YEAR 10 · UNIT 23: ISLAM — BELIEFS & TEACHINGS (PART 1) · LESSON 3
What You'll Learn
Explore God's key attributes (mercy, justice, omnipotence) and the 99 Names of Allah as expressions of God's nature.
Recall from Lesson 2
Spend 5 minutes on God's unity
5:00
Let's review Tawhid before exploring God's attributes and names.
What is Tawhid?
🔒Reveal answer
Answer: The belief in the absolute oneness and uniqueness of God.
What is Shirk?
🔒Reveal answer
Answer: Associating partners with God; the gravest sin in Islam.
Name three attributes of God emphasised in Surah 112.
🔒Reveal answer
Answer: God is One, Eternal, Self-sustaining, and Unique (without equal).
How do Muslims understand God in daily life?
🔒Reveal answer
Answer: Through submission to God's law (Sharia), prayer, ethical conduct, and recognition of God's authority in all matters.
God's Nature in Islamic Theology
Four Key Attributes of God
Islamic theology emphasises specific attributes of God that appear repeatedly in the Qur'an:
Al-Qadir (The Omnipotent) - God has absolute power; controls all creation
Al-Rahman (The Most Merciful) - God's compassion encompasses all beings
Al-Rahim (The Most Compassionate) - God's mercy is boundless and personal
Al-Adl (The Just) - God's justice is perfect; no wrong is done
Why these matter: These attributes assure Muslims that God rules justly and mercifully, providing comfort in hardship and ethical guidance in decisions.
Surah 59:22-24 - The Divine Names
This passage emphasises God's attributes:
Surah 59:22-24 "He is God, the Creator, the Maker, the Fashioner. To Him belong the most beautiful names (Asma al-Husna). All that is in the heavens and the earth glorify Him, and He is the Mighty, the Wise."
This verse references the 99 Names of Allah--a collection of divine names and attributes that reveal different facets of God's character.
The 99 Names of Allah (Asma al-Husna)
Islamic tradition teaches that God has 99 names, each revealing an aspect of God's nature:
Examples of the 99 Names:
Name (Arabic)
Meaning
Significance
Al-Malik
The King
God's sovereignty and authority
Al-Alim
The All-Knowing
God's omniscience; nothing hidden
Al-Qawi
The Mighty, The Strong
God's power over all creation
Ad-Daim
The Eternal
God's existence beyond time
Al-Latif
The Subtle, The Gentle
God's gentle guidance in life's subtleties
Al-Afuw
The Pardoner
God's forgiveness and mercy
Use of the 99 Names: Many Muslims use prayer beads (Misbaha) with 99 beads to meditate on the names, reflecting on how each attribute relates to their life.
God's Immanence (Closeness)
God is aware of all our actions
God listens to our prayers
God's mercy is always available
God guides believers personally
God is nearer than our jugular vein (Surah 50:16)
God's Transcendence (Otherness)
God is beyond human comprehension
God is not like creation
God exists beyond time and space
"There is nothing like unto Him" (Surah 42:11)
God's nature cannot be fully grasped
God's Nature in Islamic Theology
Mercy vs. Justice: God's Perfect Balance
One of Islamic theology's deepest questions is: How can God be both merciful and just?
God's Mercy (Rahma): God desires to forgive; the Qur'an opens each chapter with "In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate." This suggests God's default posture is compassionate.
God's Justice (Adl): God cannot overlook wrong; accountability is essential. The Day of Judgement reflects God's justice--each person answers for their deeds.
Islamic Resolution: These are not contradictory. God's justice is merciful--God gives humans freedom to choose, opportunities to repent, and forgives those who truly turn back. God's mercy is just--it does not excuse harm or cruelty. Together, they reflect a God who is both loving and fair.
Qur'anic evidence: Surah 7:56 - "My mercy encompasses all things"; yet Surah 3:140 affirms "God loves the just."
God's Nature and Human Suffering
The question "If God is merciful and just, why is there suffering?" is addressed in Islamic theology through several perspectives:
Testing: Suffering tests faith and purifies the soul (Surah 2:155: "With hardship comes ease.")
Consequence: Some suffering results from human sin; God's justice allows natural consequences (Surah 42:30)
Wisdom: God's wisdom may include purposes humans do not understand; trust in God's justice is required
Trust (Tawakkul): Reliance on God's mercy helps believers endure suffering with patience (Sabr)
This understanding encourages Muslims to maintain faith during hardship and seek God's guidance rather than despair.
God's Nature and the Problem of Evil: Islamic Response
Islam acknowledges the existence of evil but locates its source in human free will and Satan's influence, not in God:
Free Will: Humans choose good or evil; God does not compel sin (Surah 18:29)
Satan (Iblis): A rebellious being who tempts humans toward evil (Surah 7:16-17)
God's Permission: God permits evil to exist as a test, but never causes it directly
Accountability: On the Day of Judgement, humans answer for their choices
This framework preserves both God's justice and human moral responsibility.
Match the 99 Names to Their Meanings
Task: Drag each name of Allah to the category that best describes that attribute.
Key: Al-Rahman = The Most Merciful | Al-Rahim = The Most Compassionate | Al-Malik = The King | Al-Adl = The Just | Al-Qawi = The Mighty | Al-Alim = The All-Knowing | Al-Latif = The Subtle/Gentle | Ad-Daim = The Eternal | Al-Afuw = The Pardoner | Al-Wadud = The Loving.
GCSE 12-Mark Question
Guidance
Essay Question:
"It is impossible for God to be both merciful and just." Evaluate this statement with reference to Islam.
Success criteria:
Explain the apparent tension between mercy and justice
Present Islamic perspective: how these are complementary, not contradictory
Use Qur'anic evidence (Asma al-Husna, Surah 7:56, 3:140)
Consider: does God's nature resolve this tension, or does the tension remain?