Is it permissible to swear by Allah's essential attributes, such as the Face, and His action attributes, such as rising above the Throne?
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The Shaykh : Do not marry a person you have approved of in his character and religion. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good. A questioner asks: Is it permissible to swear by the essential attributes of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), such as the attribute of the Face, and also the action attributes, such as the attribute of descending?
The Shaykh : As for the essential attributes, such as the Face, the Face is how Allah describes Himself, as in His saying:[Ar-Rahman 55:26-27] And He said: [Al-Qasas 28:88] So if a person says, "I swear by the Face of Allah," it is in the same position as saying, "I swear by Allah," and there is nothing wrong with it. But if he says, "I swear by the Hand of Allah" or "by the Eye of Allah" or the like, I do not see it as permissible.
As for the conceptual attributes, such as the knowledge of Allah, the power of Allah, the hearing of Allah, the sight of Allah, and the speech of Allah, there is nothing wrong with swearing by them. And likewise, descending, which is an action attribute, there is nothing wrong with it, such as saying, "By the descent of Allah to the lowest heaven, I will certainly do such and such."
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good. A questioner asks: Is it permissible to swear by the essential attributes of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), such as the attribute of the Face, and also the action attributes, such as the attribute of descending?
The Shaykh : As for the essential attributes, such as the Face, the Face is how Allah describes Himself, as in His saying:
(26) Everyone upon the earth will perish, (27) And there will remain the Face of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor.
كل من عليها فان ويبقى وجه ربك ذو الجلال والإكرامEverything will be destroyed except His Face
كل شيء هالك إلا وجههAs for the conceptual attributes, such as the knowledge of Allah, the power of Allah, the hearing of Allah, the sight of Allah, and the speech of Allah, there is nothing wrong with swearing by them. And likewise, descending, which is an action attribute, there is nothing wrong with it, such as saying, "By the descent of Allah to the lowest heaven, I will certainly do such and such."