Is Allah called "Father"? How can we know God as our Father?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The word "Allah" comes from the Arabic language. It is derived from the Arabic word "al-Ilah," which means "the God." "Al-Ilah" is a combination of "al," meaning "the," and "ilah," meaning "god" or "deity." Over time, "al-Ilah" was contracted to "Allah," which is used to refer to the one true God in Islam. In Islam, Allah is the singular, all-powerful deity who is the creator and sustainer of the universe. While Allah in the Qur'an is described with 99 names, emphasizing his might and holiness, none portrays him as Father. In contrast, the Bible consistently reveals God's fatherly nature, especially through Jesus Christ's teachings and the writings of the apostles. The concept of God as Father is central to biblical Christianity, distinguishing it from other monotheistic religions like Islam. This relationship with God as Father is not just a title but implies intimate connection, care, discipline, and inheritance (Hebrews 12:5–11; Romans 8:15–17). Understanding God as Father transforms our approach to prayer, obedience, and our identity as His beloved children.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Deuteronomy 32:6: "Do you thus repay the LORD, you foolish and senseless people? Is not he your father, who created you, who made you and established you?" Moses reminds Israel of God's fatherly role in creating and establishing them as a nation, laying the groundwork for understanding God's paternal nature.
• Psalm 68:5: "Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation." This psalm portrays God's fatherly care for the vulnerable, emphasizing His compassionate nature.
• Isaiah 63:16: "For you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us; you, O LORD, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name." Isaiah affirms God's fatherhood over Israel, even when earthly fathers fail, pointing to a deeper spiritual relationship.
• Jeremiah 3:19: "I said, How I would set you among my sons, and give you a pleasant land, a heritage most beautiful of all nations. And I thought you would call me, My Father, and would not turn from following me." God expresses His desire for a Father-child relationship with His people, showing it's His initiative.
• Malachi 2:10: "Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers?" Malachi uses God's fatherhood as a basis for calling people to faithfulness, linking divine fatherhood with human brotherhood.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Matthew 6:9: "Pray then like this: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.'" Jesus teaches His disciples to address God as Father, revolutionizing how we approach God in prayer.
• John 1:12: "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." John explains that becoming God's child is tied to receiving and believing in Jesus, not a universal status.
• Romans 8:15: "For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'" Paul describes the intimate relationship believers have with God, using the Aramaic term "Abba" to emphasize closeness.
• Galatians 4:6: "And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!'" Paul reiterates the theme of adoption, showing it's through Christ that we can relate to God as Father.
• Ephesians 1:5: "He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will." Paul presents adoption as God's predetermined plan, accomplished through Jesus Christ.
• First John 3:1: "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him." John marvels at the love shown in God making us His children, emphasizing the reality of this relationship.
• Hebrews 12:7–8: "It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons." The author of Hebrews explains God's fatherly discipline as evidence of His love and our status as His children.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

God is all-powerful and the Creator and Sustainer of the universe; however, God is much more than that. Despite being supreme over all, God desires a relationship with His people and reveals Himself more personally than just a far-off God. Understanding God as Father has profound implications for our faith and daily life. It reshapes our approach to prayer, inviting us into an intimate dialogue, rather than distant reverence. This relationship offers security in God's love and provision, countering anxieties prevalent in our uncertain world. It also challenges us to live as God's children, reflecting His character in our interactions with others.

For those from backgrounds where God is seen as distant or impersonal, this revelation of God as Father can be transformative, offering healing for those with difficult earthly father relationships. It can also provide a model for human fatherhood, encouraging men to reflect God's fatherly attributes of love, protection, and guidance.

Knowing God as Father through Christ should motivate believers to share this good news, inviting others into this family relationship with God. It emphasizes the uniqueness of the Christian gospel—not just believing in God but becoming His children through faith in Christ.

UNDERSTAND

• Muslims use Allah to refer to their deity, but it is also a generic Arabic term for the one, true God.
• Allah in Islam is not depicted as a Father, whereas the Bible reveals God as a Father through Jesus Christ.
• Understanding God as Father reshapes prayer, identity, and interactions with God.

REFLECT

• How does understanding God as Father through Jesus Christ, along with God who is sovereign and above all, impact your personal relationship with Him?
• How does God as Father influence your approach to prayer and daily life?
• How can knowing God as Father help heal or shape your view of human fatherhood?

ENGAGE

• In interfaith dialogues, especially with Muslims, understanding the distinction in how God relates to humanity can foster meaningful conversations about the nature of God and our relationship with Him. It invites exploration of how this affects worship, prayer, and daily living.
• The term Allah is used by Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews as well, reflecting its roots in the Semitic languages, where it signifies the one, true God. It does not always refer to the God of Islam.
• How does the depiction of God as Father in the Bible compare to the view of God in other monotheistic religions?