The correct understanding of the Attributes of Allah

According to the Book of Allah Most High, His Mesenger (saw) and the Righteous Predecessors (ra)

You should know O brothers and sisters that the path that the Taabi'een (2nd generation of Muslims) and those after them (3rd generation) - including al-Bukhaaree, Ahmad, Maalik, Shaafi'ee, Abu Hanifah, Abdullaah ibn al Mubaarak - and the rest of the Salaf - were upon was that: "Everything that has been reported in the Book of Allaah - the Mighty and Magnificent - of His Attributes, such as Face, Eyes, Hand, Istiwaa (Ascending over the Throne) and others besides them and likewise what the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) has decribed Him with and which is established in the Authentic Prophetic Narrations such as the Descending and other such things - then all the Scholars of the Book and the Sunnah have faith in these Attributes and they affirm them for Allaah without ta'weel (interpolation of the intended meaning), tashbeeh (likening them to the creation) and ta'teel (denying them). And these are Attributes which befit Allaah in a way that they do not resemble the attributes of any of the creation due to His saying:

"And there is nothing like Him." [Soorah Shoorah 42:11]

Do not let people confuse you and lead you to the denial of Allaah's Attributes with the excuse of anthropomorphism, since everything that Allaah has described Himself with, then there is no anthropomorphism in that as Nu'aym bin Hammaad, (d.228H) - the teacher of Bukhaaree said: "Indeed, all that Allaah has described Himself with, or what His Messenger (saw) has described Him with, then there is no tashbeeh (likening them to the creation) in it at all." Reported by Imaam adh-Dhahabee in al-Uluww (no.217)

So we affirm the narrations, affirm the Attributes and do not say "How?' We affirm the meanings of the attributes - and this is what the Companions, the taabi'een and those upon their way were upon. TO AFFIRM THE MEANING and NOT TO QUESTION HOW?

Ibn Abdul Barr (d. 463H) said: "Ahl us-Sunnah are agreed in affirming all the Sifaat (Attributes) which are related in the Qur'aan and the Sunnah, having eemaan (faith) in them and understanding them alal-haqeeqah (in a real sense), not alal-majaaz (metaphorically)." At-Tamheed of Ibn Abdul-Barr (7/145)

Shaikh Abdul-Qaadir al-Jeelaanee (d. 561H) said: "It is essential to carry the attribute of Allaah al-Istiwaa (Allaah's Ascending) upon its apparent sense - without ta'weel, and that He ascended by His Dhaat (self) over the Throne. Istiwaa does not mean sitting or touching - as the Mujassimah and Karraamiyyah say. Nor does it mean uluww (grandeur and highness) - as the Ash'ariyyah say; nor does it mean isteelaa (conquering and dominating over) - as the Mu'tazilah say. None of this is related in the Sharee'ah. Neither has this been related by any one of the Salaf us-Saalih (Pious Predecessors) from the Sahaabah and the Taabi'een, nor from the Ashaabul-Hadeeth (Scholars of Hadeeth). Rather, it is related from them that they carried the meaning of Istiwaa with its apparent meaning." Al-Ghuniyat ut-Taalibeen (1/50) of Abdul Qaadir al-Jeelaanee.

Therefore, do not let people confuse you. The avoidance of anthropomorphism is something that every Muslim's heart seeks and knows is correct - but you have to be careful not to be led to the other extreme and deny them. That will lead you upon a path other than that of those favoured with knowledge and guidance, the Salaf-us-Salih. Those who say that affirming a hand, eyes, feet etc.. for Allah means antrhropomorphism, will lead you to believe that the way of the Salaf is that we do not affirm the meaning but we leave it to Allaah. But this is a lie against the Salaf of this ummah. Rather, the way of the Salaf is that they affirmed the meaning, but never asked how? This is why the Salaf used to say: "We affirm Allah's Attributes :

1. without Ta'teel - denying the meaning
2. without Tahreef - distorting the meaning
3. without Tashbeeh - likening to the creation
4. without Takyeef - asking how?"

Al-Khattaabee (d. 338H) said: "The position of the Salaf (the Pious Predecessors) with regard to the Sifaat (Attributes of Allaah) is to affirm them as they are alaa dhaahir (with their apparent meaning), negating any tashbeeh (resemblance) to them, nor takyeef (asking how they are)." Al-Ghuniyah an Kalaam wa Ahlihi - as quoted in Mukhtasir al-Uluww (no.137).

