Muhammad vs. Allah
Allah and Muhammad are two central figures in Islam, a worldwide religion. Islam is also known as the Muslim faith.
In Islam, Allah is the supreme god or deity. He is the Creator, and is described as the “one and only God.” It is the name the supreme deity chose to identify Himself with in the Koran. Allah is the Muslim counterpart of the Jewish Yahweh and the Christian God the Father.
Allah is considered to be true, perfect, and unique from other beings. Unlike the Christian supreme deity, Allah cannot be considered as a “the father” or any annexed names or figures, because He is above all other beings. Islam teaches that it is unacceptable to compare Allah to other beings unless in Allah’s role as Creator and supreme deity.
On the other hand, Muhammad is an actual person that lived and died. In Islam, he is a prophet, messenger, and leader. He is also Islam’s founding father. His name means “praiseworthy.” In Islamic tradition, he is the last and most important prophet of Allah.
He is known by many epithets like “The Prophet of Allah” and the “Seal of the Prophets.”
Other religious prophets like Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus are also considered as prophets, but Muhammad enjoys prominent status and recognition in Islam. This special status also affords him the position to be a mediator between Allah and a Muslim. Muslims also look to him as a role model in life and faith.
Muhammad was born in Mecca to a prominent and powerful family. He was orphaned early in life, and was raised and protected by his grandfather. He had a family – a wife, two sons, and four daughters.
He received visions (known as Ayah or Signs of God) from Allah or from the angel Gabriel. The being proclaimed that there is one and only one God. Other visions and revelations followed. The transcribed version of these revelations is the Koran. In this view, Muhammad is also known as the “recipient of the Koran.” The Koran is the primary source for Muslim faith and lifestyle.
Due to his preaching toward monotheism, Muhammad was persecuted and driven away from Mecca. He and his followers settled in Medina after clashing with local Meccan tribes. Aside from being a prophet, Muhammad was also a capable military leader. He led Muslims in many raids, battles, and conquests.
Many non-Muslims confuse Allah and Muhammad due to their prominence in the Islamic faith. Non-Muslims assume that the two figures have the same station and receive the same treatment. According to the Islamic teachings and traditions, Allah must be worshiped as the one and true God. On the other hand, Muhammad, as Allah’s prophet, requires the highest respect and honor. Additionally, Muhammad and other prophets are always mentioned with the phrase “peace be upon him” as a sign of reverence.
Summary:
1.Allah and Muhammad are central figures in Islam. Allah is the supreme god in Muslim worship, while Muhammad is his prophet and messenger.
2.The main difference between Allah and Muhammad is that Allah is the Creator and Muhammad is the creation (in extension, the founder of Islam).
3.Muslims give worship to Allah and high respect to Muhammad. Respect is also given to other prophets that came before Muhammad. This is recognized by adding the phrase “peace be upon him” when their names are mentioned.
4.Muhammad has a special and prominent position in Islam because he is the founding father of Islam. He is the last prophet and messenger, which signifies the fulfillment of Allah’s other revelations and prophets.
5.Other prophets from the Judeo-Christian tradition are included as Allah’s prophets. They are Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.
6.The Koran is the product of Allah’s revelations to Muhammad.