Indeed, there is only one creator God.
No matter what name we call him, her or it, it remains the same. To believe that Allah is not the same God as what others believe amounts to creating a duplicate or another God, it’s called Shirk in Islam.
The idea of one abstract God was for more people to see their description of God fit in to the larger, all inclusive abstract God. It’s like painting the house in neutral colors to fit in any decorative theme.
Each group of people ascribe different attributes to that creator, all are valid to that believer. Muslims and Jews see God as non-entity, non imaginable, non-collapsible into one word and we believe in the abstract form of God, hoping it fits all descriptions; narrow and wide. However, Hinduism sees the same creator in different aspects – in the form of representations – same with Christianity and some other religions.
The idea of mono-theism is larger than a private club where membership is restrictive.
Monotheism or abstract God was created to bring all folds together – so if we fight with each other, let it be about land, food, water and the resources and not for God. You do fight for God if that God is yours exclusively. God belongs to every one of his creation.
At if, it is a new way of looking at Shirk, it will be rejected by many at this time, until it makes sense to everyone and God willing we need to learn to express it in terms where is not off the basics in Quraan. I believe it is indeed ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ
But we have to learn to express it well and I am learning… this is my 3rd attempt and hopes you can enhance it as well or reject. But you have no right to decide who is a Muslim or not – only God decides. After all what is a Muslim? It is someone who subscribes to the idea of equilibrium where all of us live in harmony within ourselves and keep the balance with others.
I love to Quote Chief Seattle again: “All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the webs, he does it to himself.” – Chief Seattle, 1854.
I am sure you will find verses in Gita, Quraan, Bible, Avesta, Torah and other holy books to this effect.
May God and his goodness guide us for creating a world where everything has its own respectable place in the universe?
Mike Ghouse is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day to the media and the public. He is a speaker thinker and a writer on the topics of pluralism, cohesive societies, Islam, interfaith, India and Peace. He is available to speak at your place of worship, work, school, college, seminars and conferences. . Mike’s work is reflected in 4 website’s and 27 Blogs indexed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/ and you can find this article at www.TheGhousediary.com