What is the nature of God? Belief in God shapes the way people live their lives. Belief in God gives people something to hope for, someone to believe in, no matter what their situation in life might be. The early Aztecs believed that only their rain god Tlaloc could relieve their farms from severe droughts. Today, Muslims and Christians believe that the Second Coming of Jesus Christ will bring peace on earth. Since the beginning of time, people have always wondered if a greater power (or powers) exists. In this essay, I intend to give my opinion (from the Islamic point of view) on who God is, what His rights are over all created things, and what rights His creation has.
             Who is God? The belief in one God forms the most fundamental concept of Islam. According to the Quran, God is "the Lord of the Worlds, the Master of the Day of Judgment," (Surah 1, 1:2) Other characteristics of God can be found in the Qur'an such as the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, the All-Forgiving, the All-Knowing, the Giver of Life, the Creator of Death, and the list goes on. God sustains and protects all that exists in the universe. God and His creation are distinctly different entities. He is not a part of His Creation nor is His creation a part of Him.
             What are God's rights over His creation? As stated above, God sustains and protects all that exists. His mercy alone allows His creation to thrive in this universe. That which He has created has one sole purpose of being: to worship God. God says "And I (Allah) created not the Jinn and mankind except they should worship Me (alone). I seek not any provision from them nor do I ask that they should feed Me. Verily, Allah is the All-Provider, Owner of Power, the Most Strong." [51:56-58] 5 main tenets, or pillars, of Islam are the foundation on which the worship of God should be built on. The pillars do not stand alone; building off of these pillars is imperative to p...