Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalamoalaikum Burhan Bhai.

Allah is without form or feature. That means it is inappropriate to use he, she, him or her of God. `Though` the terms used of God are all masculine?

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Gender why Allah always HE

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The reason Allah is always mentioned as a “HE” is because in the language of the Quran: Arabic, there are only two genders: masculine and feminine. Unlike English, there is no neutral gender in the Arabic language. Thus in the Arabic language, all the things which have not been specifically assigned a feminine gender, are always referred to by using the masculine gender.

Allah Subhanah is neither a man, nor a woman; He is neither the offspring of someone, neither does He have any offspring. Allah Subhanah is not recognized by His shape, size, or gender, etc., but The Lord Most High Himself has guided and commanded those who wish to believe in Him to recognize Him through His Attributes and the Signs in the creation of everything that exists. He is absolutely and totally free from any defects whatsoever, and He is far far far beyond and Exalted above our wildest imaginations.

This is how Allah describes Himself in the Holy Quran:

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 42 Surah Ash-Shura verse 11:

There is Absolutely nothing like Him (Allah) in the whole Universe!!! He is the All-Hearing, The All-Seeing!! To Him Alone belong the keys of the treasures of the heavens and the earth!!

Allah says in Chapter 112, Surah Ikhlas Verse 1-4

Say: He is Allah, the One and Only. Allah is Independent of all, and all are dependent on Him. Neither has He any offspring, nor is He the offspring of anyone; and NONE is equal to Him in rank.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chatper 7 Surah Aaraaf verse 180:

180 The Most Beautiful Names all belong to Allah: so call on Him by them.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chatper 17 Surah Israa verse 110:

110 Say: "Call upon Allah or call upon ‘Ar-Rahmaan;: by whatever Name ye call upon Him (it is well): for to Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. Neither speak thy prayer aloud nor speak it in a low tone, but seek a middle course between."

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan