Isn't Allah just an Arabic word so why do Christians get worked up about it?

Question

Allah is an Arabic word and can be heard in hundreds of Christian Churches around the Arabic world every sunday.
The English languages has hundreds of words ffrom other languages yet when an Arabic word is written or spoken of its roundly condemned. Why are you so frightened of a language which is very close lingusitically to that spoken by Jesus?
He didn't speak English, Latin or Greek as he was a poor carpenter and Aramaic was his language.

Answer 1

Most Christians in the West think that Allah is a particular name for God, especially because a lot of Muslims use the word Allah instead of God, for some reason. In reality, however, Allah comes from the same root as the Hebrew words El, Eloh and Elohim, which are used in the Bible.

Despite what one answerer has said below, Jesus is not the Christian name for God. Jesus Himself would have called God something similar to Eloh or Allah. Jesus is a latinized version of Yeshua or Yehoshua.

Answer 2

Well, arabic speaking christians and jews refer to god as "Allah", and many english speaking muslims prefer the term becuase it has no plural form. Allah just means "God" or "The God". Muslims do have many other names for god as well: Adl The Just, The Equitable 'Afûw The Forgiver, The Effacing Ahad The One, The Only One âkhir The Last, The End and Ultimate 'Alî The Highest, The Exalted 'Alîm The All-Knowing, The Omniscient Awwal The First, The Pre-Existing 'Azîm The Supreme Glory, The Most Grand 'Azîz The Mighty, The Eminent Badî' The Wonderful Originator, The Awesome Inventor Bâ'ith The Awakener, The Resurrector Bâqî The Everlasting, The Ever-Present Bâri' The Maker from Nothing, The Evolver Barr The Gracious Benefactor, The Source of Goodness 79 Basîr The All-Seeing, The All-Perceiving Bâsit The Expander, The Unfolder Bâtin The Hidden, The Inner Dârr The Corrector, The Distresser Dhû-l-Jalâli wal-Ikrâm The Lord of Majesty and Generosity Fattâh The Opener, The Revealer Ghaffâr The All-Forgiving, The Absolver Ghafûr The Forgiving, The Pardoner Ghanî The Self-Sufficient, The Independent Hâdî The Guide, The Leader on the Right Path Hafîz The Preserver, The Protector Hakam The Judge, The Arbitrator Hakîm The Perfectly Wise, The Most Judicious Halîm The Forbearing, The Calm-Abiding Hamîd The Praiseworthy, The Laudable Haqq The Truth, The Only Reality Hasîb The Accounter, The Reckoner Hayy The Ever-Living, The Alive Jabbâr The Restorer, The Repairer Jalîl The Majestic, The Glorious Jâmi' The Gatherer, The Uniter Kabîr The Greatest, The Most Great Karîm The Generous, The Bountiful Khabîr The Inner-Aware, The Reality-Knower Khâfid The Humbler, The One who Softens Khâliq The Creator, The Planner Latîf The Subtle, The Gracious, The Refined Majîd The All-Glorious, The Majestic Mâjid The Noble, The Generous Mâlik al-Mulk The Master of the Kingdom Malik The Ruler, The King Mâni' The Preventer, The Defender Matîn The Firm, The Steadfast Mu'akhkhir The Delayer, The Postponer Mubdi' The Starter, The Beginner, The Originator Mudhill The Disgracer, The Dishonorer Mughnî The Bestower of Wealth, The Fulfiller of Needs 89 Muhaimin The Protector, The Bestower of Security Muhsî The Reckoner, The Appraiser Muhyî The Giver of Life, The Reviver Mu'îd The Restorer, The Renewer Mu'izz The Bestower of Honor, The Strengthener Mujîb The Fulfiller of Prayers, The Responsive Mu'min The Remover of Fear, The Giver of Tranquility Mumît The Creator of Death, The Life-Taker Muntaqim The Avenger, The Inflictor of Retribution Muqaddim The Expediter, The Promoter Muqît The Nourisher, The Sustainer Muqsit The Equitable, The Just Muqtadir The All-Determining, The Prevailing Musawwir The Fashioner, The Bestower of Forms Muta'âli The Supremely Exalted, The Most High Mutakabbir The Supremely Great, The Perfection of Greatness 10 Nâfi' The Creator of Good, The Auspicious Nûr The Light, The Illuminator, The Enlightenment Qâbid The Withholder, The Restrainer Qâdir The Able, The Empowered, The Capable Qahhâr The Ever-Dominant, The Conqueror Qawî The Inexhaustible Strength, The Supremely Strong 53 Qayyûm The Self-Existing, The Self-Subsisting Quddûs The Holiest, The Most Pure Râfi' The Exalter, The Uplifter Rahîm The Most Merciful, The Most Compassionate Rahmân The Lovingly Beneficent, Most Kind and Gracious Raqîb The Watchful, The All-Observing Rashîd The Appointer to the Right Path, The Director Ra'ûf The Kind, The Tenderly Merciful and Consoling Razzâq The Supplier, The Provider Sabûr The Patiently-Enduring, The Long-Suffering Salâm The Source of Peace, The Flawless Samad The Satisfier of All Needs, The Eternal Samî' The All-Hearing, The Ever-Listening Shahîd The Witness, The Testifier Shakûr The Most Grateful, The Most Appreciative Tawwâb The Acceptor of Repentance, The Oft-Forgiving 80 Wadûd The Loving-Kindness, The Most Affectionate Wahhâb The Liberal Bestower, The Giver of Gifts Wâhid The One, The Manifestation of Unity Wâjid The Finder, The Resourceful Wakîl The Trustee, The Advocate Wâlî The Sole Governor, The Friendly Lord Walî The Protecting Friend, The Nearby Guardian Wârith The Inheritor of All, The Supreme Heir Wâsi' The All-Embracing, The All-Pervading Zâhir The Manifest, The Evident John S

