If the one who likens Allah to creation says: I do not understand the descent of Allah, or His hand, except as what the created beings have of that
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The Shaykh :"If the one who likens Allah to creation says: I do not understand the descent of Allah, or His hand, except as what the created beings have of that, and Allah the Exalted has not addressed us except with what we know and understand, then his answer is".
This is a strong argument for the one who likens Allah to creation. He says that Allah addressed us in the Qur'an with what we understand and comprehend, because Allah said: And we do not understand or comprehend except what we witness. So if Allah informs us about the unseen, what must you do, O servant of Allah?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : It must be interpreted as referring to what is witnessed, because Allah only addresses us with what we understand. This is a strong argument, but praise be to Allah, it is not an argument against one who reflects upon it. And its answer is that we say: Yes. If he says: I do not understand except thus, then his answer is from three angles:
"The first is that the One who addressed us with that is the One who said about Himself:[Ash-Shuraa 42:11]" So how can we interpret His speech as being similar to creation when He says: [Ash-Shuraa 42:11] This is impossible. And our Lord forbade us from making similitudes, so He said: [An-Nahl 16:74] And He said: [Al-Baqarah 2:22] And His speech, the speech of the Exalted, is all truth; it confirms one another and does not contradict. I think this is clear.
Now we refute him using the speech of the one who used his own speech as evidence. He used the saying of Allah, for example:[Al-Ma'idah 5:64] And His saying: And he said that the known istiwaa' (rising above the Throne) is the istiwaa' of the created being, so we interpret it as what we know. And the same is said regarding the rest of the attributes.
The answer is that we say: The One who said that is the One who said:[Ash-Shuraa 42:11] And He forbade us from making similitudes for Him or making equals for Him, so He said: [Ash-Shuraa 42:11] And He said: [An-Nahl 16:74] And He said: [Al-Baqarah 2:22].
This is a strong argument for the one who likens Allah to creation. He says that Allah addressed us in the Qur'an with what we understand and comprehend, because Allah said:
Perhaps you will understand
لعلكم تعقلونThe student: ... .
The Shaykh : It must be interpreted as referring to what is witnessed, because Allah only addresses us with what we understand. This is a strong argument, but praise be to Allah, it is not an argument against one who reflects upon it. And its answer is that we say: Yes. If he says: I do not understand except thus, then his answer is from three angles:
"The first is that the One who addressed us with that is the One who said about Himself:
There is nothing like unto Him
ليس كمثله شيءThere is nothing like unto Him
ليس كمثله شيءSo do not assert similarities to Allah. Indeed, Allah knows and you do not know.
فلا تضربوا لله الأمثال إن الله يعلم وأنتم لا تعلمونSo do not attribute to Allah equals while you know [that there is nothing similar to Him].
فلا تجعلوا لله أندادا وأنتم تعلمونNow we refute him using the speech of the one who used his own speech as evidence. He used the saying of Allah, for example:
Rather, both His hands are extended
بل يداه مبسوطتانThen He rose above the Throne
ثم استوى على العرشThe answer is that we say: The One who said that is the One who said: