What is derived in the chapter of Names and Attributes from the saying of Allah the Exalted
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : His EminenceThe Shaykh : What do we benefit from the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Waqi'ah 56:64] and from the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Sunan Ibn Majah 3689Sahih (Darussalam) in the chapter of Names and Attributes?
The Shaykh : Yes, from which aspect, and what is the issue?
The questioner : From His saying: “Gentle” and from His saying: “We are the planters”
The Shaykh : Know, may Allah bless you, that the attributes are attributes of actions and they have no limit. Whatever indicates an action is permissible. For this reason, we say, for example: “Allah took care of such and such” or “He urged such and such,” even though this specific wording does not appear in the texts. However, His actions have no end, so everything attributed to Allah regarding reports of His actions is correct, unless it contains a defective meaning, in which case it is prohibited.
So it does no harm for us to say: “Allah is the planter of this plant,” meaning: He is the one who causes it to grow. Or we say: “Allah is gentle,” even though “Gentle” is close to being one of the Names of Allah. Did you understand?
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : For example: “Allah caused the river to flow.” Where is the action? It is not in the Qur'an that He “caused such and such to flow,” but this is correct, because the river flowed by the command of Allah.
The questioner : Is there a criterion for the Names, actions, and attributes?
The Names are those that have come in the Shari'ah. The attributes are of two types: essential attributes, in which we have no say; we do not affirm except what has been established by the Shari'ah.
And action attributes, which have no limit. Everything in the universe is by the action of Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
And glory be to You, O Allah, our Lord, and praise be to You. I bear witness that there is no god but You. I seek Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance.
And until we meet again, if Allah wills (Blessed and Exalted is He). My salam to everyone, which is sufficient in place of shaking hands, because I fear that I will be delayed. May Allah bless you.
Is it you who makes it grow, or are We the grower?
أَأَنْتُمْ تَزْرَعُونَهُ أَمْ نَحْنُ الزَّارِعُونَAllah is Gentle and loves gentleness
إن الله رفيق يحب الرفقThe Shaykh : Yes, from which aspect, and what is the issue?
The questioner : From His saying: “Gentle” and from His saying: “We are the planters”
The Shaykh : Know, may Allah bless you, that the attributes are attributes of actions and they have no limit. Whatever indicates an action is permissible. For this reason, we say, for example: “Allah took care of such and such” or “He urged such and such,” even though this specific wording does not appear in the texts. However, His actions have no end, so everything attributed to Allah regarding reports of His actions is correct, unless it contains a defective meaning, in which case it is prohibited.
So it does no harm for us to say: “Allah is the planter of this plant,” meaning: He is the one who causes it to grow. Or we say: “Allah is gentle,” even though “Gentle” is close to being one of the Names of Allah. Did you understand?
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : For example: “Allah caused the river to flow.” Where is the action? It is not in the Qur'an that He “caused such and such to flow,” but this is correct, because the river flowed by the command of Allah.
The questioner : Is there a criterion for the Names, actions, and attributes?
The Names are those that have come in the Shari'ah. The attributes are of two types: essential attributes, in which we have no say; we do not affirm except what has been established by the Shari'ah.
And action attributes, which have no limit. Everything in the universe is by the action of Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
And glory be to You, O Allah, our Lord, and praise be to You. I bear witness that there is no god but You. I seek Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance.
And until we meet again, if Allah wills (Blessed and Exalted is He). My salam to everyone, which is sufficient in place of shaking hands, because I fear that I will be delayed. May Allah bless you.