Are the people of figurative interpretation excused?

The questioner : ... then he is excused.

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner : ... .

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner : ... .

The Shaykh : We say that as for the relationship between you and your Lord, yes, those who engage in figurative interpretation of the attributes and names of Allah the Exalted say, "We are those who interpret, and we exert effort." We say that as for what is between you and your Lord, that is up to Allah. However, in reality and in appearance, you are in error. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The people of the Sunnah and the community refuted the people of denial of the divine attributes not only with textual evidence, such that it could be said that this is the point of disagreement between us and you. No, rather they argued against them with rational evidence from which they cannot escape. Consequently, it becomes clear that they are stubborn. So we judge based on the apparent, and as for what is between them and Allah, they are up to Allah Mighty and Majestic. Have you seen, for example, if someone says that Allah has no mercy but has will, do we accept this? We do not accept it. We know that this means defiance, because the manifestation of the attribute of mercy for Allah is far more evident than the manifestation of His will. For their rational evidence for will is specification: specifying certain creations with what they are distinguished by indicates will. The fact that camels have this description, cows have this description, and sheep have this description is evidence of the Creator's will, since nothing can change except by His will. We say this evidence is subtle; it is hidden from many people, even from students of knowledge. But the fact that the descent of rain and the growth of the earth indicate mercy is a matter evident to the general public and the specialist alike. And yet they deny mercy and do not deny will. Do you understand? They say that mercy indicates, meaning, weakness and the compassion of the one who shows mercy, and the like of that. Allah is free from this. We say this is a claim without evidence. Have you seen if a king shows mercy to a person regarding a punishment he prescribed for him and lifts the punishment, does that indicate the weakness of the king? Absolutely not; rather, it indicates his perfection. So how do you say that if mercy is an attribute of the one described, that is evidence of his weakness? Is that clear? Otherwise, we would accept the figurative interpretation of Pharaoh and others among those who interpret, and we would accept the interpretation of those who said, "Trade is like usury." Yes.