Why we use to refer Allah as ‘He’/ ‘Him’, when Almighty is beyond gender limitation.
I thought that it is probably due to male dominant society that can’t accept a feminine concept of God considering females a weakest opponent and females also feel secure with the masculine concept of God, but looking at other religions like Hinduism who have many Goddesses, I found that it has some cultural factors attach to it. I mean to say Abrahamic (monotheistic religions) from middle east convey masculine concept of God, whereas polytheist religions embodied both concepts.
When we read Translation of Quran, it also refer to Allah and Angels as masculine. Is the actual Arabic text of Quran also refer to Allah as masculine entity?
One more thing, Quran also mentioned names of some Goddesses (line Laat & Uzza) which were worshiped by Arabs before Islam. This shows that when you transfer from polytheism to monotheism, concept of God also converts from feminine to masculine.
Well, speaking from a grammatical point of view, when there is a generic term used, it is used from a masculine point of view, regardless of which language it is (usually anyway). So the automatic gender used is 'he', rather than using 'one' (eg. One went for a walk). It's not MEANT to be a reflection on genders, and it's not meant to be saying that men are the more powerful/authorative type, it's just the most clearest way that it can be conveyed. It iss just the way language has been constructed, sometimes there is no perfect word, and let's face it, language is a man-made concept.
I can't really see much of a possible alternative to this, really.
Yes human languages are not competent enough to embody big entity like God, due to grammatical and other limitations, but I think its just not only grammar. We also see some discrimination in other aspects too. Like, all the malaika (angels) are also masculine. All the prophets were males. Even Sufi Islam, which is most tolerant version of Islam is also not free from this discrimination between male and females. I heard ppl who follow Sufism say that there are 2.5 qalandars in world i.e. (1) Hazrat Laal Shahbaz Qalandar (Sehwan Shareef, Pakistan) , (2) Hazrat Bu Ali Shah Qalandar (Pani pat India) and they treat Hazrat Rabia Basri (Iraq) as half Qalandar being a woman.
If ppl were not agreed to address Allah ta'ala in masculine form.May be we ended up with one more sect....
as far as our clergy's attitude towards women most of them r not intrested even to protect womens rights mentioned in islam..
because male gender is believed to be stronger, and more capable than its female counterpart. otherwise as you mentioned ALLAH Subhanahu is beyond any limitation we can think of not only gender.
as for laat and uzza being goddesses, my "guess" is that its because this concept was derived from angels, and they believed that angels are "daughters of god" maa'zallah
because male gender is believed to be stronger, and more capable than its female counterpart. otherwise as you mentioned ALLAH Subhanahu is beyond any limitation we can think of not only gender.
as for laat and uzza being goddesses, my "guess" is that its because this concept was derived from angels, and they believed that angels are "daughters of god" maa'zallah
Good point Aceones Bro
That Kuffar e Makkah treated angels as daughters of God (Na'ooz Billah) and Quran also condemns them and enquires ' you wish better one (sons) for you and relate the weakest one to God'. But when these same people converted to Islam, these same angels got masculine status for them (for reference purposes).
This again supports that monotheism support masculine concept of divine entities.
