What is your opinion regarding the statement of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah about the people of innovation and misguidance when they said that Allah is in a limit or a place?
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The questioner : Shaykh, if you would permit, to complete this issue... What is your opinion regarding the statement of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah about the people of innovation and misguidance when they said that Allah is in a limit or a place: "If they mean by the limit the legal limit or the one known to us, then it is correct that Allah has a limit, but this limit is not... with Allah..." And likewise regarding the place.
The Shaykh : Yes, we say this, but we are not speaking of a limit or a place; rather, if something is attributed to Him, we interpret it in a manner befitting Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
The student: Your statement...
The Shaykh : But we do not say that Allah is in a place; He is above the Throne. Nor do we say that Allah is not in a place, because both negation and affirmation have a danger.
But if someone says that Allah is in a place, we ask him, as the discussion has proceeded, do you mean that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is in a created place? What do I mean by this? What do you mean? I mean that Allah is above the Throne. So do not say "place," for you open the door to doubt for yourself, even though you are affirming an attribute for Allah with a term that is not established.
Likewise, do not say "He is not in a place," because the opponent may understand from you that you are saying He is not above the Throne. And we do not say "He has a limit," nor do we say "He has no limit."
But if someone says "He is in a place" or "He is not in a place," "He has a limit" or "He has no limit," we say to him: What do you intend? If he intends a correct meaning, we accept it from him and reject his wording, because that wording is not established.
The Shaykh : Yes, we say this, but we are not speaking of a limit or a place; rather, if something is attributed to Him, we interpret it in a manner befitting Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
The student: Your statement...
The Shaykh : But we do not say that Allah is in a place; He is above the Throne. Nor do we say that Allah is not in a place, because both negation and affirmation have a danger.
But if someone says that Allah is in a place, we ask him, as the discussion has proceeded, do you mean that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is in a created place? What do I mean by this? What do you mean? I mean that Allah is above the Throne. So do not say "place," for you open the door to doubt for yourself, even though you are affirming an attribute for Allah with a term that is not established.
Likewise, do not say "He is not in a place," because the opponent may understand from you that you are saying He is not above the Throne. And we do not say "He has a limit," nor do we say "He has no limit."
But if someone says "He is in a place" or "He is not in a place," "He has a limit" or "He has no limit," we say to him: What do you intend? If he intends a correct meaning, we accept it from him and reject his wording, because that wording is not established.