Is it correct to describe Allah as the Maker?
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The Shaykh : All right, is "Maker" a suitable term? Is it permissible to describe Allah as the Maker? What is the evidence?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : His saying:[An-Naml 27:88] is an expression of the common people among us. They say: "O Maker of all that is made." Is this correct or incorrect?
The student: Correct.
The Shaykh : Yes, it is correct. Because if it is from His action, it is from His action, clear. And if it is from the action of the servants, Allah the Exalted said:[As-Saffat 37:96] Therefore, we do not blame the common people, except if they intend another meaning, that He needs tools in His making, and a basket, and a hoe... Do you know the hoe? Do you know it?
The student: I do not know it.
The Shaykh : You do not know it? All right, what is it? And the first one, you do not know the basket?
The student: No.
The Shaykh : Glory be to Allah. All right, the basket is woven from palm fronds, and things are placed in it. Dates are placed in it, grains are placed in it, and others. This is called a basket. And I did not think anyone would not know the basket except you.
The student: A basket.
The Shaykh : A basket? No, we do not know this basket. In the basket of the wheelbarrow, you pull it. All right, if you do not know the hoe, do you know it?
The student: No.
The Shaykh : A fortiori. All right, let us see the brothers. Yahya, do you not know it? No, absolutely not. You will know it, if Allah wills, now. And the brother next to you, I think, will know it after you. The hoe. Glory be to Allah. What is it?
The student: The one with which the earth is dug.
The Shaykh : It is used to dig the earth. Perfect. It is a piece of iron with a curved end like this, and the other end is curved like this, and it has a wooden handle that enters a hole in the middle. Are you with me or not? All right, then you strike the earth with it, and you dig the earth with it. Do you know it now? What is its name for you? The basket. We know that its name for you is a basket. And what is the name of this for you? Nigeria? There is no hoe?
The student: It is called a "baq'.
The Shaykh : "Baq'." All right, in any case, we must understand that if we say "This is the making of Allah," it does not mean that Allah needs tools with which He makes the sky. Did we build it? Does anyone imagine that Allah the Mighty and Majestic brought the workers and the baskets and the hoes, which are called "baq'" in the language of the Nigerians? Yes, did He bring this? No, it is clear, O brothers.
All right, in any case, we do not blame the common people who say "O Maker of all that is made," because we know their intention is that He is the Creator of all that exists. All right.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : His saying:
[It is] the work of Allah, who perfected all things
صنع الله الذي أتقن كل شيءThe student: Correct.
The Shaykh : Yes, it is correct. Because if it is from His action, it is from His action, clear. And if it is from the action of the servants, Allah the Exalted said:
While Allah created you and that which you do?"
والله خلقكم وما تعملونThe student: I do not know it.
The Shaykh : You do not know it? All right, what is it? And the first one, you do not know the basket?
The student: No.
The Shaykh : Glory be to Allah. All right, the basket is woven from palm fronds, and things are placed in it. Dates are placed in it, grains are placed in it, and others. This is called a basket. And I did not think anyone would not know the basket except you.
The student: A basket.
The Shaykh : A basket? No, we do not know this basket. In the basket of the wheelbarrow, you pull it. All right, if you do not know the hoe, do you know it?
The student: No.
The Shaykh : A fortiori. All right, let us see the brothers. Yahya, do you not know it? No, absolutely not. You will know it, if Allah wills, now. And the brother next to you, I think, will know it after you. The hoe. Glory be to Allah. What is it?
The student: The one with which the earth is dug.
The Shaykh : It is used to dig the earth. Perfect. It is a piece of iron with a curved end like this, and the other end is curved like this, and it has a wooden handle that enters a hole in the middle. Are you with me or not? All right, then you strike the earth with it, and you dig the earth with it. Do you know it now? What is its name for you? The basket. We know that its name for you is a basket. And what is the name of this for you? Nigeria? There is no hoe?
The student: It is called a "baq'.
The Shaykh : "Baq'." All right, in any case, we must understand that if we say "This is the making of Allah," it does not mean that Allah needs tools with which He makes the sky. Did we build it? Does anyone imagine that Allah the Mighty and Majestic brought the workers and the baskets and the hoes, which are called "baq'" in the language of the Nigerians? Yes, did He bring this? No, it is clear, O brothers.
All right, in any case, we do not blame the common people who say "O Maker of all that is made," because we know their intention is that He is the Creator of all that exists. All right.