ALLAH

Assyrian, ilu; Aramaic, elah; Hebrew, eloah. The Arabic name of God, derived from hah, god, and the article al, expressing the God by way of eminence. In the great profession of the Unity, on which is founded the religion of Islam, both terms are used, as pronounced *La ilaha ill'Allah*, meaning “There is no god but God,” the real meaning of the expression being, “There is only one God”.

Mohammed relates that in his night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem, on ascending through the seven heavens, he beheld above the throne of God this formula; and the green standard of the Prophet was adorned with the mystic sentence.

It is the first phrase lisped by the infant, and the devout Moslem utters the profession of the faith at all times, in joy, in sorrow, in praise, in prayer, in battle, and with his departing breath the words are wafted to heaven; for among the peculiar virtues of these words is that they may be spoken without any motion of the lips. The mourners on their way to the grave continue the strain in melancholy tones.

Around the supreme name is clustered the *masbaha*, or rosary, of the ninety-nine beautiful names of God, which are often repeated by the Mohammedan in his devotions.