What’s in a Name?: Using Different Languages’ Names for God

EMQ » Jul - Sept 2026 » Volume 62 Issue 3

A man looks out of a window in the United Arab Emirates.

Summary: Many Christians are unsure whether it is okay to use Allah and Isa for God and Jesus. In many Muslim-majority contexts, believers do use these names. However, patterns vary in the use or avoidance of these names. Iranian believers use Isa but not Allah. Malay believers use Allah but not Isa. Recent research into pre-Islamic Arabic has thrown new light on the origins and early use of these terms among Christian Arabs. It is important to realize that the authority found in the name of Jesus is not dependent on the precise phonetic form used to name him.

By Mark Durie

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