The Meaning of the Poet's Statement: "It is said: What is the distinction between them, and what is the *** proof? So bring forth the distinction now."
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The Shaykh : The author (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
"It is said: What is the distinction between them, and what is the *** proof? So bring forth the distinction now"
So what do they distinguish? There is no distinction. Either they affirm ascribing a body to Allah based on the affirmation of the attributes they have affirmed, and they apply that to all the attributes; or they deny ascribing a body to Allah and apply that to all the attributes as well, thereby denying what they had affirmed. But, unfortunately, they contradict themselves. They say, "This attribute necessitates ascribing a body to Allah, so it must be denied," and "This attribute does not necessitate ascribing a body to Allah, so it must be affirmed." The author said: And it is said in refuting them: "It has been witnessed..."
The student: ...
The Shaykh : Yes, very well.
"It is said: What is the distinction between them, and what is the *** proof? So bring forth the distinction now"
So what do they distinguish? There is no distinction. Either they affirm ascribing a body to Allah based on the affirmation of the attributes they have affirmed, and they apply that to all the attributes; or they deny ascribing a body to Allah and apply that to all the attributes as well, thereby denying what they had affirmed. But, unfortunately, they contradict themselves. They say, "This attribute necessitates ascribing a body to Allah, so it must be denied," and "This attribute does not necessitate ascribing a body to Allah, so it must be affirmed." The author said: And it is said in refuting them: "It has been witnessed..."
The student: ...
The Shaykh : Yes, very well.