Another proof that Allah is a person is that He has desires. One of the characteristics of a person is that he has desires. Allah wishes all living beings well. He is our ever well-wisher. He desires for us eternal life, perfect knowledge and everlasting bliss. If Allah has desires then He is a person. Of course, His desires differ from ours. His desires are completely spiritual and transcendental. He does not need to work hard for their fulfillment like us. He just desires and it happens.
For example, there are the following statement in the sura “Yunus”, or “Jonah” of the Holy Qur’an:
Wa ‘inyam-sas-kallahu bi-zurin-fala kashifa lahu ‘illa hu / wa ‘inyu-ridka bi-khay-rin-fala radda li-fazlih / yusiibi bihii manyashaaa-’u min ‘ibaa-dih / wa Huwal-Gafur-ur-Rahim: “If Allah afflict you with some hurt, there is none who can remove it but He and if He desire good for you there is none who can repel His bounty. He strikes with it whom He will of His servant. He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.” (10.107)
We can understand from this verse that Allah awards his bounty and favor to whom He desires. If Allah desires to award His favor there is no one who can repel His mercy. This indicates that Allah acts according to His personal desire.
Allah also proclaims in the sura “Al-Baqarah”, or “The Cow” of the Holy Qur’an:
Yaa – Baniii – ‘Israaa-’iilazkuruu ni’-matiyallatiii ‘an-’amtu ‘alaykum wa ‘awfuu bi-’Ahdiii ‘uufi bi-’Ahdikum wa ‘iyyaa-ya farhabuun
Wa ‘aaminuu bimaaa ‘anzaltu musaddiqal-limaa ma-’akum wa laa takuunuuu ‘aw-wala kaafirim-bih / wa laa tash-taruu bi-’Aayaatii samanan qaliilaa / wa ‘iyyaaya fattaquun:
“O Children of Israel! Remember My favor which I bestowed upon you, and fulfill your (part of the) covenant with Me, I shall fulfill My (part of the) covenant with you, and fear none but Me.
And believe in what I reveal, confirming that which you possess already (of the Scripture), and be not first to disbelieve therein, nor sell My revelations for a small price, and keep your duty unto Me.” (2.40-41)
In these verses Allah addressed the people of Israel by saying, remember My favor, fulfill your covenant, I shall fulfill Mine, fear Me, believe in My revelations and keep your duty unto Me. This means that Allah desires that the people of Israel remember His favor, fulfill their covenant, fear Him, believe in His revelations and keep their duty unto Him. This and many other similar ayats in the Holy Qur’an where Allah expresses His wishes or gives commands clearly reveal that Allah has desire. This means Allah is indeed a Person, but this should not be misunderstood to mean an ordinary person. Allah is the supreme original Person. Only a person can have a desire. He is the never ending ocean of unlimited pure spiritual desires. It is because Allah has desires that we too have them. Allah is origin of everything. Undeniably, our desires are imperfect and contaminated through association with matter. But if we surrender to Allah without selfish motives our desires will be purified and spiritualized. Existence of desires in Allah demonstrates that Allah is a Person. No abstract light or abstract power can have desire. Desire has to originate from an individual. Allah is unlimited and yet He is a Person simultaneously. This is the inconceivable nature of Allah.
