from What Does Yahweh Mean? A Biblical Study:
“YHWH is a Tetragrammaton or God’s given name in the Old Testament but Bible scholars cannot agree on exactly how this name of God was or is to be pronounced. “
Islam: Based on The Original Arabic Quran
Most English Bibles are translated from Greek. That is the reason behind using “Theos” and “Kurios” in some versions.
Now, the Muslims do know for sure God’s name and how it is written in the original language that the Quran was revealed in, which is Arabic.
Muslims today still read the Quran in its original language.
Yes, there are translations in many languages and different authors have translated it into the same language such as English.
God’s name for the Muslims and all Arabs from different beliefs is Allah. We read in the Quran what means:
Verily, I am Allah: There is no god but I: So serve only Me, and establish regular prayer for celebrating My praise. (Quran 20:14)
O Moses! verily, I am Allah, the exalted in might, the wise!… (Quran 27:9)
But when he came to the (fire), a voice was heard from the right bank of the valley, from a tree in hallowed ground: “O Moses! Verily I am Allah, the Lord of the Worlds…” (Quran 28:30)
Keep in mind that Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) spoke Aramaic or a variation thereof, which is the origin of the Arabic and Hebrew languages.
So the word “Allah” was not alien to him because Elohim and Ilah means god in Hebrew and Arabic respectively. Please pay attention to the sound of these words how close they are to each other.
Even Arab Christians Know God as “Allah”
Allah is Arabic for God and that’s what all Arabs use to identify God regardless of their faith.
In fact, the first page of the Arabic version of the Old Testament is filled with the word “Allah.” Ask any Arab Christian.
According to the Arabic grammar, Allah is a proper noun which cannot accept gender modification such as goddess nor can it become plural such as gods.
Allah was never used as such in the Quran.
Muslims worldwide use the word Allah and many different Arabic words into their daily conversations because the last revelation of Islam, the Quran, was revealed in the Arabic language.
God is Above Mankind
Islam is the true religion of all humans since the creation of Adam, the first human being, because it doesn’t depict a person; it simply means to peacefully submit to God’s will.
In the Quran, therefore, Allah tells us what He is like.
Whilst it is difficult to translate the exact Arabic words, a translation of the meaning of the words would be:
Allah – there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His Throne extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great. (Quran 2:255)
In other words, “There is nothing like unto Him.” (Quran 42:11)
In Islam God cannot be man nor man can be God.
The argument would be: Isn’t God capable of everything, then why can’t He make himself a man?
If God turns into a man such that people see Him then He would reward and punish people on the spot. He will not let them humiliate Him.
However, God chose to select the best people to represent Him and these are the Prophets. At the same time, out of His mercy, give the chance to those who are astray to be guided.
That’s why in Islam Jesus (peace be upon him) is a prophet.
No creation can turn into the Creator and the Creator does not humiliate Himself to become His own creation.
According to Islam, the last and final Prophet is Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). We read in the Quran what is translated as:
Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but (he is) the Messenger of Allah, and the Seal of the Prophets: and Allah has full knowledge of all things. (Quran 33:40)
We sent thee not, but as a Mercy for all creatures. (Quran 21:107)
The first verse depict that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the last prophet and the second verse shows the universality of this final message.
I hope this answers your question.
Salam.
(From AboutIslam’s archives)
Read more…
https://aboutislam.net/counseling/ask-about-islam/allah-99-names/
https://aboutislam.net/counseling/ask-about-islam/one-god-many-faiths/