Explanation of the Athar of Imam Malik Regarding Istiwa'
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The Shaykh : Malik ibn Anas (may Allah have mercy on him) was the Imam of the Imam of the City of Migration, that is, the Imam of Madinah. He had a famous school of jurisprudence, being one of the four schools. "He was sitting with his companions when a man said to him: 'O Abu 'Abdullah! The Merciful has risen above the Throne. How did He rise above it?'" What is he asking about? About the modality, or about the meaning? About the modality.
The student: The modality.
The Shaykh :"So Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) lowered his head until sweat poured down from him" The scholars said: "The sweat means heavy perspiration" due to the severity of what this question brought to his heart. We ask Allah to treat us with His forgiveness. Look at one who knew Allah (Mighty and Majestic) with true knowledge; how he was affected by this question. Many people today ask such a question, or one even more severe, as if they are drinking cold water and do not care. We ask Allah for well-being. "Then he raised his head and said to him: 'O this one, the Istiwa' is not unknown, the modality is not comprehensible, belief in it is obligatory, and asking about it is a religious innovation. I do not see you as anything but an innovator.' Then he ordered that he be taken out of the mosque." May Allah be pleased with Malik and his brothers among the Imams who revere Allah with true reverence. He said: "The Istiwa' is not unknown" What is the opposite of unknown? The known. That means the Istiwa' is known. Everyone knows the meaning of "rising above something." What does it mean? It means to be above it. Allah the Exalted said:[Az-Zukhruf 43:12] Complete it. [Az-Zukhruf 43:13] What does "you ride upon their backs" mean? It means you are elevated upon them. And He said to Noah: [Al-Mu'minun 23:28] So, "rising above the Throne" means being above it. This is its meaning. This is its meaning in the Arabic language in which the Noble Qur'an was revealed, as Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said: [Ash-Shu'ara 26:193-194] In what? In a clear Arabic language. It is not possible in the Arabic language for the meaning of "rising above something" to be "taking possession of it." But those whose hearts are stained with denial of the divine attributes said, "He rose above the Throne" means "He took possession of it." We ask Allah for well-being. If "rising above the Throne" meant "taking possession of it," then Allah would be taking possession of the earth. Allah would be taking possession of the earth, because He has taken possession of it. And no one can utter the statement that Allah has taken possession of the earth. If the meaning of "rising above the Throne" were "taking possession of it," then before Allah rose above it, the Throne would have been the property of whom? Of other than Allah. And does anyone say this? But let us complete the words of Malik (may Allah have mercy on him). He said: "And the modality is not comprehensible" The meaning of "not comprehensible" is that we cannot grasp it with our minds. Our minds are too short to grasp the modality of the attributes of Allah. And if sight, which is one of the senses, cannot perceive Allah (Mighty and Majestic), how can the mind? "The modality is not comprehensible" means that no person can grasp with his mind how Allah rose above the Throne, ever. And belief in it? It is obligatory. Belief in the Istiwa' is obligatory because Allah mentioned it in the Qur'an, and whatever Allah mentioned in the Qur'an, it is obligatory to believe in it and have faith in it. And asking about it is a religious innovation. This is the point of benefit regarding what I will say: that asking about the modality of the attributes of Allah is among the religious innovations. Why? For two reasons:
The first reason is that the Companions did not ask the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) about it, and they were the most eager people to know the attributes of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). They did not ask about that. They did not say, "O Messenger of Allah, how did He rise above it?" And if they had said, "How did He rise above it?" To whom would they direct the question? To the Messenger of Allah, who is the most knowledgeable of creation regarding the attributes of Allah. And despite the presence of this motive, they did not ask about the modality. This is one of the two aspects in his statement: "Asking about it is a religious innovation."
