Who is Allah?

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Partial Niche-Form Tile

What does Allah look like?

There's no
picture of God

In Islam, nothing in creation looks like God, so there is no picture of Him, and never has been. Not because a picture is hidden, but because there is nothing to draw.

Partial Niche-Form Tile. Unknown maker. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Grinnell Collection, Bequest of William Milne Grinnell, 1920 · CC0 1.0

The Word · Why there's no picture

Next: What does it mean to say God is One? →
لَّا تُدْرِكُهُ ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرُ وَهُوَ يُدْرِكُ ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرَLā tudrikuhu al-abṣār, wa huwa yudrik al-abṣārEyes cannot take Him in, but He takes in every eye.Qur'an 6:103 · in brief

The Qur'an says “The Creator of the heavens and the earth. He hath made for you pairs of yourselves, and of the cattle also pairs, whereby He multiplieth you. Naught is as His likeness; and He is the Hearer, the Seer.” (42:11, Pickthall). Any image would be of something: a face, a light, a figure in the sky. God is not a something among things. So Muslim art found other ways of pointing: words written beautifully, patterns that never end, light falling into empty space.

What you'll see on this site instead

Calligraphy

The Names written by human hands. In this proposal the Arabic is typeset; the final site will commission calligraphers.

Light and space

A prayer hall at dawn, a night sky, space left open on purpose.

Creation

Rain on dry ground, a bee, a galaxy: signs, the Qur'an says, not portraits.

We also never picture the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace be upon him), or any prophet, or Mary (peace be upon her). Many Muslims hold this, and it is how we work.

Watch

Watch more

A Muslim telling

Islamic Calligraphy: The Development of the Art Through the Practice of its Masters with Soraya SyedBirmingham Museums Trust · 15 minSoraya Syed on Islamic calligraphy.

A Muslim telling

Islamic geometric patterns | Showcase SpecialTRT World · 24 minTRT World: Islamic geometric patterns.

Each faith, in its own words

Judaism

“Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image” (Exodus 20:4, JPS 1917). At Sinai the people “heard the voice of words, but ye saw no form; only a voice” (Deuteronomy 4:12).

Christianity

“No one has seen God at any time” (John 1:18, WEB). Christians differ on images: Orthodox and Catholic Christians honour icons of Christ and the saints, many Protestant churches have none, and most Christians do not picture God the Father.

Islam

“Vision comprehendeth Him not, but He comprehendeth (all) vision. He is the Subtile, the Aware.” (6:103, Pickthall) and “The Creator of the heavens and the earth. He hath made for you pairs of yourselves, and of the cattle also pairs, whereby He multiplieth you. Naught is as His likeness; and He is the Hearer, the Seer.” (42:11, Pickthall). Muslims hope to see God in the life to come, “without asking how”; in this life, His signs are what we see.

So where do you look?

The Qur'an's answer is: everywhere else. “We shall show them Our portents on the horizons and within themselves until it will be manifest unto them that it is the Truth. Doth not thy Lord suffice, since He is Witness over all things?” (41:53, Pickthall). Start with Signs in Creation or the 99 Names.

Keep going

60 sec
The WordWhat does “Allah” mean?One word, its root and its family: Elohim, Alaha, Allah.
5 min
The WordOne GodFour lines, fifteen words, a third of the Qur'an.
5 min
The WordDo Christians and Jews say “Allah”?A church in 512, a rabbi's Torah, a London choir today.

Watch and listen

Documentaries and short films on the word and its story.

filmThe MessageThe classic telling of the birth of Islam, made so that the Prophet (peace be upon him) is never seen or heard, only felt through those around him.1976 · 178 · Moustapha Akkad (dir.); Filmco International · Widely available to stream or buy
Trailer ▶F-ILM
filmAr-Risalah (The Message, Arabic version)The same story filmed again, scene for scene, with an Arab cast: a lovely way to show the Arabic of Allah in its own voice.1976 · 206 · Moustapha Akkad (dir.); Arabic-language version · Widely available to stream or buy
Trailer ▶F-ILM
Shows prophets
subscriptionseriesThe ChosenA Christian series about the people around Jesus (peace be upon him): Christian faith in its own words.2019 · 60 · Dallas Jenkins (creator); 5&2 Studios · Widely available to stream or buyShows prophets as people, as its makers chose; labelled here, never pictured by us.
F-ILM
Shows prophets
FreefilmThe Ten CommandmentsThe grand Hollywood telling of Moses (peace be upon him), the Exodus and the Law at Sinai.1956 · 220 · Cecil B. DeMille (dir.) · Widely available to stream or buyShows prophets as people, as its makers chose; labelled here, never pictured by us.
F-ILM
Shows prophets
FreeseriesJesus of NazarethThe most loved screen life of Jesus (peace be upon him), still shown every Easter: Christian faith in its own words.1977 · 97 · Franco Zeffirelli (dir.); ITC / RAI · Widely available to stream or buyShows prophets as people, as its makers chose; labelled here, never pictured by us.
F-ILM
Shows prophets
filmBen-HurA prince wronged and enslaved learns that mercy is stronger than revenge.1959 · 212 · William Wyler (dir.); MGM · Widely available to stream or buyShows prophets as people, as its makers chose; labelled here, never pictured by us.
F-ILM
Shows prophets
paiddocuseriesThe Story of God with Morgan FreemanMorgan Freeman travels the world asking how every faith answers the biggest questions, including who God is.2016 · 3 seasons x ~45 min · National Geographic; Revelations Entertainment · Widely available to stream or buyShows prophets as people, as its makers chose; labelled here, never pictured by us.
F-ILM

Watch more: There's no picture of God

5 films and talks, chosen for this page. They play here.

  • The complex geometry of Islamic design - Eric Broug

    TED-Ed · 5 min

  • Islamic arts in Egypt: script and lustreware

    The British Museum · 5 min

    British Museum: Islamic writing and pattern on shining pottery.

  • "Discovering Islamic Geometric Design" Lecture by Eric Bourg

    Carlos Museum · 69 min

  • Episode 5: When Abraham Prayed Against Idols | A Voice in the Desert

    Yaqeen Institute · 6 min

  • Image Of God - Author of Life

    BioLogos · 6 min

    BioLogos: what "the image of God" means for people.

  • More films and talks on F-ILMWatch free