Search This Blog

Does the Koran speak of a plural Allah?

And if ye are in doubt as to what We have revealed from time to time to Our servant, then produce a Sura like thereunto; and call your witnesses or helpers (If there are any) besides Allah, if your (doubts) are true. Surah 2:23

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” Genesis 1:26

While the Trinity is not mentioned in the Bible, it does not mean the concept is not taught. In the Bible verses mentioned before, Genesis 1:26 from the Old Testament and Luke 3:21-22 from the New Testament, it is clear that God is presented in the plural sense. In Genesis, at the creation of the world, the quote says “Let us make man in our image. . .” In Luke, at the baptism of Jesus, the Holy Spirit shows up, God the Father speaks, and He speaks about Jesus as His son.

The Koran does the same thing.

Say: “What thing is most weighty in evidence?” Say: “Allah is witness between me and you; This Qur’an hath been revealed to me by inspiration, that I may warn you and all whom it reaches. Can ye possibly bear witness that besides Allah there is another Allah?” Say: “Nay! I cannot bear witness!” Say: “But in truth He is the one Allah, and I truly am innocent of (your blasphemy of) joining others with Him.” Those to whom We have given the Book know this as they know their own sons. Those who have lost their own souls refuse therefore to believe. Who doth more wrong than he who inventeth a lie against Allah or rejecteth His signs? But verily the wrong-doers never shall prosper. One day shall We gather them all together: We shall say to those who ascribed partners (to Us): “Where are the partners whom ye (invented and) talked about?” Surah 6:19-22

These verses emphasize the Koran’s belief that Allah is one and saying that more than one Allah is blasphemous , yet, just verses later Allah says, “Those to whom We have given the Book. . .” and “One day shall We gather them all together. . .” Who is this We God is talking about?

The Koran, like the Bible, translates the word “God” in the plural sense. The word Muhammad uses reveals a similar pluralistic God. Now Muhammad knew quite well the atrocities of pagan and idol worship. He despised, as many prophets did, religions that bowed to more than one god.

His use of the plural form of God did not say there was more than one God, but that a single God existed in a plural form.

Surah 2:23, that started this post, is the first verse in the Koran that uses the plural form of God and it appears throughout the Koran after that. It appears Muhammad used the right terminology but rejects the concept.

Is the Koran agreeing that Allah is plural?