What does Allah look like?
There's no
picture of God
In Islam, nothing in creation looks like God, so there is no picture of Him, and never has been. Not because a picture is hidden, but because there is nothing to draw.
The Word · Why there's no picture
The Qur'an says “There is nothing like Him” (42:11). Any image would be of something: a face, a light, a figure in the sky. God is not a something among things. So Muslim art found other ways of pointing: words written beautifully, patterns that never end, light falling into empty space.
What you'll see on this site instead
Calligraphy
The Names written by human hands. In this proposal the Arabic is typeset; the final site will commission calligraphers.
Light and space
A prayer hall at dawn, a night sky, space left open on purpose.
Creation
Rain on dry ground, a bee, a galaxy: signs, the Qur'an says, not portraits.
We also never picture the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), or any prophet, or Mary (peace be upon her). Many Muslims hold this, and it is how we work.
Each faith, in its own words
Judaism
“Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image” (Exodus 20:4, JPS 1917). At Sinai the people “heard the voice of words, but ye saw no form; only ye heard a voice” (Deuteronomy 4:12).
Christianity
“No one has seen God at any time” (John 1:18, WEB). Christians differ on images: Orthodox and Catholic Christians honour icons of Christ and the saints, many Protestant churches have none, and most Christians do not picture God the Father.
So where do you look?
The Qur'an's answer is: everywhere else. “We will show them Our signs on the horizons and within themselves” (41:53). Start with Signs in Creation or the 99 Names.
Keep going
Watch and listen
Documentaries and short films on the word and its story.