Imaam at-Tirmidhee (d. 279H) said: "It has been stated by more than one person from the People of Knowledge about such ahaadeeth, that there is no tashbeeh (resemblance) to the Attributes of Allaah, and our Lord - the Blessed and Most High - descends to the lowest heaven every night. So they say: "Affirm these narrations, have eemaan (faith) in them, do not deny them, nor ask how." The likes of this has been related from Maalik ibn Anas, Sufyaan ath-Thawree, Ibn Uyainah and Abdullaah ibn al-Mubaarak, who all said about such ahaadeeth: "Leave them as they are, without asking how." Such is the saying of the People of Knowledge from the Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah. However, the Jahmiyyah oppose these narrations and say: This is tashbeeh! However, Allaah the Most High, has mentioned in various places in His Book, the Attribute of al-Yad (Hand), as-Sama' (Hearing), and al-Basr (Seeing) - but the Jahmiyyah make ta'weel of these aayaat, explaining them in a way, other than how they are explained by the People of Knowledge. They say: "Allaah did not create Aadam with His own Hand" - they say that Hand means the Power of Allaah." Sunan at-Tirmidhee (3/24)

Amongst the radical sects that have come forward to challenge the authority of the salaf in understanding the attributes of Allah, as mentioned above by Imam at-Tirmidhee, were the Jahmiyyah. The Jahmiyyah are the followers of Jahm bin Safan (d. 128-745), a radical heretic. Among other things, they deny that Allah, the Exalted, is above His Arsh, and they allege that He is everywhere. A recent english translation of a book of Shafii fiqh entitled: "Reliance of the Traveller" bears resenblence to this jahmiyyah belief.

It suffices to note, that the narrations of the scholars regarding the jahmiyyah are many :

1. From Imaam Bukhaarees Khlaq Af'aalul Ibaad:
   • Point no.6: Wahb bin Jareer said, 'The Jahmiyyah are heretics, they think that He has not risen over His Throne.'
   • Point no.13: Ibn al-Mubaarak said, 'we do nat say as the Jahmiyyah say that Allaah is on the earth, rather He has risen over His Throne.'
   • Point no.14: And it was said to him, 'how should we know our Lord?' He said, 'above the Heavens, over ('alaa) His Throne'
   • Point no.64: Sadqa said, 'I heard Sulaiman at-Taimi saying, 'if I were asked, "where is Allaah?" I would say, "above (fee) the heaven". And if it said, "where was the Throne before the Heaven?" I would say, "over the water." And if it is said, "where was the Throne before the water?" I would say, "I do not know."' And Imaam Bukhaaree said, 'and that (i.e. his answer) was because of the saying of Allaah, "and they cannot encompass anything of His Knowledge except what He wills." i.e. except what He explains.'
   • Point no.66: Muhammad bin Yusuf said (one of the teachers of Bukhaaree), 'the one who says that Allaah is not over ('alaa) His Throne is a kaafir. And the one who thinks that Allaah did not speak to Moses is a kaafir.'
   • Point no.103: Ibn Mas'ud(ra) said about His saying, "then He rose over His Throne", - 'the Throne is over the water, and Allaah is above (fawqa) the Throne, and He knows what you are upon.'
2. From Al-Lalikaa'ees Sharh Usool il-Itiqaad:
   • Point no.660: Adullaah bin Abbaas (ra) said, 'Verily Allaah was above His Throne before He created anything, then He created the creation and decreed what was to exist until the Day of Judgement.' (pg.396)
   • Point no.662: Bashr bin Umar said, 'I heard more then one of the Mufassir say about the verse, "The Most Merciful istawaa upon the Throne" - istiwaa means rose above.' (pg.397)
   • Point no.665: Rabee' (one of the teachers of Maalik) was asked about the verse, "The Most Merciful rose over His Throne" - 'how did He rise?' He replied, 'al-istiwaa (rising) is known, and the how is not comprehensible, and from Allaah is the message, and upon the Messenger is the preaching, and upon us is believing.' (pg.397)
   • Point no.670: Maqaatil bin Huyaan said about His saying, "and there is no secret discourse of 3 people except He is the fourth, or of 5 people and He is the sixth" - 'He is above His Throne, and nothing is hidden from His knowledge.' (pg.400)
   • Point no.673: Imaam Ahmad was asked, 'Allaah is above the seventh heaven, above His Throne because that is from His creation, and His power and knowledge are in every place?' And he replied, 'yes, above the Throne and His knowledge is in every place.' (pg.401)
   • Point no.675: Imaam Ahmad was asked about the verse, "and He is with you wheresover you are", and the verse, "there is no secret discourse of 3 people except that he is the fourth.." - and he said, '(meaning) His Knowledge, He is the Knower of the seen and the unseen, His knowledge encompasses everything, and our Lord is above the Throne without setting limits and giving description, and His Kursi is as the expanse of the heavens and the earth with His Knowledge. ' (pg.402)
3. Imaam Abdullaah bin Ahmad also said, '....I bear witness that You are above Your Throne above the seven heavens. And this is not as the enemies of Allaah say, the heretics.' (Sharhus Sunnah of Imaam Abdullaah). He also said, 'we know that our Lord is above the seven heavens over the Throne, and we do not say as the Jahmiyyah say that he is here,' and he pointed with his hand to the earth. (ibid.)

