Allah’s Names and the Deity of Christ

How Islamic Theology Confirms Jesus’ Divine Claims Pt. 1

According to Islamic theology, Allah possesses specific names and qualities which cannot be ascribed to any created being, no matter how exalted that creature may be. As such, we are going to look at some of these names in order to show how Jesus applied these very same titles and functions to himself in order to prove that Christ did in fact claim to be God Almighty in the flesh. This will refute the oft repeated Muslim objection that Jesus never made divine claims for himself.

All of the names of Allah that we will be presenting here are taken from Aisha Bewley’s list titled “Divine Names”, which can be accessed at the following url: https://bewley.virtualave.net/names.html 

ALLAH 

Al-Wârith: The Inheritor

The One who inherits and continues after all others have ceased to be; thus all returns to Him. He is the true owner of all.

Al-Warith is one of the Ninety-Nine Names.

 

JESUS

“He began to speak to them in parables. ‘A man planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a pit for the winepress, and built a tower, and rented it to vinedressers, and went to a far country… Having yet his one well-beloved son, he sent him last to them, saying, “They will revere my son.” But those vinedressers said among themselves, “This is THE HEIR. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.” So they took him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard.” Mark 12:1, 6-8

“At that time Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, ‘I thank You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for it was Your good pleasure. ALL THINGS have been handed over TO ME by My Father. And no one knows who the Son is but the Father, and who the Father is but the Son and he to whom the Son desires to reveal Him.’” Luke 10:21-22

“He will glorify Me, for He will receive from Me and will declare it to you. All that the Father has IS MINE. Therefore I said that He will take what is Mine and will declare it to you.” John 16:14-15

“All that are Mine are Yours, and all that are Yours ARE MINE. And I am glorified in them.” John 17:10

ALLAH 

Ar-Rabb: The Lord

Lord: master, owner; chief; the Cherisher, the one who takes care of a thing. Ar-Rabb is the one who puts right, manages, compels and guards. He is the One worshipped. Some scholars say that the name is the greatest name of Allah because of the great number of those who make supplication using it. It reflects the true relationship of a person with his Lord, containing both mastery and kindness, concern, and nurture.

 

JESUS

“While Jesus taught in the temple, He said, “How can the scribes say that Christ is the Son of David? David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, until I put Your enemies under Your feet.’” David himself calls Him “Lord.” How then is He his Son?’ And the large crowd heard him gladly.” Mark 12:35-37

“You call Me Teacher and Lord. You speak accurately, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” John 13:13-14

ALLAH

An-Nûr: The Light

The light, guide, the One who illuminates; the One who is manifest, clear.

An-Nur is one of the Ninety-Nine Names.

JESUS

“Again, Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.’” John 8:12

“I must do the works of Him who sent Me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:4-5

ALLAH

Al-Haqq: The Truly Real

The Truth, the Real, the Really-existing, He whose existence and divinity are true, the One who creates according to the requirements of wisdom, justice, right, rightness, the Necessarily-existing by His own Essence, He whose existence is undeniable. Every reality exists from His essence and nothing has any intrinsic reality except Him.

Al-Haqq is one of the Ninety-Nine Names.

JESUS

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, THE TRUTH, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” John 14:6

ALLAH

As-Salâm: Perfect Peace

The Flawless, sound of every imperfection or deficiency, peace for His creatures. He is the Author of Safety, because He has rendered all His creatures safe from unsoundness and from injustice from Him, the Giver of peace.

As-Salam is one of the Ninety-Nine Names.

JESUS

“Peace I leave with you. MY PEACE I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27

“I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

ALLAH

At-Tabîb: The True Physician

Doctor or judge.

A man said, “I am a physician,” and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Allah is the True Physician. Rather you are a compassionate man. Her physician is the one who created her.” (Abu Dawud)

JESUS

“Again, He entered the synagogue, and there was a man who had a withered hand. They watched Him to see whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. He said to the man who had the withered hand, ‘Stand up.’ Then He said to them, ‘Is it lawful to do good or to do evil on the Sabbath, to save life or to kill?’ But they kept silent. When He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, ‘Stretch your hand forward.’ He stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. Then the Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against Him, how to kill Him. Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. And a great crowd followed Him from Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem, and Idumea, and from beyond the Jordan. And those from Tyre and Sidon, a great crowd, when they heard what great things He did, came to Him. He told the disciples to have a small boat ready for Him because of the crowd, lest they should crush Him. For He had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed on Him to touch Him. When unclean spirits saw Him, they fell down before Him, crying out, ‘You are the Son of God.’ But He sternly ordered them not to make Him known. He went up into the mountain and called to Him those whom He desired, and they came to Him. He ordained twelve to be with Him, and to be sent out to preach, and to have authority to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:” Mark 3:1-15