Answer 3

In Aramaic, the Christians would also they a word similar to Allah for the English word God. Some people in Western Churches are ignorant, refuse to acknowledge the unity of God. Some leaders of religion of the West would like to keep their followers paying their Church taxes and do not want these followers to investigate the beauty of the Qur'an by themselves. The Christian leaders are well aware thet Muhammad was a prophet sent to renew the divine message 600 years after Jesus, but as they cling to their idle fancies, they try to instill fear of Islam in the heart of the whole Christian world.

On the other hand, Christians in Arabic countries use the word Allah, as they speak Arabic. Interestingly, they were finding a safe haven in the Muslim world, fleeing persecution from the main Churches of Byzantium and Rome.

Answer 4

I will not say anything about what Christians think about the word Allah as I am not a Christian and don’t know much but I just want to explain two things.


Mr. Zwink:
Allah is not the translation of God. It’s a proper noun and a name. You may call Allah as the Lord, Khuda, Rab, Mawla, God or the Merciful, or similar names that glorify him but Allah is the name not an adjective like the others. So it’s “The Name” not a translation.

For Example: your name might be John but people might also call you Kind, Honest, Polite, Decent etc but you name is John.

Rocky Road:
If you are a Christian I doubt your understanding of your religion. A Christian, Being the follower of the same heavenly religion that Mohammad was the last prophet of, will never say such things about a Prophet. As for his prophesy even the pope can not question that and that is a fact. If you really study religions, which in this case I suggest you do, you will find that there were thousands of prophets in the chain of Prophets from Adam till Mohammad, Including Nooh (Noha), Ishaq (Izaq) , Ismael, Musa (Mosses), Eesa (Jesus) and Mohammad (Peace be upon them all).

So please avoid using such words for someone who is major part of that list. He was the one who changed the course of history towards good. If you study religion you will understand where Judaism and Christianity were going to when Islam was revealed to him.

Answer 5

Wrong on mutliple counts

Everyone there, including Arabs, spoke Greek. It was required because the Greeks ran the land for ages. It was required.

No journeyman carpenter, which is what Jesus and Joseph both were, was poor. If you wanted furniture you employed a carpenter as there was no Ikea back then.

The Aramatic spoken back then, and Jesus certainly knew that language, was as different from today as the Greek back then was different from today.

Finally, Jesus was raised Hebrew, Jewish. Reading from the Torah is required. That is done in ancient Hebrew.

And as to why Christians get worked up on it, they consider the source:

[9:30] The Jews said, "Ezra is the son of GOD," while the Christians said, "Jesus is the son of GOD!" These are blasphemies uttered by their mouths. They thus match the blasphemies of those who have disbelieved in the past. GOD condemns them. They have surely deviated.
[4:157] And for claiming that they killed the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the messenger of GOD. In fact, they never killed him, they never crucified him - they were made to think that they did. All factions who are disputing in this matter are full of doubt concerning this issue. They possess no knowledge; they only conjecture. For certain, they never killed him.

No Christian will accept anything from those who call them Blaphmers for their beliefs!

Answer 6

Friend, I am not frighten at the name Allah, But I like to know why does muslums get so upset at the word GOD & Jesus Christ being the Messiah. You also say that allah is mention in many Christian churches every Sunday, Then Listern very close, They are not Christian churches then.

Answer 7

It is the ideas that allah represent. True Christians don't fear anything. It is where those ideas are going to lead you. Your eternal soul is at stake! Search out the matter. Study on it. Make use of your time now while there is still time. May God Bless you in this endeavor!

Answer 8

Yes, in arabic allah means god but the christian god and the muslim god are two different being.

In Islam allah never had a son, Chirstian god has Jesus and so on are the differences.

So, yes, they may be the say word but they are not the same person.

Answer 9

Take a peek at what going on in the world. Who is committing practically every act of terrorism around the world? Is it really that hard to figure out why that word has such negative connotations for so many people?

You all can give me as many thumbs down as you like. But I stated probably the biggest reason why many people today do not like the word allah.

Answer 10

The respondents who call themselves Christians will do either of two things when they read your question:

1. Immediately dismiss it because they did not read it well nor will they understand it because they do not understand English.

2. Understand and immediately dismiss it because it makes logical sense and it makes them recognize their bias and unwarranted hatred. They do not yet wish to accept that Christ may have been Arab, the same that they are trying to wipe off the face of the earth.

Either way you will not get an honest or a straight forward answer from any of them