And because naming Him the Exalted with what He has not named Himself with, or denying what He has named Himself with,
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The Shaykh :"And because naming Him the Exalted with what He has not named Himself with, or denying what He has named Himself with, is a transgression against His right Blessed and Exalted is He, so it is obligatory to observe proper conduct in that and to restrict oneself to what has come in the text" So the ruling we have with us in this rule is that the names of Allah are restricted to what is established by text. The evidence: it is both textual and rational. The textual: we mentioned two verses. The rational: that this is a transgression against Allah Mighty and Majestic, to name Him with what He has not named Himself with, or to deny what He has named Himself with. So it is obligatory to stop and restrict oneself to what has come in the text. But is it permissible to describe Allah with a description that is from His actions without naming Him with it?
The answer: Yes, it is permissible, because the door of description is wider than the door of naming. For example, we may say that Allah is a Speaker, based on His saying the Exalted: And we may say that He is a Willer, based on His saying the Exalted: But we do not name Him the Willer, nor do we name Him the Speaker, because He has not named Himself with that.
And it is not permissible for us to describe Him with an attribute that contradicts His perfection, such as the schemer, the mocker, the deceiver, and the like. We do not name Him with this, nor do we describe Him with it, because Allah has not described Himself with these attributes in any way. Rather, He mentioned them in contrast to those who do them. Allah the Exalted said:[An-Nisa 4:142] in contrast, and He said: [Al-Anfal 8:30] in contrast, and He said: [Al-Baqarah 2:14-15] in contrast, because this is evidence of the power of Allah Mighty and Majestic, and that His scheme is greater than their scheme [At-Tariq 86:15-16].
So the things are divided into categories, meaning the attributes:
First: That Allah the Exalted is described with what He has described Himself with, but not named with it, such as the Speaker, the Willer, and the like.
Second: That the description is not befitting of Allah in any way, such as? The student: ...
The Shaykh : No, this is like treachery. It is not possible to describe Allah with treachery. We cannot describe Allah with treachery. And the saying of the people now: "Allah betrays whoever betrays Him" is wrong. This is a great error, and people must be forbidden from it.
Third: What is befitting of Him in one state but not another, such as scheming and deception and the like. This is not attributed to Him absolutely, nor is it denied of Him absolutely. It is attributed to Him in a state where it is perfection, and denied of Him in everything else. Good.
He said, may Allah have mercy on him and assist him: "The Sixth Rule" What Allah wills, we have reached it.
The answer: Yes, it is permissible, because the door of description is wider than the door of naming. For example, we may say that Allah is a Speaker, based on His saying the Exalted:
And Allah spoke to Moses directly
وكلم الله موسى تكليماAnd Allah does what He wills
ويفعل الله ما يريدAnd it is not permissible for us to describe Him with an attribute that contradicts His perfection, such as the schemer, the mocker, the deceiver, and the like. We do not name Him with this, nor do we describe Him with it, because Allah has not described Himself with these attributes in any way. Rather, He mentioned them in contrast to those who do them. Allah the Exalted said:
Indeed, the hypocrites [think to] deceive Allah, but He is deceiving them
إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْBut they plan, and Allah plans
ويمكرون ويمكر اللهwe were only mockers." (15) [But] Allah mocks them
إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُسْتَهْزِئُونَ اللَّهُ يَسْتَهْزِئُ بِهِمْ(15) Indeed, they are planning a plan, (16) But I am planning a plan.
إنهم يكيدون كيدا وأكيد كيداSo the things are divided into categories, meaning the attributes:
First: That Allah the Exalted is described with what He has described Himself with, but not named with it, such as the Speaker, the Willer, and the like.
Second: That the description is not befitting of Allah in any way, such as? The student: ...
The Shaykh : No, this is like treachery. It is not possible to describe Allah with treachery. We cannot describe Allah with treachery. And the saying of the people now: "Allah betrays whoever betrays Him" is wrong. This is a great error, and people must be forbidden from it.
Third: What is befitting of Him in one state but not another, such as scheming and deception and the like. This is not attributed to Him absolutely, nor is it denied of Him absolutely. It is attributed to Him in a state where it is perfection, and denied of Him in everything else. Good.
He said, may Allah have mercy on him and assist him: "The Sixth Rule" What Allah wills, we have reached it.