“And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, entreating Him, and saying, ‘Lord, my servant is lying at home, sick with paralysis, terribly tormented.’ Jesus said to him, ‘I will come and heal him.’ The centurion answered and said, ‘Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But speak the word only, and my servant will be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this man, “Go,” and he goes, and to another, “Come,” and he comes, and to my servant, “Do this,” and he does it.’ When Jesus heard it, He was amazed and said to those who followed, ‘Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say to you that many will come from the east and west and will dine with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Then Jesus said to the centurion, ‘Go your way. And as you have believed, so let it be done for you.’ And his servant was healed that very moment. When Jesus entered Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother, lying sick with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she rose and served them. When the evening came, they brought to Him many who were possessed with demons. And He cast out the spirits with His word, and healed all who were sick, to fulfill what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, ‘He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.’” Matthew 8:5-17

“As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s station. And He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ And he rose and followed Him. While Jesus sat at supper in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, ‘Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ But when Jesus heard that, He said to them, ‘Those who are well do not need a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.” For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.’” Matthew 9:9-13

 

ALLAH

Ar-Ra’ûf: The All-Gentle

Intensive form of mercy, or it is to make a suffering stop, the Clement, the One who makes things easier for people than need be out of tenderness. It is more far-reaching than rahma.

Ar-Ra’uf is one of the Ninety-Nine Names.

Al-Hannân: The Tender

Having tenderness; the One who shows favour or presents a favourable aspect to the one who turns from him or shuns him, having mercy. [someone who separated from someone dear to them and yearns for them and grieves for them.)

Ar-Rafîq; Ash-Shafîq: The Kind, The Compassionate

The One who is tender and gentle; the One who is very benign.

The Prophet said, “Allah is kind and He loves kindness and confers upon kindness which he does not confer upon severity and does not confer upon anything else besides it.” (Muslim)

Al-Latîf: The All-Subtle

The All-Gentle, sagacious, beneficient; Allah finds the way to come to end of every difficulty, His actions in the world are subtle, and imperceptible to normal mortals. Invisible; the One who knows subtle and obscure things. He gives to people beyond what they need and brings timeless happiness. He creates the embyro and protects it and brings forth milk, etc.

Al-Latif is one of the Ninety-Nine Names.

JESUS

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me. For I AM MEEK AND LOWLY IN HEART, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

 

ALLAH

As-Subbûh, Al-Quddûs: The All-Perfect, Utterly Pure 

Subbuh is from Subhan, which is glorification and tanzih, disconnecting and elevating Him above any others. He is All-Perfect, All-Pure, All Glorious, far removed from everything evil and imperfect.

Quddus means pure (tahir, munazzah), pure and free of any imperfection .He is far removed from every imperfection or impurity or from anything that would detract from His glory, and disconnected from every description perceived by the senses and thought, All-Holy, All-Pure, All-Perfect.

Some say Subbuh denies imperfection and Quddus affirms perfection.

Al-Quddus is one of the Ninety-Nine Names.

At-Tâhir: The Pure

Pure of every bad action and any imperfection or any corporal distinction.

JESUS

“In their synagogue there was a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, ‘Leave us alone! What do You have to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are, the Holy One of God.’” Mark 1:23-24

“He who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory. But He who seeks the glory of Him who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.” John 7:18

“He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him… Which of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak the truth, why do you not believe Me?” John 8:29, 46

“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘He who is holy, He who is true, He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens, says these things:’” Revelation 3:7 

ALLAH

Al-Malik; Al-Mâlik: The King, the Master

Al-Mali is the King, the Sovereign; Al-Mâlik is the Master, Owner, Malik is the governor of beings who have the consciousness of being governed, not the case with Mâlik, who owns everything. 

Al-Malik is one of the Ninety-Nine Names. 

Mâlik al-Mulk: The Master of the Kingdom

Owner or Possessor of the Kingdom, who grants sovereignty to whomever He will. 

JESUS

“The Son of Man shall send out HIS angels, and they shall gather out of HIS KINGDOM all things that offend, and those who do evil,” Matthew 13:41

“For the Son of Man shall come with HIS angels in the glory of HIS Father, and then He will repay every man according to his works. Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in HIS KINGDOM.” Matthew 16:27-28

“These will wage war with the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings. Those who are with Him are called and chosen and faithful.” Revelation 17:14

“On His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelation 19:16

We have a lot more examples in the second part of our discussion https://answeringislamblog.wordpress.com/2018/03/20/allahs-names-and-the-deity-of-christ-pt-2/.

Source: https://answeringislamblog.wordpress.com/2018/03/20/allahs-names-and-the-deity-of-christ-pt-1/ 

IHS