Some people may think that it is impossible to describe Allah in human terms because Allah is Transcendent- that is beyond our reach, knowledge and understanding, beyond the world and outside of all time. In Surah 6:103 it says, “No vision can grasp Him but His grasp is over all vision.” This quote clearly explains that Allah can see all and be everywhere, but this is not possible for humans. If we could see all, we would be able to see everything happening in the world, and be everywhere. Moreover, this argument would not exist as we would then be able to see God and say if He were comparable to humans. The fact that we are not able to see all and be everywhere tells us that Allah is incomparable. Also Allah is Eternal, He is forever going, with no beginning and no end. In Surah 112 it states, “He is Allah, the One, Allah is Eternal and Absolute.” The quote states that Allah is “Eternal and Absolute” Allah is infinite but humans are finite- they die., they are mortal- they are born and will die; again proving that it is impossible to describe Allah in human terms. Also humans sin and make mistakes, but Allah knows all so cannot do this, therefore telling us that Allah cannot be described in human terms.
This is not the whole story though. Many people also believe that Allah can be described in human terms, because Allah is Immanent- that is to say closer to us than our heartbeat and our jugular vein. These are all human characteristics, so how can Allah not be compared using these very terms, when it is said He is closer to us than all these important things in our life. In Surah 50:16 it says, “It was We who created man and We know even the secret suggestions his soul makes to him, for We are nearer to him than his jugular vein.” The jugular vein is one of the most important components of our body as it is connected to both the brain and heart. This tells us that Allah is therefore something very necessary to humans and Allah is in simple terms needed for us humans to live. If we are to believe in Allah, then we need to understand Him in a way which we can relate to. The only way for us to do so is to relate Allah to humans.
Allah must have some human characteristic as he is the creator of the world and all life. humans create a new life by producing babies, and so if Allah creates as well as humans, then there is some sort of a similarity between humans and Allah. Also, the Qur’an is the word of God, revealed to the Prophet PBUH about 1500 years ago. It explains the nature of Allah and we read it. It is like saying that we are reading what Allah has written. This again is a quality that many humans have. The ability to write is also something that humans do. Also the Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet PBUH, also another thing that humans do. They reveal secrets and other things to people, so this again shows that Allah has human characteristics. The Qur'an describes the nature of Allah. Description is something that tells us about an object, person or place. If it describes Allah’s nature, then humans can relate to it as humans can also be described so it all makes it easier for humans to understand Allah.
I believe that Allah cannot be described in human terms because Allah is beyond the knowledge and understanding of people. Allah is beyond time and the world, but we are within the world and time, so we cannot create similarities or comparisons between the two. Allah is Immortal, “Eternal and Absolute”, “the One and Only”. We are mortal, and finite. We will die one day, but Allah will never live, nor will Allah die. Allah is not born and nor is born from anyone. We are born and will die so we cannot describe Allah in human terms.
In conclusion, the statement “It is impossible to describe Allah in human terms” cannot be proved to be true or false, but is a statement that I believe in, as I have been taught this and have a strong belief in the statement.
