Do we attribute a body to Allah? And al-Safarini denied that.
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The Shaykh : Okay, is there another example? Yes, there are examples regarding the body. The people of ta'til (denial of the divine attributes) said that Allah is not a body nor an attribute. The wonder is that al-Safarini (may Allah have mercy on him) went to this in his book al-Safariniyyah, where he said:
"And our Lord is not a substance nor an attribute *** Nor a body; Exalted is He, the Possessor of Majesty"
He denied that He is a body; this is clear from his words. It has been said that this is the case, although it is possible that the meaning of his statement "And our Lord is not a substance" is that we do not say that, making it a denial of the claim rather than a denial of the reality itself. There is a difference between the two. This interpretation is based on assuming the best of this man (may Allah have mercy on him). Otherwise, it is clear that he denies that Allah is a body. Consequently, our Shaykh, Abd al-Rahman ibn Sa'di (may Allah have mercy on him), replaced this verse with his own:
"The Deity is not likened to His servants *** In description, along with His many names"
This is the truth, and there is no doubt in it in any case. Regarding the body, do you say that Allah is a body or not? The answer is: As for the term, it is not for us to say it, let alone to affirm or deny it, because there is no negation or affirmation of it in the Qur'an or the Sunnah. As for the meaning, we must specify: If you mean by "body" a body that resembles the created beings, then this meaning is invalid (batil), because Allah is not like anything. But if you mean a body characterized by perfect attributes, one who does what He wills, who speaks, takes, contracts, expands, and so on, then what is it? It is the truth. For this reason, He is seen on the Day of Resurrection. So, in that sense, it is correct.
"And our Lord is not a substance nor an attribute *** Nor a body; Exalted is He, the Possessor of Majesty"
He denied that He is a body; this is clear from his words. It has been said that this is the case, although it is possible that the meaning of his statement "And our Lord is not a substance" is that we do not say that, making it a denial of the claim rather than a denial of the reality itself. There is a difference between the two. This interpretation is based on assuming the best of this man (may Allah have mercy on him). Otherwise, it is clear that he denies that Allah is a body. Consequently, our Shaykh, Abd al-Rahman ibn Sa'di (may Allah have mercy on him), replaced this verse with his own:
"The Deity is not likened to His servants *** In description, along with His many names"
This is the truth, and there is no doubt in it in any case. Regarding the body, do you say that Allah is a body or not? The answer is: As for the term, it is not for us to say it, let alone to affirm or deny it, because there is no negation or affirmation of it in the Qur'an or the Sunnah. As for the meaning, we must specify: If you mean by "body" a body that resembles the created beings, then this meaning is invalid (batil), because Allah is not like anything. But if you mean a body characterized by perfect attributes, one who does what He wills, who speaks, takes, contracts, expands, and so on, then what is it? It is the truth. For this reason, He is seen on the Day of Resurrection. So, in that sense, it is correct.