Continuation of the Shaykh's remarks on the methodology of the people of ta'til (denial of the divine attributes) and ta'wil (figurative interpretation).

The Shaykh : So what is the meaning of ? They said, "He took control (istawala)!" Glory be to Allah. The word "istawala" implies in the Arabic language that there was a struggle between Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and someone else. Who is this other party, if not some of His creation? So Allah took control of His kingdom? Who says such a thing? They have known this, and one of their great leaders, who deviated from the Salaf (the earliest generations) in interpreting the verses of attributes and the hadiths of attributes, explicitly stated that our saying in the interpretation of the verse that "istawa" means "istawala" (took control) involves bringing in the meaning of struggle. That is, they have negated the very meaning by which they interpreted the verse. If we bring in the meaning of struggle, then no meaning remains, and this is in reality a negation of this text, just as they negated the verses of attributes and the hadiths of attributes.
For this reason, I am pleased with what is narrated from one of our imams, Ibn al-Qayyim or Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him), that he said, "The one who ascribes a body to Allah worships an idol, and the one who denies the attributes worships nothing." He worships something that does not exist. This is very explicit when they deny to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) the attribute of elevation, which is established not only in the verse of istiwaa' (rising above the Throne) but in many verses and numerous hadiths, which are not our concern right now. The books of the imams of the Salaf (the earliest generations) are printed and published, and praise be to Allah.