OpinionDiscussion

‘Allah’ is a Unique Word Mentioned even in Hindu and Sikh scriptures - Dr Zakir Naik

Dr Zakir Naik

Dr. Zakir Naik argues that 'Allah' is a linguistically unique word for God in Arabic that cannot be modified or pluralized like the English word 'God.' He further claims that the word 'Allah' appears in Hindu scriptures (specifically an Upanishad) and Sikh religious texts, suggesting a cross-religious significance.

Summary

In this short clip, Dr. Zakir Naik makes a linguistic and comparative religious argument for the uniqueness of the Arabic word 'Allah' over the English word 'God.' He begins by demonstrating that the English word 'God' can be grammatically altered in ways that distort or dilute its meaning — for example, 'Godfather' implies a human relationship, 'Godmother' implies a feminine divine figure, and 'tin God' is a phrase meaning a fake or self-important person. He argues that the Arabic word 'Allah,' by contrast, cannot be modified in any of these ways — there is no 'Allah father,' 'Allah mother,' or 'tin Allah' — making it a semantically protected and uniquely divine term.

Dr. Naik then extends his argument beyond Islam to claim that 'Allah' is not exclusively an Islamic term. He asserts that despite alterations made to earlier scriptures over time, the word 'Allah' still appears within them. Specifically, he references Hindu scriptures, citing an Upanishad he refers to as the 'Allopanishad,' suggesting it contains the name or concept of Allah. He also references Sikhism, stating that one of the attributes or names of God used in Sikh religious tradition is 'Allah.' These points are used to support his broader argument that 'Allah' is a universally significant and divinely designated word that transcends any single religious tradition.

Key Insights

  • Dr. Zakir Naik argues that the English word 'God' is linguistically vulnerable to modification — terms like 'Godfather,' 'Godmother,' and 'tin God' alter or degrade its meaning — whereas 'Allah' cannot be similarly modified, making it a uniquely protected divine name.
  • Naik claims that Muslims prefer using the Arabic word 'Allah' over the English word 'God' precisely because of this linguistic uniqueness and inability to be pluralized or distorted.
  • Naik asserts that despite earlier scriptures having been changed or altered over time, the word 'Allah' still appears within them, suggesting its divine preservation across traditions.
  • Naik references a Hindu text he calls the 'Allopanishad,' claiming it is one of the Upanishads and that it contains the name 'Allah,' linking Islamic and Hindu scriptural traditions.
  • Naik claims that in Sikh religion, one of the attributes or names used for God is 'Allah,' presenting this as further cross-religious evidence for the word's universal divine significance.

Topics

Linguistic uniqueness of the word 'Allah'Comparative religion — Islam, Hinduism, and SikhismLimitations of the English word 'God'

Transcript

[0:00] If you add father to God, it becomes Godfather. He's my Godfather. There's nothing like Allah father or Allah by in Islam. If you add mother to God, it becomes Godmother. There's nothing like Allah mother Allah I mean Islam. If you prefix attend before God, it becomes tin God meaning a fake God. There's nothing like tin Allah. So Allah's is an unique word. It's an Arabic word which is unique. That's the reason we Muslims we prefer calling Allah by the Arabic word Allah [0:30] instead of the English word God. And the beauty is that most of the scriptures that came before Quran even though they have been changed, yet Allah is there. We were talking…

Full transcript available for MurmurCast members

Sign Up to Access

More from Dr Zakir Naik

Get AI summaries like this delivered to your inbox daily

Get AI summaries delivered to your inbox

MurmurCast summarizes your YouTube channels, podcasts, and newsletters into one daily email digest.