The Categories of the Attributes
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Fatwa No. ( 16719 )
Q: Did the Salaf categorize the attributes of the Exalted into sensory and conceptual, or essential and reported, or is there any other categorization established from them? And there are some attributes such as: existence, permanence, and antiquity. Is it permissible to affirm them for Allah, knowing that no transmission has been established regarding them, but rather they were established by induction of the evidence or the application of reason, according to my knowledge? And is it permissible to derive the names of Allah the Exalted from some of His actions, such as al-Satir (The Concealer) from satara (to conceal), and Muhammil al-Inath (The One Who Bears Females) from:[Fatir 35:11] , and so on? And if derivation is permissible, what is the evidence for that?
A: The attributes of Allah are divided into essential and active. The essential are such as: the Face, the Hands, and the Rising Above, and the active are such as: creation, provision, rising above the Throne, speech, and others. Existence and antiquity are not among the attributes of Allah; because no evidence has come regarding them, but it is reported about Allah that He is existent and that He is ancient; because the door of reporting is wider than the door of names and attributes. As for permanence, His saying the Exalted came in it:
[Ar-Rahman 55:27] , and His saying the Exalted: [Al-Hadid 57:3] , and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) interpreted them by his saying: Sunan Ibn Majah 3831Sahih (Darussalam) . And the names of Allah are based on what is transmitted; He is not named except with what He named Himself with, so a name is not derived for Him from every action, but rather an attribute is derived for Him from every name, such as al-Rahman and al-Rahim, from which the attribute of mercy is derived, and so on. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Q: Did the Salaf categorize the attributes of the Exalted into sensory and conceptual, or essential and reported, or is there any other categorization established from them? And there are some attributes such as: existence, permanence, and antiquity. Is it permissible to affirm them for Allah, knowing that no transmission has been established regarding them, but rather they were established by induction of the evidence or the application of reason, according to my knowledge? And is it permissible to derive the names of Allah the Exalted from some of His actions, such as al-Satir (The Concealer) from satara (to conceal), and Muhammil al-Inath (The One Who Bears Females) from:
And no female conceives nor does she give birth except with His knowledge
وَمَا تَحْمِلُ مِنْ أُنْثَى وَلاَ تَضَعُ إِلا بِعِلْمِهِA: The attributes of Allah are divided into essential and active. The essential are such as: the Face, the Hands, and the Rising Above, and the active are such as: creation, provision, rising above the Throne, speech, and others. Existence and antiquity are not among the attributes of Allah; because no evidence has come regarding them, but it is reported about Allah that He is existent and that He is ancient; because the door of reporting is wider than the door of names and attributes. As for permanence, His saying the Exalted came in it:
And there will remain the Face of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor.
وَيَبْقَى وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو الْجَلالِ وَالإِكْرَامِHe is the First and the Last
هُوَ الأَوَّلُ وَالآخِرُYou are the First and there is nothing after You; You are the Last and there is nothing after You.
أنت الأول فليس قبلك شيء، وأنت الآخر فليس بعدك شيء
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.