Does Allah have a gender?

In a Nutshell: Islam teaches that Allah, the Almighty, transcends human concepts like gender. He is neither male nor female and attributing such qualities to Him is a theological error. Table of Contents: In a Nutshell Introduction Evidences Does Allah Have a Gender? 5 Misconceptions about Allah's Gender 5 Objections Addressed FAQs: Does Allah Have a Gender? Introduction In Islam, the concept of Allah (swt) as the Supreme Creator and Sovereign of the universe is foundational. Allah (swt) is unique and unlike anything in creation. Understanding Allah's (swt) nature and attributes helps foster a deeper connection with the Divine. A question that often arises is whether Allah (swt) has a gender. This answer seeks to explain this question in light of the Quran and Sunnah. Evidences Quranic Verses There is nothing whatever like unto Him and He is the Hearing, the Seeing. (Surah Ash-Shura 42:11) Say, 'He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent.' (Surah Al-Ikhlas 112:1-4) ...Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. He is the All-Wise, the All-Knowledgeable. (Surah Maryam 19:92) Allah - there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills... (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:255) Ahadith The Prophet (pbuh) said: Allah laughs at the jealousy of his servant as one of you gets jealous for his wife. Allah's jealousy is that His servant should avoid what He has forbidden. (Sahih al-Bukhari) The Prophet (pbuh) said: Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, said: 'I am as My servant thinks I am...' (Sahih al-Bukhari) The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) heard a man say: O Allah, I ask You for Paradise and I seek refuge with You from Hellfire. He then said: This man knows what he is invoking Allah for. (Sunan an-Nasa'i) Companions' Opinions Abdullah ibn Abbas (ra), the cousin of the Prophet (pbuh): Allah (swt) does not resemble any of His creation in any way. Abu Hurairah (ra): Whoever pictures Allah (swt) as an image (or form) is a disbeliever. Aisha (ra): If anyone tells you that Allah (swt) spoke to Moses (as) directly, tell him he is a liar. Allah (swt) does not speak directly to anyone. Scholarly Opinions Imam Abu Hanifa (founder of the Hanafi school): Whoever says 'I do not know whether my Lord is above the heavens or on earth' is a disbeliever. Imam Malik (founder of the Maliki school): Allah (swt) is above His throne and His knowledge encompasses everything. Imam Shafi'i (founder of the Shafi'i school): Whoever claims that Allah (swt) has a body like human bodies is an unbeliever. Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (founder of the Hanbali school): The statements of Allah (swt) and His Messenger (pbuh) are accepted as they came to us without trying to understand their meanings in a way different from the obvious meaning (i.e., without resorting to figurative interpretation). Ibn Taymiyyah (prominent scholar): Allah (swt) is perfect in all of His attributes and He is free from any resemblance to creation. Does Allah Have a Gender? The Quranic verses, ahadith and scholarly opinions presented above emphasize Allah's (swt) absolute transcendence and uniqueness. Attributing human characteristics like gender to Him is a limitation of our understanding and diminishes His infinite being. The Quran explicitly negates Allah (swt) begetting or being begotten and declares that there is nothing comparable to Him. The use of the masculine pronoun He in the Quran is a grammatical convention of the Arabic language, similar to how ships and countries are often referred to using feminine pronouns in English. This grammatical feature in no way implies male characteristics for Allah (swt). Importantly, the ahadith illustrate the potential metaphorical meanings of some references to Allah (swt). The idea of Allah (swt) laughing emphasizes His approval and pleasure, not a physical act of laughter. Scholars consistently affirm Allah's (swt) complete transcendence. Their opinions reiterate that Allah (swt) exists without form or resemblance to His creation. Any attempt to anthropomorphize Allah (swt) is considered a serious theological error within Islam. Misconceptions about Allah's Gender Allah is a Father Figure: Allah (swt) is neither a father nor mother figure, as these imply parenthood and familial relationships that are inapplicable to the Divine. The Masculine Pronoun Implies Male Gender: The pronoun He in Arabic is a default pronoun used for both known and unknown subjects and does not intrinsically imply a male gender. Angels are Allah's Daughters: Angels are spiritual creations of Allah (swt), not His offspring. They are genderless servants of the Divine. Depictions of Allah Permissible in Art: Islam strictly prohibits representing Allah (swt) visually in any form, whether through painting, sculpture, or other artistic endeavors. If Allah Has No Gender, Why Are We Called to Love Him?: Love for Allah (swt) in Islam is a matter of spiritual connection, devotion and obedience, not an emotional state based on human definitions of gender. Objections Addressed If Allah has no gender, how can I relate to Him? Connecting with Allah (swt) is primarily through understanding His attributes, obeying His commands and appreciating His creation. Gender is not relevant for this spiritual relationship. Why does Islam emphasize Allah's power and might, implying traditional masculine traits? Allah's (swt) power and might refer to His absolute dominion over the universe and His ability to create, sustain and destroy. These are not associated with human gender concepts. Some ancient religions have female deities. Isn't Islam limiting? Islam's concept of Allah (swt) as transcendent and beyond gender is considered a purification of theology, removing limiting human connotations from the understanding of the Divine. Modern society embraces gender fluidity. Isn't a genderless God outdated? Allah's (swt) existence is eternal and transcends passing trends or culturally relative human concepts like gender. Isn't it simpler to refer to Allah as male given the use of 'He'? While simpler for linguistic purposes, it's theologically important to understand that this usage is a grammatical convention and not a statement about Allah's (swt) nature. FAQs: Does Allah Have a Gender? Can I refer to Allah as 'She' or 'It'? No. Using 'She' for Allah (swt) implies a female gender, which is inaccurate. Using 'It' is disrespectful and reduces Allah (swt) to an object. Why do some people say Allah's attributes have masculine and feminine qualities? Such references are metaphorical, helping us relate to Allah's (swt) actions, roles and His encompassing nature. These should not be misunderstood as implying Allah (swt) has any gender. Who created Allah? Allah (swt) is the uncreated Creator of everything. He is eternal and has no beginning or end. How can I explain to a non-Muslim that Allah has no gender? Focus on Allah's (swt) transcendence, uniqueness and being incomparable with anything in creation. Explain the linguistic limitations of pronouns. Are there certain Muslim groups that believe Allah has a gender? Mainstream Islamic scholarship throughout history consistently upholds Allah's (swt) transcendence and rejects assigning any gender to Him.