Attributes of God
Primary 6 · Social and Religious Studies
Attributes of God
Lesson 2 of 5
12 min
Let's begin
Niyonzima's class is making a poster. In the middle they write ONE. Around it they draw the things God created: the sun, Lake Kivu, the mountain gorillas, the children of the class.
"Everything around the edge is many," says Niyonzima, "but in the middle, God is one."
Oneness means being only one. Christians and Muslims are both monotheists: they believe in one God only, the Creator of everything.
"Hear, Israel: The LORD is our God. The LORD is one." (Deuteronomy 6:4)
This verse is called the Shema (Hebrew for "Hear"). The people of Israel prayed it every day. Jesus called the command that comes with it, to love God with all your heart, "the first and great commandment" (Matthew 22:37–38). Christians believe that the one God is known as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity: one God, not three gods.
"Say: He is Allah, the One! Allah, the eternally Besought of all! He begetteth not nor was begotten. And there is none comparable unto Him." (Qur'an 112:1–4)
In simpler words: Allah is One; everyone and everything depends on Him, but He depends on no one; He has no children and no parents; and nothing is like Him. Muslims call the belief that Allah is one, with no partner, Tawhid. It is the first and most important teaching of Islam, and it opens the declaration of faith: "There is no god but Allah." The Qur'an also says: "Your God is One God; there is no God save Him, the Beneficent, the Merciful." (Qur'an 2:163)
Uniqueness means being the only one of its kind. God is different from people and from every created thing. God has no beginning and no end, never gets tired or hungry, and needs nothing.
"I am God, and there is no other. I am God, and there is none like me." (Isaiah 46:9)
The Ten Commandments begin: "You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourselves an idol..." (Exodus 20:3–4). No idol or image can take God's place.
"And there is none comparable unto Him." (Qur'an 112:4)
"Neither slumber nor sleep overtaketh Him." (Qur'an 2:255)
Unlike people, Allah never sleeps or grows tired. Muslims do not make pictures or statues of Allah, because nothing can look like Him.
Worked example
Read the verse and name the attribute: "I am God, and there is none like me."
Step 1 The clue is "none like me".
Step 2 Nothing is the same as God. That is being one of a kind.
Answer: uniqueness.
Tip
Two questions, two answers
"How many Gods are there?" One → that is oneness.
"Is anything like God?" Nothing → that is uniqueness.
What is monotheism?
Answer: belief in one God only.
Which Bible verse begins "Hear, Israel"?
Answer: Deuteronomy 6:4.
What do Muslims call the belief that Allah is one, with no partner?
Answer: Tawhid.
What is the difference between oneness and uniqueness?
Answer: oneness means there is only one God; uniqueness means nothing is like God.
Give one way belief in one God can help people in Rwanda live together.
Answer: if one God made everyone, we are one human family, so we should treat each other with respect and live in unity.
What you learned today
Sources and credits
Everything else in this lesson, including the practice questions, was written by Ganzaa.
Quick check
Deuteronomy 6:4 says, "The LORD is our God. The LORD is one." Which attribute does this verse teach?
