The Meaning of the Poet's Statement: "So the description by actions necessitates the establishment of the action in the described by proof, just as the description by meaning other than actions, if there is any distinction between the two"
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The Shaykh : He says:
"So the description by actions necessitates the establishment of the action in the described by proof". This is correct if one says, "So-and-so is an actor." Let us take the example of "striker": "Zayd struck 'Umar." In "Zayd struck 'Umar," "striker" is a derivative of "striking" that necessitates that Zayd is described with the attribute of striking insofar as it emanated from him, and that 'Umar is described with it insofar as it occurred upon him.
They deny the first meaning. They say: Allah is not described with an attribute insofar as it emanated from Him; rather, He is described with it insofar as it occurred upon another, not insofar as it emanated from Him. Do you understand, everyone?
For this reason, they said: The action of Allah is identical to its object, and there is no action emanating from Allah; rather, there is an object emanating from Him.
So Ibn al-Qayyim refutes them by saying: How can there be an action without an actor?
"So the description by actions necessitates the establishment of the action in the described". Who is the described?!
The actor, the description by actions: This means that if a described entity is described with an action, it necessitates the establishment of the action in it, i.e., in the described entity, just as the description by meaning, such as life, knowledge, and power.
"Just as the description by meaning other than actions" means just as the description by a meaning that is not an action.
"... if there is any distinction between the two".
"And among the wonders is that they refuted *** those who affirmed the names without meanings"
She stood up for one who is described in this way, *** a comparison that is inconceivable for those with intellects .
He says: Among the wonders is that these Ash'aris, who said that an action can be established in another and attributed to it, refuted those who affirmed the names without the attributes that are established in the one described. Who are these?! The Mu'tazilah. You said, "You have criticized the Mu'tazilah."
And you said: How can names that indicate attributes be established without a described entity? This is impossible.
And the rest will come, if Allah wills.
"So the description by actions necessitates the establishment of the action in the described by proof". This is correct if one says, "So-and-so is an actor." Let us take the example of "striker": "Zayd struck 'Umar." In "Zayd struck 'Umar," "striker" is a derivative of "striking" that necessitates that Zayd is described with the attribute of striking insofar as it emanated from him, and that 'Umar is described with it insofar as it occurred upon him.
They deny the first meaning. They say: Allah is not described with an attribute insofar as it emanated from Him; rather, He is described with it insofar as it occurred upon another, not insofar as it emanated from Him. Do you understand, everyone?
For this reason, they said: The action of Allah is identical to its object, and there is no action emanating from Allah; rather, there is an object emanating from Him.
So Ibn al-Qayyim refutes them by saying: How can there be an action without an actor?
"So the description by actions necessitates the establishment of the action in the described". Who is the described?!
The actor, the description by actions: This means that if a described entity is described with an action, it necessitates the establishment of the action in it, i.e., in the described entity, just as the description by meaning, such as life, knowledge, and power.
"Just as the description by meaning other than actions" means just as the description by a meaning that is not an action.
"... if there is any distinction between the two".
"And among the wonders is that they refuted *** those who affirmed the names without meanings"
She stood up for one who is described in this way, *** a comparison that is inconceivable for those with intellects .
He says: Among the wonders is that these Ash'aris, who said that an action can be established in another and attributed to it, refuted those who affirmed the names without the attributes that are established in the one described. Who are these?! The Mu'tazilah. You said, "You have criticized the Mu'tazilah."
And you said: How can names that indicate attributes be established without a described entity? This is impossible.
And the rest will come, if Allah wills.