Hilmar,

>In the Qur'án, it is quite clear that a single God is worshipped. Hardly a theme receives more emphasis than "no to idolatry".

It does indeed say this. However, remember that the word 'god' is not a proper noun. That is, it is like saying 'president'. There have been many many presidents, each uniquely defined. Equally so there are many many gods, each also uniquely defined. The top three are lust, power (via possessions ie. $$) and pride.

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>However, I think what Doug meant is something I heard somewhere else (but which I am not sure of myself): that the name, "Alláh", was taken from the name of one of the deities of the previous pagan religions.

Yes. Mohammad picked one of the many worshipped. The moon god actually. That's why there's a crescent & star. Most all of these had their origin in ancient Babylon.

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>I heard that something similar happened with the western names for God.

Hmm.. Could be. I don't have an angle on this but I'd be delighted to learn this.

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>All this would only affect the ethymological research; not the basic beliefs.

I think I'd disagree here. From the Christian pov the 'essence' or 'nature' of god is self-defining so the definitions here would matter a lot.

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>Hilmar.
>
>>Not according to the Qur'an:
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>>And from among His Signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Prostrate not to the sun nor to the moon, but prostrate to Allah Who created them, if you (really) worship Him. (41:37)
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>>AND
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>>He reminded them that there was only one God, the Lord of all creation, who controlled Life, death and resurrection. He told his own father, Azar, to desist from worshipping idols. He said he had learned from his own experience that God alone was worthy of worship.
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>>When the night was dark, Abraham saw a star; he said to himself, 'This must be the Lord.' But soon the star set and his faith was shaken. Then he saw the moon rising in the sky. 'This is the Lord,' he said. However, when it waned, he lost faith in it. Likewise, when the sun rose, brighter than everything, he was convinced that it was the Lord. But the sun also set, and Abraham cried: 'I set my face against all these. I repudiate every other kind of worship except the worship of God, Creator of all that is in the heavens and on the earth.' [6:76-79]
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>>AND
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>>Tell the people, O Muhammad! that to be rightly guided one need not be a Jew or a Christian. The righteous belong to the community of Abraham, who was pure in his worship of God. So were Ishmael, Jacob and the tribes, and Moses, Jesus and the rest. They are all Our messengers; We make no distinction between them. [2:135-136]
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>>Tracy