Is the Personality and Character of Allah the same as that of YHVH?

This second article follows on from my post comparing Talmidaism with moderate Islam (below are all the articles in this series):

There is one very good reason why the Israelite faith necessitates knowing YHVH (Jer 31:34, cf Hos 2:20), and advises us to learn about the character and nature of YHVH (1Chr 16:11, 22:19, 2Chr 14:4, Ps 105:4, Zeph 2:3): it is so that if anyone comes to us, claiming that their god is our God, or is an incarnation of our God, we will instantly know if they are telling the truth or not.

If the nature of the God that moderate Muslims worship, and the values given by the God they worship, are the same as the nature and values of the God we worship, then we could say that we both worship the same God. However, I cannot say the same for the god that fundamentalist Islamists worship; what they worship is something darker, more destructive and more sinister – they worship something else entirely. What they worship is not God, but something iniquitous and unholy that dwells within the darkest recesses of the very worst of all human hearts.

During the period of Arab paganism, Al-ilāh was the chief god, but did not play a major part in the Arab pagan religion. He was acknowledged as a creator god, someone you called to in times of distress, and when praying for rain, but that was it. Al-Ilāh was just one of many gods the Arabs worshipped at the time of Muhammad. The goddess Al-ilat was invoked and mentioned far more often than Al-ilāh. The personality of Al-ilāh was also harmless and much more amenable than Allah. The distant, impersonal, violent, bloodthirsty and war-like god Allah is what Muhammad turned Al-ilāh into. Although the Islamic god Allah is based on the pagan god Al-ilāh, it was Muhammad who shaped and formed the nature of Allah that Muslims are familiar with today, and transformed his nature into something that the Arab henotheistic pagans of the 7th century did not recognise. That may be why they refused to worship Muhammad’s Allah.

Now, Islam claims that the God of Islam – Allah – is exactly the same as YHVH, the God of Abraham. So in the interests of fairness and balance, I have deliberately chosen to use ChatGPT. I asked ChatGPT to compare the personalities of Allah and YHVH as described in their respective scriptures, to look at the history of the development and evolution of Allah, and the conclusion was that Allah and YHVH are not the same God. Muhammad is therefore not a prophet of YHVH. I started by asking:

The personality of Allah doesn’t seem to be anything like that of YHVH. Which Arabian god is the personality and character of Allah most similar to?

ChatGPT responded:

From the standpoint purely of comparative religion, Allah in the Quran most closely resembles the pre-Islamic Arabian chief god (al-Ilāh), rather than any single local tribal deity. However, his character and behaviour also show strong continuities with many Near Eastern imperial “supreme gods” (especially law-giving, violence- and war-sanctioning deities), rather than with the covenantal, relational YHVH of the Hebrew Bible.

Below is a precise breakdown.

1. Allah and the Pre-Islamic Arabian High God (al-ilāh)

What scholars agree on

“Allah” literally means “the God” (al-ilāh)
Pre-Islamic Arabs already believed in:
- a supreme creator god
- who was above the tribal gods
- but was largely distant, non-relational, and invoked mainly in crises

This god was:

creator
controller of fate (that is, pre-destination)
invoked in oaths
not relational or covenantal

Evidence

Quran 31:25 acknowledges pagans already believed Allah was creator
Quran 39:38 makes the same admission
Pre-Islamic poetry invokes Allah alongside lesser gods

This strongly indicates continuity with the Arabian chief national god al-ilah, not replacement.

Key point:
Muhammad did not introduce a new deity; he redefined and absolutised the existing chief national god of Arabia.

2. Why Allah Does Not Resemble YHVH in Personality

The difference is not just theological — it is structural and ethical.

YHVH (Hebrew Bible)

Enters a covenantal relationship, with responsibilities on both sides
Binds God’s own Self morally
Can be argued and debated with
Grieves, relents, forgives
Is Self-constrained by justice
Seeks moral partnership with humanity

(Genesis 18; Exodus 32; Hosea; Jonah; Micah 6:8)

Allah (Quran)

Issues commands, not partnerships or covenants
Cannot be questioned (Quran 21:23)
Does not bind Himself morally
Mercy is discretionary, not covenantal or guaranteed
Justice is defined solely by the will of Allah, not by ethics
Relationship is complete submission, not moral partnership

This difference already existed before Islam in the pagan national religion of the Arabs.

3. Similarity to Near Eastern Imperial Gods (Not a Single Arabian Idol)

Allah’s personality traits align less with local Arabian gods and more with imperial, authoritarian “supreme gods” known across the Near and Middle East:

Key parallels

Absolute Will:
Allah: Yes
Comparable Deities: Marduk, Ashur

Law by Command:
Allah: Yes
Comparable Deities: Shamash

Sanctioned War and Violence:
Allah: Yes
Comparable Deities: Ashur

Absolute Submission demanded:
Allah: Yes
Comparable Deities: all imperial cult-gods of the Middle East

No covenantal or ethical restraint:
Allah: Yes
Comparable Deities: most ancient Near Eastern gods

This is why many scholars say:

Allah resembles a law-giving imperial deity, not a relational God of ethical covenant.

