God the Creator of Everything Seen and Unseen

This article engages with the way the Qur’an approaches the idea of God and the way it is expressed in the everyday lives of Muslims.

The word “Allah” occurs over 2,500 times in the Qur’an in addition to other references made through the 99 attributes. The Qur’an presents God as “al-Khaliq”, “the Creator” of the universe, both seen and unseen. He has bestowed the gift of life on all His creatures and is the source of their existence. Human beings are presented as “Khalifas” of God, His representatives on Earth.

The relationship of believers with their Creator is reflected in multiple ways in the faith and practice of Muslims including the manner in which rites of passage such as birth and death are conducted.

The birth of a baby is accompanied by various rites, including, in some contexts, the recitation of the shahada, where the parents testify on behalf of the baby: “Ashhadu al-la ilaha illa’l-lah” (“I bear witness that there is no god but God”). In celebrating the birth of a child, Muslims acknowledge the gift of life which God has granted to them. The beginning of human life provides an opportunity for Muslims to affirm their bond with their Creator. They seek to maintain and honor this bond throughout their lives.

In the same way, when a Muslim passes away, prayers are recited during the funeral ceremonies, which include the Surat al-Fatiha. This sura expresses the relationship between God and the believers at many levels: God is invoked as the Compassionate and the Merciful; Lord of the Worlds; and Master of the Day of Judgement. He alone is the One to whom believers pray, as well as seek His help and guidance.

A phrase that Muslims recite often upon the death of someone is “inna li’l-lahi wa-inna ilayhi raji‘un” which translates to “Indeed to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return”. This Quranic verse reminds us of the limited nature of our worldly existence, and that God is both our ultimate source and destination.

Another important notion mentioned in the Qur’an about God is that human existence is not independent, rather it is part of divine creation. The Qur’an repeatedly reminds us that it is God who gives life and takes it away, as mentioned in sura 6, ayat 2: (quote) “It is He who has created you from clay, then has determined a term”. (unquote)

The Qur’an divides the life which God has given human beings into two parts – one to do with duniya and the other with akhira, the term used in the Qur’an for the hereafter. The belief that life in this world is followed with life in the hereafter forms a central part of the faith of Muslims. Through this belief, they affirm that they have been created by God and will one day return to Him.