Is it permissible to say of Allah that He is the Creator?
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The questioner : And the questioner asks: Is it permissible for us to say that Allah is the Creator?
The Shaykh : First, the rule with us is that one does not bring two questions for one person.
The questioner : This is for another person.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : This is for another person.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : For another person, I mean.
The Shaykh : Another person?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So say, "And a questioner asks."
The questioner : Very well.
The Shaykh : All right. It is not permissible to say that Allah is a Creator (Sani') as if it were one of His names, because we mentioned to you just now that the names of Allah are based on revelation (taqifi). One cannot name Allah with what He has not named Himself with. However, it is permissible to inform about Him that He is a Creator (Sani'), based on the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:[An-Naml 27:88]. So it is permissible to say that Allah is a Creator (Sani') and that Allah is a Master of precision (Mutaqin). But do not name Him with this, because naming is an act of creation (insha'), and informing is not an act of creation. It is permissible to say that Allah is a Speaker (Mutakallim), but it is not permissible to name Him "The Speaker" (Mutakallim). It is permissible to say that Allah is a Willer (Murid), but it is not permissible to name Him "The Willer" (Murid). Thus, the scope of informing is broader than the scope of creation (naming). And naming is an act of creation, so it is not permissible except by revelation.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : First, the rule with us is that one does not bring two questions for one person.
The questioner : This is for another person.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : This is for another person.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : For another person, I mean.
The Shaykh : Another person?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So say, "And a questioner asks."
The questioner : Very well.
The Shaykh : All right. It is not permissible to say that Allah is a Creator (Sani') as if it were one of His names, because we mentioned to you just now that the names of Allah are based on revelation (taqifi). One cannot name Allah with what He has not named Himself with. However, it is permissible to inform about Him that He is a Creator (Sani'), based on the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:
And you see the mountains, thinking them rigid, while they will pass as the passing of clouds. [It is] the work of Allah, who perfected all things
وترى الجبال تحسبها جامدة وهي تمر مر السحاب صنع الله الذي أتقن كل شيءThe questioner : May Allah reward you with good.