4. What About Hubal?

Hubal is often mentioned polemically, but this needs clarification.

Hubal was likely:
- a local cult statue
- associated with divination
- not clearly the chief god
There is no solid evidence that Allah = Hubal
Muhammad explicitly opposed Hubal’s cult

So it is not accurate to say Allah “is really Hubal”.

The continuity is with Al-ilāh, not Hubal.

5. Why Allah’s Character feels so very different from YHVH

From a Yahwist perspective, the core reason is this:

YHVH reveals God’s Self through covenantal ethics, and an active, ongoing concern for moral justice and righteousness;
Allah reveals himself through imperial command.

That difference produces:

different moral logic
different views of justice
different views of the use of violence
different views of human responsibility

This is why:

YHVH can be challenged, without fear of retribution
Allah cannot be challenged
YHVH binds God’s Self by covenantal ethics and promises
Allah has no self-restrictions; Allah binds others

6. Summary (Plainly Stated)

Allah is historically continuous with the pre-Islamic Arabian chief god
His personality reflects Near Eastern imperial sovereignty, not prophetic or covenantal ethics
He is not Hubal
He is not YHVH under another name
The ethical divergence is real, structural, and ancient

Or, stated simply:

YHVH seeks a just and covenantal faithfulness;
Allah demands absolute submission.

That difference explains everything else.

A Detailed Comparison between the Personalities of Allah and YHVH

I then asked:

Please compare Allah versus YHVH, attribute-by-attribute. Please give references (and if from the Quran or hadiths, give the actual words of the quote). Please be as detailed as you feel necessary to prove your point

ChatGPT replied:

What follows is a side-by-side attribute comparison, grounded in primary sources (Hebrew Bible versus Quran/Hadith), showing structural and ethical differences.

The aim is to demonstrate why Allah and YHVH are not the same deity in moral character, even if Islam claims they are.

Allah versus YHVH — Attribute-by-Attribute Comparison

1. Nature of the Relationship with Humans

YHVH

Relationship is covenantal and reciprocal.

“I will be your God, and you shall be my people.”
(Exodus 6:7)

“You alone have I acknowledged of all the families of the earth.”
(Amos 3:2)

God binds God’s Self to obligations and promises.

Allah

Relationship is master–slave submission.

“It is not for a believing man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should have any choice.”
(Quran 33:36)

“We hear and we obey.”
(Quran 2:285)

No covenantal reciprocity or mutual responsibilties; obedience is unilateral, and expected to be absolute.

2. Can God Be Questioned?

YHVH

God allows and honours moral questioning.

“Shall not the Judge of all the earth do justice?”
(Genesis 18:25)

“Why, O YHVH, do You stand far away?”
(Psalm 10:1)

Allah

Allah cannot and must not be questioned.

“He is not questioned about what He does, but they [i.e. humans] will be questioned.”
(Quran 21:23)

Questioning divine justice is implicitly disallowed, and even considered as rebellion and disloyalty against Allah.

3. God and Moral Consistency

YHVH

YHVH demonstrates that God is not a tyrannical god who misuses or abuses its power. YHVH is therefore bound by justice, righteousness and faithful love. In this sense, YHVH is deliberately self-limiting – there are things that YHVH can do, but won’t do, in order to show us that YHVH is a faithful, truthful, responsible and reliable God, who promises and then fulfils, who speaks and then acts.

“For YHVH is righteous; He loves righteous deeds.”
(Psalm 11:7)

“Justice and righteousness are the foundation of Your throne.”
(Psalm 89:14)

Justice restrains divine action.

Allah

Justice is defined by divine will (i.e. by whatever Allah says), not by any ethical or moral necessity. For example, if Allah does something morally questionable, then that is what Allah wills, and it is not our place to question it.

“Allah does whatever He wills.”
(Quran 14:27)

“If He wills, He can destroy you and bring others [i.e. to replace you].”
(Quran 6:133)

No external or internal moral restraint is acknowledged or tolerated.

4. God’s Attitude Toward Mercy

YHVH

Divine Mercy is central and paramount, and preferred over punishment.

“For I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”
(Hosea 6:6)

“I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked.”
(Ezekiel 18:23)

Allah

Mercy is very selective, and only exercised at the whim and discretion of Allah.

“He forgives whom He wills, and punishes whom He wills.”
(Quran 5:18)

“Allah is severe in punishment.”
(Quran 5:98)

Neither mercy nor forgiveness is ever guaranteed.

