False Beliefs about Allah
The Torah and the Gospel, the earlier revelations from Allah, have lost their original authenticity, since in time the words and interpolations of man have been incorporated into them. This is one of the reasons for which the Qur'an was sent. That the holy books preceded the Qur'an were distorted by man is related by Allah as follows:
Woe to those who write the Book with their own hands and then say "This is from Allah" to sell it for a paltry price. Woe to them for what their hands have written! Woe to them for what they earn! (Surat Al-Baqara: 79)
Among them is a group who distort the Book with their tongues so that you think it is from the Book when it is not from the Book. They say, "It is from Allah," but it is not from Allah. They tell a lie against Allah and they know it. (Surah Al 'Imran: 78)
Distortion of the Torah and the Gospel led proliferation of false beliefs among their adherents. These holy books include beliefs and ideas that derive from outside of Allah's true religion. This manifests itself in the distortion of the true revelation, and the depiction of Allah as a being with weaknesses and imperfections peculiar to human beings. (Truly, Allah is above what they ascribe to Him).
However, Allah is exalted far above any imperfections. This is related in the Qur'an as follows:
We created the heavens and the Earth, and everything between them, in six days and We were not affected by fatigue. (Surah Qaf: 38)
Do they not see that Allah - He Who created the heavens and the Earth and was not wearied by creating them-has the power to bring the dead to life? Yes indeed! He has power over all things. (Surat al-Ahqaf: 33)
The verses above reveal that some of the adherents of other divine books have swerved from the straight path regarding these issues, and have not had an accurate understanding of Allah and His attributes.
The Qur'an, on the other hand, is under Allah's protection, and is the only book revealed by Allah to have survived intact. The Qur'an is the book of Islam, the only true religion:
It is We Who have sent down the Reminder and We Who will preserve it.(Surat al-Hijr: 9)
If anyone desires anything other than Islam as a religion, it will not be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers. (Surah Al 'Imran: 85)
In the Qur'an there is reference to the erroneous beliefs about Allah adopted by Christians and Jews, and makes known the correct belief. For instance, some Christians'saying, "Allah has a son (Jesus)," ( Allah is beyond that) which is one of their basic tenets, is said to be merely an irrational belief and a lie said against Allah:
They say, "Allah has a son." Glory be to Him! No, everything in the heavens and Earth belongs to Him. Everything is obedient to Him, the Originator of the heavens and Earth. When He decides on something, He just says to it, "Be!" and it is. (Surat al-Baqara: 116-117)
Some other verses related to this matter are as follows:
People of the Book! Do not go to excess in your religion. Say nothing but the truth about Allah. The Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, was only the Messenger of Allah and His Word, which He cast into Mary, and a Spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His Messengers. Do not say, "Three." It is better that you stop. Allah is only One God. He is too Glorious to have a son! Everything in the heavens and in the Earth belongs to Him. Allah suffices as a Guardian. (Surat An-Nisa': 171)
He is the Originator of the heavens and the Earth. How could He have a son when He has no wife? He created all things and He has knowledge of all things. (Surat al-An'am: 101)
Again some Christians' belief maintains that Allah created the universe and then left it to its own. This is not true and a supersititious belief. Yet, as stated earlier, Allah commands Will over the universe at every single moment; it is constantly within His control. Nothing can happen without His Will and control:
He Who originates Creation and then regenerates it and provides for you from out of heaven and Earth. Is there another god besides Allah? Say: "Bring your proof if you are being truthful." (Surat an-Naml: 64)
Allah keeps a firm hold on the heavens and Earth, preventing them from vanishing away. And if they vanished no one could then keep hold of them. Certainly He is Most Forbearing, Ever-Forgiving. (Surah Fatir: 41)
To counter these false notions, and many others not mentioned here, Allah gives His sublime attributes for us in the Qur'an. This is in order to, not only answer these erroneous claims, but also to guide those guilty of them to the true religion of Allah.
Everyone must acknowledge that Allah is One, there is no deity but Him, and that nothing is comparable to Him; He is free of any weaknesses. He encompasses everything, He is the Owner of everything, He exercises His command over Creation at every moment, He is near to man, He has the power to do anything, He is the Most Merciful, He is the Just, He is the King of the Day of Judgment, He sees and hears everything, and is the most sublime in attributes.
