Understanding the Presence of Allah in the Holy Bible

Introduction:

The Holy Bible is considered one of the most significant religious texts in the world. It is a collection of religious writings that include both the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Bible is revered by millions of people worldwide, and it contains references to various deities, including Allah. However, many translators choose to rename Allah as God, leading to confusion among readers.

Body:

The name Allah is the Arabic word for God, and it is used by Muslims to refer to the one and only God. However, the name Allah is also found in the Holy Bible, where it is used to refer to the God worshipped by Jews, Christians, and Muslims.

Despite this, some translators choose to rename Allah as God, leading to confusion among readers who may not realize that the two names refer to the same deity. Some translators argue that using the name Allah in the Bible would be inappropriate because it would associate the Bible with Islam. However, this argument is flawed because the name Allah predates Islam and was used by Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews before the emergence of Islam.

One example of Allah in Arabic in the Bible can be found in the Gospel of Matthew, where Jesus is reported to have cried out on the cross, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" which translates to "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" In the original Aramaic language spoken by Jesus, the word for God is "Allah." Thus, Jesus' cry on the cross was an invocation of Allah, the same God worshipped by Muslims.

Another example of Allah in Arabic in the Bible can be found in the Arabic Bible used by Christians in the Middle East. The Arabic Bible uses the word "Allah" to refer to God, just as Muslims do. The Arabic Bible has been in use for centuries and has helped Arabic-speaking Christians to connect with the Bible's teachings in their native language.

Allah in the Holy Bible:

While the term Allah is predominantly associated with Islam, it is interesting to note that it has also appeared in the Holy Bible, particularly in the Arabic translations of the text. In fact, the word Allah appears multiple times in the Arabic versions of both the Old and New Testaments.

Examples of Allah in Arabic in Bible Verses:

1. "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" (Matthew 27:46) - This verse is often translated into English as "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" However, in the Arabic version, the term Allah is used instead of God.

2. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1) - In the Arabic version of the Bible, the word Allah is used instead of God.

3. "And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness." (Genesis 15:6) - In the Arabic version, the word Allah is used instead of Lord.

These examples highlight the presence of the word Allah in the Arabic versions of the Bible, indicating that the term has been used by Christians who speak Arabic for centuries.

Translators' Decision to Rename Allah as God:

Despite the use of the term Allah in the Arabic versions of the Bible, some translators have chosen to rename it as God. The reasons behind this decision are multifaceted.

One of the primary reasons is the controversy surrounding the term Allah. In some countries, particularly those with a predominantly Muslim population, the use of the word Allah by non-Muslims has been a point of contention. For instance, in Malaysia, a court ruling in 2009 banned non-Muslims from using the term Allah, citing it as exclusive to Muslims. In this context, some translators choose to use the term God instead of Allah to avoid any potential conflict.

Another reason is that some translators believe that using the term Allah may confuse non-Arabic speaking Christians who are not familiar with the term. They argue that using the term God instead of Allah may make the text more accessible to a broader audience.

Conclusion:

The name Allah is present in the Holy Bible and has been used by Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews for centuries. However, some translators choose to rename Allah as God, leading to confusion among readers. This is unnecessary and can create a false impression that Allah and God are different deities. The use of the name Allah in the Bible would not associate the Bible with Islam any more than the use of the name God would associate the Bible with Christianity. It is time for translators to recognize that Allah and God are the same deity and to use the name Allah when it appears in the Bible. This will help readers to understand the true nature of the God worshipped by Jews, Christians, and Muslims.