5. God’s Concern for Human Beings

YHVH

YHVH cares deeply about the welfare of us all; it matters to YHVH if we live or die, if we are condemned or acquitted, if we are punished or saved (Ezek 33:11 and 18:23, YHVH would rather that the wicked repent and live, than be condemned and die).

YHVH loves us unconditionally as a parent loves a child, and since YHVH is our universal Sovereign, all human beings are sons and daughters of a great Monarch and Sovereign (Deut 10:19; Amos 9:7).

Allah

Allah is an impersonal God, who has no direct relationship with human beings, and ultimately doesn’t care about us, because Allah is above us, is self-sustaining, fully independent and self-sufficient (Hadith Mishkat vol. 3, page 117-118, where Allah says concerning whether someone goes to hell or paradise, “I don’t care”)

6. God’s Relationship to Violence

YHVH

Violence (e.g. war) is severely regulated, grievously lamented, legally limited, ritually polluting, and considered morally dangerous.

“Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit.”
(Zechariah 4:6)

“Seek peace and pursue it.”
(Psalm 34:14)

Soldiers who had been out to war were considered ritually defiled, and could not re-enter the camp until they had been cleansed of the polluting defilement of war and death.
(Num 31:19-20)

Allah

Violence is explicitly commanded, sanctified, encouraged and sacralised.

“Fight them until there is no fitna [conflict and civil unrest], and religion is for Allah [alone].”
(Quran 8:39)

“Kill them [i.e. the non-Muslims] wherever you find them.”
(Quran 2:191)

“I have been commanded to fight the people until they testify…”
(Sahih Bukhari 25)

7. View of Human Dignity

YHVH

All humans bear God’s image, and therefore are to be treated with equal dignity, both Jews and non-Jews.

“So God created man in God’s own image.”
(Genesis 1:27)

“Have we not all one Father?”
(Malachi 2:10)

“Love your neighbour [i.e. your fellow human beings] as yourself”
(Lev 19:18)

Allah

Human worth is limited, graded by belief (i.e. it is dependant on one’s belief in Allah and Muhammad).

“The worst of creatures in the sight of Allah are those who disbelieve.”
(Quran 8:55)

“So when you meet the disbelievers in battle, strike their necks until you have thoroughly subdued them, then bind them firmly….”
(Quran 47:4)

8. Truthfulness

YHVH

Truthfulness is absolute, and even YHVH is bound by Truth.

“Remain afar from a false matter.”
(Exodus 23:7)

“Speak truth to one another.”
(Zechariah 8:16)

Allah

Deception is permitted, sacralised and encouraged in certain contexts.

“War is deceit.”
(Sahih Bukhari 3030)

“Let them not take the believers as allies… unless as a precaution.”
(Quran 3:28)

“Allah is the best of deceivers”
(Quran 3:54, 7:99, 8:30)

9. God’s Response to Repentance

YHVH

Repentance changes God’s intended action. Repentance automatically brings forgiveness from YHVH.

“God relented of the disaster God had said God would do.”
(Jonah 3:10)

Allah

Repentance does not guarantee mercy or forgiveness.

“Allah [only] forgives whom He wills.”
(Quran 48:14)

There is no assurance of relational reversal or forgiveness.

10. Purpose of Divine Law

YHVH

Law is for the moral formation of the human soul and for life.

“Choose life.”
(Deuteronomy 30:19)

“The law of YHVH is perfect, restoring the soul.”
(Psalm 19:7)

Allah

Law is for submission, humiliation and enforcement.

“Fight those who do not believe… until they pay the jizya.”
(Quran 9:29)

Law functions as a mechanism of domination and control over conquered peoples.

11. God’s Vision of the Future

YHVH

Future is restorative and peace-oriented.

“Nation shall not lift up sword against nation.”
(Isaiah 2:4)

Allah

Future is punitive and exclusionary. Only Muslims who die as martyrs or in battle are guaranteed to go to Jannah (paradise/heaven), and all non-Muslims will go to hell.

“Those who disbelieve… for them is the fire of Hell.”
(Quran 98:6)

Final Conclusion

From a Talmidi Jewish perspective, the issue is not vocabulary, but character:

YHVH is bound by covenantal promise, morally and ethically self-bound, open to challenge, and oriented toward restoration, mercy and love.
Allah is sovereign, imperial, unchallengeable, uncaring, distant, will-driven, and oriented toward submission, authoritarian control and punishment.

Therefore:

Allah cannot possibly be YHVH under another name.
They represent fundamentally different entities and moral theologies.

(My own note:
Anyone who tries to say that Allah is YHVH, self-evidently does not know YHVH)

1. A Comparison of Talmidi values and Moderate Islamic values.

2. A Comparison of the Character and Personality of Allah and YHVH: Are they the same God?

3. A Comparison of Talmidi Values and Extremist Islamist Values: 28 Islamic Values that Talmidis reject.