Know O brothers and sisters that those who deny Allaah's Names and Attributes will accuse those who affirm them as being anthropomorphists. And this is because the sickness is in their hearts since when they hear the Attributes of Allaah their hearts cannot but analogise for them from the creation, so they are bewildered and disturbed. Therefore they deny them or interpolate them claiming that they are declaring Allaah greater. The anthropomorphism is in their hearts - not in following the way of the Salaf!!

1. Ibn Abil-Izz (d. 792H), the explainer of Aqeedatut-Tahaawiyyah, said: "Ishaaq bin Raahawaiyah (d. 238H), the teacher of Imaam Bukhaaree, said: A distinguishing sign of Jahm and his associates is their claim that Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah - and how fond they [i.e. Jahm and his likes] are of lying - that they are Mushabbihah (Anthropomorphists), and similarly, many of the Scholars of the Salaf have said: "There is no one who denies anything from the Names and Attributes except that he calls the one who affirms them a Mushabbih (Anthropomorphist)." Sharh Aqeedatit-Tahaawiyyah (p.118).
2. Imaam Abu Haatim ar-Raazee (d. 277H) said: "A sign of the Jahmiyyah is that they call the Ahl us-Sunnah "Mushabbihah" (Anthropomorphists)." Ahl us-Sunnah of Abu Haatim ar-Raazee (p.21-22) and Sharh Usool ul-I^Rtiqaad (no.92).
3. And Abu Uthmaan as-Saaboonee (d. 449H) stated - about the distinguishing signs of Ahl ul-Bidah: "naming them [i.e. Ahl us-Sunnah] with Hashawiyyah (Worthless People), Jahalah (the Ignorant), Dhaahiriyyah (Literalists) and Mushabbihah (Anthropomorphists)". Aqeedatus-Salaf wa Ashaabul Hadeeth (p.101)
4. As Imaam al-Juwaynee (d. 438H) said: "And Allaah expanded my chest about the state of those Shaikhs who made ta'weel of al-Istiwaa to 'isteelaa' and it is my belief that they do not understand the Attributes of the Lord - the Most High - except with what befits the creation. Thus they do not understand al-Istiwaa of Allaah as it truly befits Him so this is why they distort the words from its proper context and deny what Allaah has described Himself with. And we shall mention the explanation of that if Allaah wills." Risaalah Ithbaatul-Istiwaa wal-Fawqiyyah (p.176-183) Imaam al-Juwaynee was a former Ash'aree who retracted from the Ash'aree madhhab and followed the path of the Salaf. May Allah have mercy on him.
5. Abu Hasan al-Ash'aree (d. 324H) - said: "If it is said: Why do you deny that His saying:

   "Do they not see that We have created for them what Our Own Hands have created." [Soorah Yaa Seen 36:71]

   And His saying:

   "Whom I have created with My Own Hands". [Soorah Sa'd 38:75]

   ..are mejaaz (metaphorical)? To him it is said: The ruling concerning the speech of Allaah - the Mighty and Majestic - is that it is taken upon its dhaahir (apparent) and haqeeqah (real) meaning. Nothing is removed from its dhaahir (apparent) meaning to majaaz (metaphorical) one, except with a proof Likewise, the saying of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic:

   "Whom I have created with My Own Hands". [Soorah Sa'd 38:75]

   Its dhaahir and haqeeqah meaning is affirming Yadain (two Hands of Allaah). So it is not permissible to alter it from the dhaahir meaning of Yadain to that which our opponents claim, except with a proof Consequently, about His saying:

   "Whom I have created with My Own Hands." [Soorah Sa'd 38:75]

   It is obligatory to affirm two Hands for Allaah - the Most High - in its haqeeqah (real) meaning, not with the meaning of ni'matayn (two bounties of Allaah)." Al-Ibaanah an Usool id-Diyaanah (p.133).

Thus knowing all this, and the position of the real scholars of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamah, it is imperitive to follow the truth. Indeed there will be people who will call one who holds on to this path : "mushabbih". To them we say: Alee bin al-Madeenee - the teacher of al-Bukhaaree said: "When someone says so and so is a mushabbih (anthropomorphist) - we know that he is a Jahmee." [Usool ul-I'tiqaad]. And about the jamhiyyah, the ruling of the Imam of Ahmad ibn Hanbal is that he said: "The Jahmiyyah are disbelievers".

May Allaah guide us all to be believers and followers of the Narrations of Allaah's Messenger (saw), giving them their due right, and in understanding them in light of the knowledge and understanding of those whom Allaah favoured - the Companions, the taabi'een those after them and the scholars upon their way. Aameen

And our final call is that all praise is for Allah, the Lord of the Aalameen.

FOOTNOTES

(ra - Radiyallaahu Anhu [ma] ) - May Allah be Please with him [them all].

(saw - Sallalaahu 'Aleyhi was-Selaam) - May Allahs Peace Be Upon the Prophet Muhammed.

(swt - Subhaanahu wa Ta'Aalaa) - May Allah be Glorified, who is Most Perfect and free from Evil.

Salaf - The Righteous Predecessors (May Allah be Please with All).

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