Refuting the Apparent Contradiction Between Two Hadiths Concerning the Hand of Allah (Mighty and Majestic)
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His Eminence the Shaykh: Two hadiths were reported in Sahih Muslim regarding the Hand of Allah (Mighty and Majestic):Mentioning the first hadith: (That both His Hands are right hands),And the other hadith mentions: (That He holds the heavens with His right hand and the earth with His left hand). How do we reconcile the two hadiths?
There is no contradiction between them.We say: The meaning of (both His Hands are right hands) is that both His Hands are a source of grace and blessing, but they are a right hand and a left hand.And the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (Both His Hands are right hands) is said so that no one may imagine that the Hands of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) are like the hands of a created being, where the right hand is superior to the left.So he said: (Both His Hands are right hands) is stated to guard against this misconception; otherwise, they are a right hand and a left hand.
There is no contradiction between them.We say: The meaning of (both His Hands are right hands) is that both His Hands are a source of grace and blessing, but they are a right hand and a left hand.And the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (Both His Hands are right hands) is said so that no one may imagine that the Hands of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) are like the hands of a created being, where the right hand is superior to the left.So he said: (Both His Hands are right hands) is stated to guard against this misconception; otherwise, they are a right hand and a left hand.