What are the categories of what Allah is described with?
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The Shaykh : All right, because the chapter of reporting is broader than the chapter of speech acts. We mentioned that this issue is divided into three categories.
Do we say that it is permissible to describe Allah with a description that is not one of the names of Allah, Dr. Saleh?
The student: That He, Glorified and Exalted is He, is described with a description but not named with it, such as "the Speaker."
The Shaykh : No, no, we have finished with that. But regarding what Allah is described with, we mentioned that there are three categories. I mean, what can Allah be described with?
The student: What He, Glorified and Exalted is He, cannot be described with, such as treachery.
The Shaykh : The first category is what it is not permissible to describe Him with absolutely, and the second is what it is permissible to describe Him with absolutely.
The student: The first: that it is permissible to describe Him with absolutely.
And the second: that it is not permissible to describe Him with absolutely.
The third: that it falls under the category of contrast.
The Shaykh : That there is a detailed ruling in that. All right, is that clear, everyone? This is important. However you memorize it, this is one of the most important things. It is a foundational principle that must be understood:
The first: what it is not permissible to describe Him with absolutely.
And the second: what it is permissible to describe Him with absolutely.
And the third: what has a detailed ruling.
All right, what it is not permissible to describe Him with absolutely is everything that is not befitting of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, in an absolute sense. The example is treachery. It is not permissible to say that Allah is treacherous, even in the case of one who has been treacherous to Allah. It is not permissible for him to say that Allah is treacherous to him. Perfect. All right, what is the second? What is described with absolutely because it does not imply any deficiency?
The student: Knowledge.
The Shaykh : Wrong. Knowledge is also called "the All-Knowing." And wisdom, because this is derived from the name "the Wise." The All-Knowing is established for Him by name, not by attribute. Yes.
The student: The Speaker.
The Shaykh : The Speaker, the Willer, the Doer of what He wills, and the like. This is what Allah is described with absolutely because there is no deficiency in it. The third... no, no, I do not want the example, I want the ruling. I mean, what is described with where it is a perfection and not described with where it is a deficiency. For example?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Deception. Is it permissible to say that Allah is deceptive? — Pay attention, Hajjaj, do not let your eyes wander, keep them on the book — Yes, all right, so we say?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : I do not want the example, give me the ruling. So we say: if deception indicates strength, authority, and dominance, then it is permissible to describe Allah with it, such as being in contrast to one who deceives Allah. All right, and the same is said regarding stratagem, plotting, mockery, and ridicule. "They mock them, so Allah mocks them," and the like. The important thing is that the criterion for this is that in the case where it is a perfection, answer?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Allah is described with it, and otherwise He is not described with it. And it is a perfection if the intended meaning is dominance and authority over the opponent. All right. Now we begin the new lesson.
Do we say that it is permissible to describe Allah with a description that is not one of the names of Allah, Dr. Saleh?
The student: That He, Glorified and Exalted is He, is described with a description but not named with it, such as "the Speaker."
The Shaykh : No, no, we have finished with that. But regarding what Allah is described with, we mentioned that there are three categories. I mean, what can Allah be described with?
The student: What He, Glorified and Exalted is He, cannot be described with, such as treachery.
The Shaykh : The first category is what it is not permissible to describe Him with absolutely, and the second is what it is permissible to describe Him with absolutely.
The student: The first: that it is permissible to describe Him with absolutely.
And the second: that it is not permissible to describe Him with absolutely.
The third: that it falls under the category of contrast.
The Shaykh : That there is a detailed ruling in that. All right, is that clear, everyone? This is important. However you memorize it, this is one of the most important things. It is a foundational principle that must be understood:
The first: what it is not permissible to describe Him with absolutely.
And the second: what it is permissible to describe Him with absolutely.
And the third: what has a detailed ruling.
All right, what it is not permissible to describe Him with absolutely is everything that is not befitting of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, in an absolute sense. The example is treachery. It is not permissible to say that Allah is treacherous, even in the case of one who has been treacherous to Allah. It is not permissible for him to say that Allah is treacherous to him. Perfect. All right, what is the second? What is described with absolutely because it does not imply any deficiency?
The student: Knowledge.
The Shaykh : Wrong. Knowledge is also called "the All-Knowing." And wisdom, because this is derived from the name "the Wise." The All-Knowing is established for Him by name, not by attribute. Yes.
The student: The Speaker.
The Shaykh : The Speaker, the Willer, the Doer of what He wills, and the like. This is what Allah is described with absolutely because there is no deficiency in it. The third... no, no, I do not want the example, I want the ruling. I mean, what is described with where it is a perfection and not described with where it is a deficiency. For example?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Deception. Is it permissible to say that Allah is deceptive? — Pay attention, Hajjaj, do not let your eyes wander, keep them on the book — Yes, all right, so we say?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : I do not want the example, give me the ruling. So we say: if deception indicates strength, authority, and dominance, then it is permissible to describe Allah with it, such as being in contrast to one who deceives Allah. All right, and the same is said regarding stratagem, plotting, mockery, and ridicule. "They mock them, so Allah mocks them," and the like. The important thing is that the criterion for this is that in the case where it is a perfection, answer?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Allah is described with it, and otherwise He is not described with it. And it is a perfection if the intended meaning is dominance and authority over the opponent. All right. Now we begin the new lesson.