Is Allah our Father? (the answer may surprise you)
Have you ever called Allah: "My Father"? Or prayed, "Oh Heavenly Father"?
Most likely never. Nor would you ever, as a believer.
But what if I told you that — not with those words, nor literally the way Christians do — but in meaning, you actually say something similar every single day?
Let me explain…
The Arabic word for father is: Abb.
It sounds just like the word Rabb, doesn’t it?
Coincidence? I think not.
Similar Word, Same Meaning
What is an Abb?
A father is someone who takes care of, raises, provides for / sustains his children and family, nurtures, teaches, guides, supports, leads.
Now, take the word “father” above and replace it with the word “Rabb.”
It fits perfectly.
Not only do Abb and Rabb sound the same, they essentially have the same meaning.
So while we do not refer to Allah using the term Father, we do affirm the meaning - figuratively and in the role - that the term conveys.
In this way, Allah as our Rabb is like a fatherly figure, in terms of His love, care, nurturing, etc. of us.
Then why abrogate Abb for Rabb?
More Clarity, Less Confusion, Same Love and Connection
There are 3 levels at which Christians refer to God as Father:
Level 1: Their Father, symbolically and figuratively in His role and attributes.
We are aligned with them on this.
Here's an excerpt from a Christian apologist's website - it starts off well, but then the attack ensues:
"A good father loves his children, those whom he created. He is invested in them. He will care for them, provide for them, guide them, and love them intimately. He cherishes his children, is proud of them when they do well, and disciplines them when they lag. His commitment to his children exceeds that of a coach for his players, that of a boss for his workers, or that of a master for his slave."
Replace the term "good father" with Rabb, and it's great.
But he continues...
"The slave will never hold the treasured position in the father’s heart that a child holds. And it is this type of love relationship that is lacking in Islam."
These last two sentences are exactly why it’s crucial for us to understand the title of Allah: Rabb.
Rabb does not lack anything that Abb has: love, care, nurturing, etc.
Rabb only adds clarity and humility.
Level 2: Their Father, in that He adopts them as His children when they choose to accept Christ (be a Christian).
God is the Father of the entire “family” of Christians. This is why they will refer to each other as brothers and sisters.
We do the same with Muslim brothers and sisters, but they mean it at another level of: we are God’s children and He is our Father.
Here's an excerpt from an article written by a Christian:
“God also chose to become our Father, lovingly adopting us as his own children forever.”
“To those who are Christ’s, the holy God is a loving Father; they belong to his family; they may approach him without fear and always be sure of his fatherly concern and care. This is the heart of the New Testament message.”
Level 3: Jesus’ Father, as part of the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.
We agree with Level 1, disagree with Level 2 (in its 'more than figurative' interpretation), and completely disagree with Level 3.
You could say Level 1 is permissible (halal). Level 2 is impermissible in a sense (haram). Level 3 is associating partners with God (shirk).
Hence, scholars have suggested: because the term Abb, or father, was misused and taken literally in this way…
...Allah replaced it with a term that carries the same essential meaning but avoids any potential confusion, misuse or literal interpretation: Rabb.
In fact, on the Day of Judgement, Jesus (peace be upon him) will say to Allah:
I said not to them except what You commanded me - to worship and serve God, my Rabb and your Rabb. And I was a witness over them as long as I was among them; but when You took me up, You were the Observer over them, and You are, over all things, Witness.
If You should punish them - indeed they are Your servants; but if You forgive them - indeed it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
[Chapter 5, The Table Spread, Verses 117-118]
Jesus refers to God as Rabb, not Abb. And he refers to the people as God's servants ('Ibad), not children (Abna').
May God guide our Christian friends to the truth and forgive them, if He so wills.
A 'Father' to Four of the Five
The five greatest human beings to ever live - the five greatest messengers of God - are considered to be the following:
Muhammad, Jesus, Moses, Abraham, and Noah.
May God grant them all peace and blessings.
