Why does God speak of Himself as “We” in the Holy Qur’an?

The “We” is a way of speaking that expresses majesty and power, as kings also use it. It does not mean that God is more than one, for the Holy Qur’an states without any doubt that God is One.

A single person speaking of himself in the plural is nothing unusual in human languages. Rulers of great empires often issued their decrees this way: “We have decided, and so it shall be done.” Everyone knew that only one king was speaking. Yet the “We” made clear that the whole power of the kingdom stood behind his word and would carry out the order. When God says “We”, He emphasises His greatness and power in the same way, especially where the carrying out of His will is concerned.

The opposite shift happens too. In English, “you” was originally a plural and became the polite way of addressing one person. The old “thou” almost vanished from everyday speech. Yet it remained in use for God. In the Bible God is addressed as “Thou”, in the singular, never with a plural. If God were really more than one, He would have been addressed in the plural.

Something similar happens in many languages out of love. When people love someone deeply, they sometimes drop the formal address and use the intimate singular form. Muslims address God in this way in prayers and poetry, out of love. All of these are figures of speech. They add dignity, closeness or emphasis to what is said, and they should not be taken literally.

The Holy Qur’an uses this style just as other scriptures do. Someone who knows the Bible therefore recognises the same God. At the same time the Holy Qur’an is completely clear on this point. The verses above state without any qualification that God is One. The “We” speaks of His majesty, not of a plurality of gods.