Is it permissible to attribute actions to Allah for which there is no explicit text in the Shari'ah?
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The questioner : The honorable Shaykh Muhammad: Is it permissible to attribute actions to Allah for which there is no explicit text in the Shari'ah, such as the statement of one who says: "If Allah had not feared that people would fall into disbelief, He would have made the houses of the disbelievers with roofs of silver and staircases upon them," or the statement of one who says: "Allah wishes that all people believed in Him," or the like?
And what is the rule regarding attributing actions to Allah the Exalted? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : The actions attributed to Allah Mighty and Majestic are either actions of perfection, or actions of deficiency, or neither. As for actions of deficiency, it is not permissible to attribute them to Allah Mighty and Majestic, such as betrayal, for example, saying: "If Allah had willed, He would have betrayed you." This is not permissible. Sometimes they are actions of perfection, such as creating, inventing, making, and the like; these are attributed to Allah without any issue. Sometimes they are neither, and there is no harm in that either, because the scope of reporting (ikhabar) is broader than the scope of creation (insha'). For example, you say: "Allah willed," and it is known that will is established and is an attribute of perfection because it indicates the universality of will. But in many matters, such as what I mentioned, for example: "Allah the Exalted hates..." You say "hates," and the hatred has occurred, because fear indicates deficiency, as the one who fears is undoubtedly deficient. Therefore, it is not correct to say "fear," but rather we say "hatred." As for affection and love, there is no harm in them.
The questioner : And we feared...
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : The fear, so we feared...
The Shaykh : Not fear, rather, fear can exist without deficiency; it can exist without deficiency. But "we feared" is not permissible for Allah Mighty and Majestic because it is a deficiency. Yes, one question.
And what is the rule regarding attributing actions to Allah the Exalted? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : The actions attributed to Allah Mighty and Majestic are either actions of perfection, or actions of deficiency, or neither. As for actions of deficiency, it is not permissible to attribute them to Allah Mighty and Majestic, such as betrayal, for example, saying: "If Allah had willed, He would have betrayed you." This is not permissible. Sometimes they are actions of perfection, such as creating, inventing, making, and the like; these are attributed to Allah without any issue. Sometimes they are neither, and there is no harm in that either, because the scope of reporting (ikhabar) is broader than the scope of creation (insha'). For example, you say: "Allah willed," and it is known that will is established and is an attribute of perfection because it indicates the universality of will. But in many matters, such as what I mentioned, for example: "Allah the Exalted hates..." You say "hates," and the hatred has occurred, because fear indicates deficiency, as the one who fears is undoubtedly deficient. Therefore, it is not correct to say "fear," but rather we say "hatred." As for affection and love, there is no harm in them.
The questioner : And we feared...
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : The fear, so we feared...
The Shaykh : Not fear, rather, fear can exist without deficiency; it can exist without deficiency. But "we feared" is not permissible for Allah Mighty and Majestic because it is a deficiency. Yes, one question.