Allah: The Arabic Name for the One God Across Abrahamic Faiths

The word “Allah” (in Arabic: الله) is the Arabic term for God, and it is used both among Muslims and among Arabic-speaking Christians to refer to the one and only God.

In Islam, “Allah” is the sole deity, the creator, the ruler, and the provider of the world, and is considered to be the same God of Israel and of Christianity, although there are significant differences in religious concepts—for example, Islam rejects the idea of the Holy Trinity that is accepted in Christianity.

In Muslim tradition, Allah is an absolutely monotheistic God: ancient and eternal, creator of all things, overseeing them, and there is none like Him. In both Sunni and Shia perspectives, Allah is seen as an entity with no partners, no division, and no physical form. Muslims believe that only Allah should be worshipped, and He alone is worthy of worship.

Arabic-speaking Christians also use the word “Allah” to refer to God, and they have no other word for this. That is, “Allah” is not a private name of a Muslim god only, but rather the Arabic version of the word “God,” and from the perspective of the Arabic language, it is the same monotheistic God of all nations.

Belief in Allah is a fundamental principle of Islam, and it includes recognition of Allah as creator, as leader, and as provider, as well as belief in His uniqueness, His names, and His attributes. According to Islam, every person can turn to Him directly, without intermediaries.

In summary, “Allah” is the name of God in the Arabic language, and it represents the same one and only God—the God of Israel, the God of Christianity, and the God of Islam—although each religion interprets His essence and attributes in its own way.

YHWH, often referred to as the Tetragrammaton, is the four-letter biblical name of the God of Israel in Hebrew scripture. It is composed of the letters Yod, Heh, Vav, and Heh (יהוה). This name is considered sacred in Judaism, and its pronunciation is traditionally avoided; instead, terms like “Adonai” (Lord) or “Hashem” (the Name) are used in its place during prayer and reading of scripture.

Do Arab Jews refer to the Tetragrammaton “YHWH” as “Allah” in their Arabic literary works?

Yes, many Arab Jews—including Yemenite, Iraqi, Egyptian, and Levantine Jews—used the word “Allah” to refer to the God of Israel in their Arabic literary, religious, and liturgical works. This includes texts written in Judeo-Arabic, a form of Arabic written in Hebrew script.

Key Points:

1. Use of “Allah” for YHWH
In Arabic, “Allah” is the standard term for “God,” and this was naturally adopted by Arabic-speaking Jews.
The Tetragrammaton (YHWH) was never pronounced aloud by Jews, whether in Hebrew or Arabic, due to its sanctity. Instead, Jews substituted:
• “Adonai” in Hebrew readings.
• “Allah” in Arabic translations and discussions.

2. Judeo-Arabic Translations and Commentaries
The Torah translations of Saadia Gaon (10th century), one of the earliest Judeo-Arabic translators, consistently use “Allah” as the Arabic equivalent for the Tetragrammaton.
Jewish biblical commentaries, philosophical texts (like Maimonides’ Guide for the Perplexed), and liturgical works in Arabic often use “Allah” where Hebrew texts use “YHWH”.

3. Cultural and Linguistic Context
“Allah” was not considered an Islamic term specifically, but a general Arabic term for the one true God.
Just as Christian Arabs use “Allah” in the Arabic Bible, so did Arabic-speaking Jews.
They distinguished their theological understanding of “Allah” (the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) from that of Muslims by context and doctrine, not vocabulary.

4. Substitutes and Euphemisms

In oral piety or informal writings, Arab Jews might also use:
“Rabb” (Lord)
“Al-Mawlā” (The Master)
“Al-Ḥaqq” (The Truth)
“Adonai” in Hebrew contexts, sometimes written in transliteration.

Conclusion:

Yes, Arab Jews referred to YHWH as “Allah” in Arabic religious and literary contexts. This usage was linguistically natural and religiously appropriate within the framework of Arabic monotheism. It reflected a shared Semitic linguistic heritage, even while maintaining theological distinctions from Islamic use.