Q. Islamic Voice is continously publishing 'Allah' as God, even in the Quranic verses. I would like to say as a true Muslim that Allah is neither God, Bhagwan or Ishwar. God is a masculine word, having a feminine partner Goddess. It is same with the other two words Bhagwan - Bhagwati & Ishwar - Ishwari. If we equate Allah with God, Bhagwan & Ishwar, then it would be assumed that he is a male having a female partner. It may amount to shirk. If I call a human being an animal, will he like it? Allah would also not like someone calling the Supreme Being by the above-mentioned names. (M.Imtiaz Mallick, Culcutta).
Ans. God with a Capital 'G' is exclusively used for the Supreme Being. It has no feminine equivalent like Goddess. You seem to be confused between the two words starting with a Capital letter and a small letter. The word 'god' with a small "g" has its feminine equivalent goddess. It also has a plural i.e. "gods", while God has no plural. In Funk & Wagnalls English Dictionary, God is explained as: In monotheism, the rule of life and universe.
Similarly 'Nalanda Vishal Shaab'd Sagar', a very authentic Hindi dictionary explains the word Ishwar as: 1. Accroding to yoga shastra, "(who is beyond) sorrows, deeds, age and desires." Parmeshwara. 2. Lord, Owner.
The word has neither a feminine equivalent nor a plural.
Iswari is no word of either Sanskrit or Hindi language. If a woman is named as Ishwari at some place, it does not make it a proper word of the written or spoken language. We sometimes find the names like 'Allah Jaan' among the ignorant. It does not induce us to abandon the use of the word 'Allah'. If the name of a girl or woman is kept Ishwari, her father or she must be reasoned with to change her name. You can't do anything if she does not change it as you are not responsible if 'Allah jaan' is not prepared to change his name.
In fact the above two words, God and Ishwar are between than the Persian word 'Khuda' quite frequently used by Muslims in India. 'Khuda' is an equivalent of Arabic 'Ilah' and not 'Allah'. It's plural 'Khudaon' is used in Urdu language. Khuda, in a sense has more proximity to 'god' than 'God'. Still, whenever the word Khuda is spoken nobody in the world is ever in doubt that it is being used for some other being than Allah. Therefore whatever the sementics and etimological analysis, the use of the word 'Khuda' is also not improper it has come to be a synonymn of Allah and God.
Bhaqwan, indeed is not exlusively meant for Almighty and it cannot be used in a translation in place of Allah. However in those contexts where there is no room for confusion, it may be spoken as well as written for Allah. It is like an attribute. For example, when someone says, "I am well by the grace of Maalik", the use of the word 'Maalik' (Lord) is not improper although Maalik is an attribute which is also used for human being e.g. Maalik Makaan (Land Lord).
It may be argued that the differentiation between a capital 'G' and a small 'g' can only be made in a written language but in spoken language, both the words sound as same. The answer is that the context almost always decides the actual meaning.
Note: This answer was given by Tariq sahab in the magazine www.islamicvoice.com
Ans. God with a Capital 'G' is exclusively used for the Supreme Being. It has no feminine equivalent like Goddess. You seem to be confused between the two words starting with a Capital letter and a small letter. The word 'god' with a small "g" has its feminine equivalent goddess. It also has a plural i.e. "gods", while God has no plural. In Funk & Wagnalls English Dictionary, God is explained as: In monotheism, the rule of life and universe.
Similarly 'Nalanda Vishal Shaab'd Sagar', a very authentic Hindi dictionary explains the word Ishwar as: 1. Accroding to yoga shastra, "(who is beyond) sorrows, deeds, age and desires." Parmeshwara. 2. Lord, Owner.
The word has neither a feminine equivalent nor a plural.
Iswari is no word of either Sanskrit or Hindi language. If a woman is named as Ishwari at some place, it does not make it a proper word of the written or spoken language. We sometimes find the names like 'Allah Jaan' among the ignorant. It does not induce us to abandon the use of the word 'Allah'. If the name of a girl or woman is kept Ishwari, her father or she must be reasoned with to change her name. You can't do anything if she does not change it as you are not responsible if 'Allah jaan' is not prepared to change his name.
In fact the above two words, God and Ishwar are between than the Persian word 'Khuda' quite frequently used by Muslims in India. 'Khuda' is an equivalent of Arabic 'Ilah' and not 'Allah'. It's plural 'Khudaon' is used in Urdu language. Khuda, in a sense has more proximity to 'god' than 'God'. Still, whenever the word Khuda is spoken nobody in the world is ever in doubt that it is being used for some other being than Allah. Therefore whatever the sementics and etimological analysis, the use of the word 'Khuda' is also not improper it has come to be a synonymn of Allah and God.
Bhaqwan, indeed is not exlusively meant for Almighty and it cannot be used in a translation in place of Allah. However in those contexts where there is no room for confusion, it may be spoken as well as written for Allah. It is like an attribute. For example, when someone says, "I am well by the grace of Maalik", the use of the word 'Maalik' (Lord) is not improper although Maalik is an attribute which is also used for human being e.g. Maalik Makaan (Land Lord).
It may be argued that the differentiation between a capital 'G' and a small 'g' can only be made in a written language but in spoken language, both the words sound as same. The answer is that the context almost always decides the actual meaning.
Note: This answer was given by Tariq sahab in the magazine www.islamicvoice.com
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