لا إله إلا إله واحد
la ilaha illa ilahun wahid
The phrase "there is only one God" in Arabic is لا إله إلا إله واحد (la ilaha illa ilahun wahid).
This phrase is a statement of faith used to assert that only one deity exists. A related and highly formal Islamic phrase is لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ, which specifically means "There is no God but Allah" and is known as the Shahada. Additionally, the formal expression إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ can be used to mean "One God".
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase begins with لا إله (la ilaha), which utilizes a negative absolute particle to express the meaning "there is no god".
How do you pronounce it?
la ilaha illa ilahun wahid
Did you know?
- The word إله contains a hidden linguistic trace of an ancient way to call out to someone, similar to how the Arabic words for 'father' and 'brother' were originally used as vocatives.
- The word إله refers to any generic 'deity', while the word الله is a unique proper noun referring specifically to the Creator, often used as a title of absolute oneness.
- The negative particle لا used in this phrase is an 'absolute' negative, which in classical Arabic grammar functions to deny the very existence of any other deity rather than just stating a fact.
Example conversation
Sara and Omar are discussing their faith.
- سارة Saraماذا تعتقد عن الخالق يا عمر؟Madha ta'taqidu 'an al-khaliq ya Omar?What do you believe about the Creator, Omar?
- عمر Omarأعتقد أنه لا إله إلا إله واحد.A'taqidu annahu la ilaha illa ilahun wahid.I believe that there is only one god.
- سارة Saraهذا إيمان قوي وجميل جداً.Hadha iman qawi wa jamil jiddan.That is a very strong and beautiful faith.
- عمر Omarشكراً لكِ يا سارة.Shukran laki ya Sara.Thank you, Sara.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries إلا, إله, لا, واحد, CC BY-SA 4.0.
