The ruling on describing Allah with attributes of action, such as: the Companion and the Planter
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His Eminence the Shaykh: What does the statement of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Waqi'ah: 64] or the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "Indeed, Allah is gentle and loves gentleness" imply in the chapter of names and attributes?
Know, may Allah bless you, that attributes of action have no limit; whatever indicates an action is permissible.Therefore, we say, for example: One says, "Allah took care of such and such," or "He encouraged such and such," even though this specific wording has not come in the texts, but His actions have no end. Therefore, everything attributed to Allah regarding reports of His actions is valid, except if it contains a defective meaning, in which case it is prohibited.
So it does no harm for us to say: That Allah is the planter of this plant,Meaning: that He is the one who causes it to grow,Or we say: that Allah is gentle, even though "the Gentle" is close to being one of the names of Allah.
For example, if I say: Allah caused the river to flow. Where is the action? It is not in the Qur'an that He caused such and such to flow, but this is correct because the river flowed by the command of Allah.
So the names are those that have come in the Shari'ah,And the attributes are of two types: 1- Intrinsic attributes: we have no say in them; we do not affirm except what has been established in the Shari'ah.
2- Attributes of action: they have no limit; everything in the universe is by the action of Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
And glory be to You, O Allah, our Lord, and praise be to You. I testify that there is no deity but You. I seek Your forgiveness and I repent to You.
Is it you who makes it grow, or are We the grower?
أَأَنْتُمْ تَزْرَعُونَهُ أَمْ نَحْنُ الزَّارِعُونَKnow, may Allah bless you, that attributes of action have no limit; whatever indicates an action is permissible.Therefore, we say, for example: One says, "Allah took care of such and such," or "He encouraged such and such," even though this specific wording has not come in the texts, but His actions have no end. Therefore, everything attributed to Allah regarding reports of His actions is valid, except if it contains a defective meaning, in which case it is prohibited.
So it does no harm for us to say: That Allah is the planter of this plant,Meaning: that He is the one who causes it to grow,Or we say: that Allah is gentle, even though "the Gentle" is close to being one of the names of Allah.
For example, if I say: Allah caused the river to flow. Where is the action? It is not in the Qur'an that He caused such and such to flow, but this is correct because the river flowed by the command of Allah.
So the names are those that have come in the Shari'ah,And the attributes are of two types: 1- Intrinsic attributes: we have no say in them; we do not affirm except what has been established in the Shari'ah.
2- Attributes of action: they have no limit; everything in the universe is by the action of Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
And glory be to You, O Allah, our Lord, and praise be to You. I testify that there is no deity but You. I seek Your forgiveness and I repent to You.