What is your advice for a student of knowledge who is afflicted with intrusive thoughts regarding the attributes?

The questioner : A questioner says, “O honorable Shaykh, I love to study 'aqidah and tawhid (the oneness of Allah) and understand them as the righteous Salaf understood them. However, I am a person who suffers from many intrusive thoughts, in every small and large matter. I have left studying this out of fear that these intrusive thoughts will occur and I will become preoccupied with them. What do you advise me?”

The Shaykh : I advise this brother, the questioner, to continue in knowing the methodology of the righteous Salaf. If he knows it, no intrusive thought will come to him. But intrusive thoughts and doubts only come when a person reads in the books of the people of kalam (theology). This is what will cause him to be confused, and mental questions will arise for him from which he cannot escape. I mentioned to you yesterday that the people who are most doubtful at the time of death are the people of kalam. But if you walk in the path of the righteous Salaf without pondering questions, this intrusive thought will not happen to you. Let us give an example of Allah’s istiwaa’ (rising above the Throne). What is the meaning of “Allah istawa’ (rose) above the Throne”? It means He elevated and rose above it. There is no doubt in this. As Allah Blessed and Exalted is He said: meaning, ride upon them. Imam Malik, the Imam of the City of Migration, the Imam of Madinah (may Allah be pleased with him and forgive him), was asked: How did He istawa’ (rise)? He was asked about the meaning or about the modality? The modality. That is, the questioner is asking: How did He istawa’ (rise)? This question is raised by the people of ta'til (denial of the divine attributes) to put the people of the Sunnah in a difficult position with such an objection. But the people of the Sunnah, and praise be to Allah, have a weapon with which they cut off the necks of the people of kalam. Well, Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) lowered his head like this, and he began to sweat profusely until sweat covered him. Why? Because this is a great question, an innovated question, a newly invented question. Did the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) say, “O Messenger of Allah, how did Allah istawa’ (rise) above the Throne?” Answer, my brothers. Never did they say this. They believed in the istiwaa’ (rising above the Throne) with its meaning, but without modality or likening Allah to creation. Then Imam Malik said his famous words: “The istiwaa’ (rising above the Throne) is not unknown, the modality is not conceivable, belief in it is obligatory, and asking about it is an innovation. I do not think you are anything but an innovator”, meaning, I do not think you are anything but an innovator. Then he ordered that he be taken out of the mosque. Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) took him out of the mosque, despite his easy nature and gentleness, because this opened for the people a door of evil. Asking about the modality of any of the attributes of Allah, asking about it is an innovation, an innovation. It is not permissible for us to ask about any modality of the modalities of the attributes of Allah? It is forbidden for us because it is an innovation. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: , and because there are in this Ummah (the Muslim community) those who are better than us. And they did not ask the Messenger about it. The Companions are better than us, by Allah, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is more knowledgeable than us. So if the means of knowledge are available and the obstacles are absent, and the question did not occur, it is known that the question is an innovation. Are you, O questioner, how did He istawa’ (rise)? Are you more eager than the Companions to know the modality of the attributes of Allah? Never. And if asking about the modality had been permissible, the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) would have been the first to rush to it, because the answer is available. The answer is from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and he is the Knower. So in any case, we say that asking about any attribute regarding its modality is an innovation and not permissible. Rather, it is upon us to submit, but without likening Allah to creation. And you heard yesterday the statement of al-Razi, who is one of the great scholars of kalam, where he said: “I read in affirmation

The Most Merciful [who is] above the Throne established.

الرحمن على العرش استوى

[Taha 20:5]

and I read in negation

There is nothing like unto Him

ليس كمثله شيء

[Ash-Shuraa 42:11]

but they do not encompass it in knowledge.

ولا يحيطون به علما

[Taha 20:110]

- meaning, so I affirm what Allah has affirmed and I negate what Allah has negated - and whoever has experienced what I have experienced knows what I know”. Yes.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.