Think about the father of each of these individuals…
a. Muhammad’s ﷺ father, Abdullah, passed away before his birth.
b. Jesus has no father.
c. Moses’ father is never mentioned in the Quran. Moses’ mother and sister are mentioned.
When Moses was a baby, and Pharaoh and his army were taking and killing the baby boys, God inspired Moses’ mother to put him in a basket and in the river.
We don’t know anything about Moses’ father from the Quran, whether he was alive or not. One may assume that he was not.
But we could conclude that his father was only in his life when he was an infant. Then it was his mother only. And of course, he was then brought up in the palace of the Pharoah himself.
d. Abraham’s father: there is a discussion about whether Azar, the one who Abraham refers to as ‘Abb’ in the Quran, is his actual father or his paternal uncle...
But the point here is: whether the person raising Abraham was his actual father, or a paternal uncle serving in the role of his father/guardian… while he was “there,” he was not supportive, guiding, or nurturing toward what is true and right.
˹Remember˺ when he (Abraham) said to his father, “My dear father, why do you worship what can neither hear nor see, nor benefit you at all?
My dear father, I have certainly received some knowledge which you have not received, so follow me and I will guide you to the Straight Path.
My dear father, do not worship Satan. Surely Satan is ever rebellious against the Most Compassionate.
My dear father, I truly fear that you will be touched by a torment from the Most Compassionate, and become Satan’s companion ˹in Hell˺.”
He (his father) threatened, “How dare you reject my idols, O Abraham! If you do not desist, I will certainly stone you ˹to death˺. So be gone from me for a long time!”
Abraham responded, “Peace be upon you! I will pray to my Rabb for your forgiveness. He has truly been Most Gracious to me.
As I distance myself from ˹all of˺ you and from whatever you invoke besides God, I will ˹continue to˺ call upon my Rabb only, trusting that I will never be disappointed in invoking my Rabb.”
[Chapter 19, Mary, Verses 42-48]
Abraham’s response to his father brings me to tears. Notice how he refers to Allah as Rabb three times.
Abraham’s Abb rejected and left him.
Abraham’s Rabb never left him.
What’s the main point here?
Four of the five greatest human beings did not have their father: their Abb.
So who filled that void?
Their Rabb.
Allah raised them, nurtured them, guided them, took care of them, provided for them, sustained them, honored them, supported them, loved them.
Out of billions, you have these top five.
And four of the top five - Allah willed for Himself to serve as their fatherly figure: their Rabb.
Happy Father’s Day
While Father’s Day holds no religious significance for us, and your participation in this cultural day is voluntary… I want to leave you with this:
I don’t know anything about your father. But I know a few fathers:
- I know someone’s father who was shot in cold blood when she was only 10 years old, in front of her very eyes.
- I know someone’s father who abused her mother badly, then abandoned them, never to be heard from again.
- I know someone’s father who passed away, leaving multiple young children behind with their mother.
- And I know many many fathers who are present, caring, providing, and loving — not perfect, but trying their utmost to be the best fathers they can be... in a culture and society when it’s not easy, and there’s immense pressure to be the primary provider.
Whether you have your Abb still, or your Abb has passed, or your Abb failed you in being the loving father you deserved (and perhaps you would not even refer to him as your father)... know this:
You have a Rabb: a Loving Master who loves and cares for you, His beloved servant - like a father or parent does their child - but so so so so much more.
He is always there; He has left you never,
nor will He ever.
He is Perfect, without flaw.
If only you saw.
How much He loves and cares for you.
Without Him, there’s nothing you could do.
So today, as you think (or try not to think) about your Abb.
Don’t forget to think about, and thank, your Rabb.
How Perfect is your Caring Master (Rabb) — the Caring Master (Rabb) of Honor — far above what they attribute to Him.
Peace be upon the messengers.
And praise be to God, the Caring Master (Rabb) of all that exists.
[Chapter 37, Those who set the Ranks, Verses 180-182]
At your service,
Farzan
Let me know how beneficial you found this post by clicking one of the emojis below:
