Islam - Its Meaning for Modern Man — Page 151
151 9 Concept of God THE CENTRAL PIVOT AROUND WHICH the whole doctrine and teaching of Islam revolves is the Unity of the Godhead. From this concept proceeds the fundamental unity of the universe, of man, and of life. The object of Islam is to establish a balance and to bring about accord in the relationship of man to God and to the universe through beneficent adjustment. The Quran is insistent upon the Unity of God and emphatically condemns any doctrine, idea, or concept which might directly or indirectly tend to associate any other thing or being with God as a partner or equal. “Say: ‘He is Allah, the One; Allah, the Independent, and Besought of all. He begets not, nor is He begotten; and there is none like unto Him’” (112:2 ⎯ 5). It needs to be observed that the word “Allah” is the proper name of God and is not derived from “ ilah ” meaning “god. ” Of course, Allah is God, but the word does not signify merely that Allah is God to the exclusion of all other gods. Western scholars