Another aspect is that asking about the modality is the habit of the people of innovation. Because the people of innovation come to the people of the Sunnah who affirm the attributes and say, "You affirm a hand for Allah. How is the hand?" So as to embarrass him. They embarrass the Sunni. They say, "He rose above the Throne. How did He rise above it?" For what purpose? To answer, O people, the embarrassment. That is, the people of innovation come to the people of the Sunnah who affirm and say, "How is this attribute?" to embarrass them. But praise be to Allah, the answer of the people of the Sunnah is easy. Some scholars said: "If the Jahmi says to you, 'Allah descends to the lowest heaven when the last third of the night remains. How does He descend?' Say to him: 'Allah informed us that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) informed us that He descends, and He did not inform us how He descends.'" Is the answer here conclusive or not? It is conclusive. Allah informed us that the Messenger informed us that He descends, and He did not inform us how He descends. So we do not speak about this. And others said: "If the one who denies the attributes says to you, 'What is His attribute?' Say to him, 'What is His essence? What is His essence?'" He is unable to define the essence, and the attributes are a branch of the essence. And after the prayer, if Allah wills, the answers to the questions.
The student: The modality.
The Shaykh :"So Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) lowered his head until sweat poured down from him" The scholars said: "The sweat means heavy perspiration" due to the severity of what this question brought to his heart. We ask Allah to treat us with His forgiveness. Look at one who knew Allah (Mighty and Majestic) with true knowledge; how he was affected by this question. Many people today ask such a question, or one even more severe, as if they are drinking cold water and do not care. We ask Allah for well-being. "Then he raised his head and said to him: 'O this one, the Istiwa' is not unknown, the modality is not comprehensible, belief in it is obligatory, and asking about it is a religious innovation. I do not see you as anything but an innovator.' Then he ordered that he be taken out of the mosque." May Allah be pleased with Malik and his brothers among the Imams who revere Allah with true reverence. He said: "The Istiwa' is not unknown" What is the opposite of unknown? The known. That means the Istiwa' is known. Everyone knows the meaning of "rising above something." What does it mean? It means to be above it. Allah the Exalted said:
and has made for you of ships and animals those which you mount.
وجعل لكم من الفلك والأنعام ما تركبونThat you may settle yourselves upon their backs and then remember the favor of your Lord when you have settled upon them
لتستووا على ظهوره ثم تذكروا نعمة ربكم إذا استويتم عليهAnd when you have boarded the ship, you and those with you, then say, 'Praise to Allah who has saved us from the wrongdoing people.'
فإذا استويت أنت ومعك على الفلك فقل الحمد لله الذي نجانا من القوم الظالمين(193) The Trustworthy Spirit has brought it down (194) Upon your heart, [O Muhammad] - that you may be of the warners -
نزل به الروح الأمين على قلبك لتكون من المنذرينThe first reason is that the Companions did not ask the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) about it, and they were the most eager people to know the attributes of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). They did not ask about that. They did not say, "O Messenger of Allah, how did He rise above it?" And if they had said, "How did He rise above it?" To whom would they direct the question? To the Messenger of Allah, who is the most knowledgeable of creation regarding the attributes of Allah. And despite the presence of this motive, they did not ask about the modality. This is one of the two aspects in his statement: "Asking about it is a religious innovation."
Another aspect is that asking about the modality is the habit of the people of innovation. Because the people of innovation come to the people of the Sunnah who affirm the attributes and say, "You affirm a hand for Allah. How is the hand?" So as to embarrass him. They embarrass the Sunni. They say, "He rose above the Throne. How did He rise above it?" For what purpose? To answer, O people, the embarrassment. That is, the people of innovation come to the people of the Sunnah who affirm and say, "How is this attribute?" to embarrass them. But praise be to Allah, the answer of the people of the Sunnah is easy. Some scholars said: "If the Jahmi says to you, 'Allah descends to the lowest heaven when the last third of the night remains. How does He descend?' Say to him: 'Allah informed us that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) informed us that He descends, and He did not inform us how He descends.'" Is the answer here conclusive or not? It is conclusive. Allah informed us that the Messenger informed us that He descends, and He did not inform us how He descends. So we do not speak about this. And others said: "If the one who denies the attributes says to you, 'What is His attribute?' Say to him, 'What is His essence? What is His essence?'" He is unable to define the essence, and the attributes are a branch of the essence. And after the prayer, if Allah wills, the answers to the questions.