The Name ALLAH in Christian pre-islamic literature
The following lines are a free translation of Fr. Louis Sheikho’s (1895-1927) book “The Christian pre-islamic literature” (Al Mashriqm Beyrouth, second edition, 1989, pp. 158 – 163, and following). They prove scientifically, with an abundant documentation, that Jewish and CHRISTIAN Arabs (even pagans) were using the name ALLAH before Islam. Of course, for Jews and Christians, the Name designated and keeps designating the One and Only God. It goes without saying that our “Holy Trinity” is a ‘trine UNITY” in God with His Word and Spirit.
Fr. Sheikho ;‘Many Arab authors claim that ALLAH comes from the contraction of AL-ILAH, THE God. But scholars of semitic languages agree that the name derives from the Aramaic “EL” to which the “ha” had been added , as a majestic form: in Chaldaean (eastern Aramaic) ALAHA, and in Syriac (western Aramaic) ALOHO.
The Nabateans knew this name ALLAH. Christianity entered Arabia and it was mainly thanks to the Christian presence (especially through Syria) that the Name was introduced to most of Arabia. One finds the Name Allah in pre-islamic poetry. Many poets were actually Christians and they did mention the Name ALLAH , like Rabiah , Bakr, Iyyad . We do not need give many examples, because of the diffusion of this practice and Name. Al-Aasha, Christian poet wrote: “Do not worship idols but do worship Allah”
" وذا النصب المنصوب لا تسكنّنه ولا تعبد الاوثان والله فاعبدا"
Zayd bin (son of) Amr writes (“Book of the beginning and of History”, 1, 26, the “Biography” by Ibn Hisham, p 146) : “Everything is perishable except our Lord, and ALLAH is the only heritage of the mortals … and if there were anything eternal and long lasting, meditate and you will find that God is above it Everlasting’:
" الا كل شيء هالك غير ربّنا والله ميراث الذي كان فانيا ...
وان يكُ شيء خالدا ومعمّرا تأمّل تجد من فوقه الله باقيا "
The priest Waraqah bin Nawfal, first cousin of Khadijah, first wife of the Prophet of Islam wrote (quoted by Abi Faradj Al-Asbahanyy, in Al Aghanyy (the Songs) 3 , 14):
“Glory to the One who sits on the Throne, the Lord of creation, the Only unique Self-subsistant. Nothing of what we see remains with its splendour, the only one who does is the God, whereas money and offspring decline”:
" سبحان ذي العرش سبحانا يعادله رب البريّة فرد واحد صمدُ ...
لا شيء ممّا نرى تبقى بشاشتُه يبقى الاله ويودي المال والولد".
The Priest bin Sa’idah (Qass bin a’idah) writes (“The poets of Christianity before Islam”, p. 216):
“Thanks to ALLAh who did not create the creation in vain”
" الحمدُ لله الذي لم يخلق الخلق عبث"
Zuhayr bin Abi Sulma, one of the authors of the Mu’allaqat (lengthy poems) :
" فلا تكتمنّ الله ما في صدوركم ليخفى ، ومهما يُكتم الله يعلم "
“Do not hide from ALLAH what you conceal in your chests. And whatever you hide, Allah does know it!’
An-Nabighah Al-Ja’dyy (The Ja’dyy genius) wrote: “O You who possesses earth and heaven (You know that) the one who fears God is not afraid of sin”:
" يا مالك الارض والسما ومن يفرق من الله لا يخف اثما "
An other Christian poet, Udayy bin Zayd, wrote :
“You implored us in the name of the Book of ALLAH, which we sanctify, and you were not boasting of Allah’s Book”
"ناشدتنا بكتاب الله حُرمتنا ولم تكن بكتاب الله ترتفعُ"
Arab Christians “used to magnify the chief priest or monk and call him “abeel” . They used to swear by him as they swore by ALLAH” (Ibn Manthoor, Lisaan al’arab (the language of the Arabs), volume 13, 6), also Udayy bin Zayd in “Taj al Aroos, the Crown of the Bridegroom 7, 199):
"وكانوا يعظّمون الابيل فيحلفون به كما يحلفون بالله"
Bayrooni, in his book “The remaining traces” (“Al-Aathar al-baaqyah”, p. 314) speaks of a thanksgiving fasting among Christians :”The Christian ِArab virgins fast in sign of thanksgiving to ALLAH for the victory of the Arabs over the barbarians in the battle of Thy-Qar”
" للعذارى النصرانيات من العرب شكرا لله حيث انتصرت العرب من العجم يوم ذي قار"
Conclusion
One may quote here many other texts . But the above are sufficient to prove the point, namely that God’s Name ALLAH was used by Christians before Islam.
