The remainder of the answer to: Is there figurative language in the Qur'an?
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The Shaykh : It flew and rose; this is the wing of elevation and arrogance.
And Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says:[Al-Isra 17:24] meaning: humble yourself before them to the utmost, even if you want to be cultured, for example, you say: I have a bachelor's degree, and this is my father who does not know the letter kha from the letter ta, do not be arrogant toward him: [Al-Isra 17:24].
So, they agreed on the meaning, but they differed on whether this style is actually used in its context or not? But those who prohibited figurative language in the Qur'an and affirmed it based on the fact that this figurative language was used in an incorrect manner, they said, for example, regarding the rising above the Throne: there is no rising above the Throne at all, meaning: He took possession of it, they said this is a metaphor for taking possession, look now, they denied a noble attribute of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and turned it into an attribute by which the Throne is not distinguished from others, because Allah is the Master of everything.
Then, His saying: He created, then He rose above, means that the Throne was capable of what? Of other than Allah, then He took possession of it.
I tell you: those who denied figurative language in the Qur'an and affirmed it because those who said there is figurative language arrived through it to denying something that is not permissible to deny, did you understand? And the scholars have three opinions or more in this issue: some said: all language is figurative, even if you say: I ate and I was full, he said: this is figurative.
And some said: there is no figurative language in language at all, and among those who said this opinion: Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, and his student Ibn al-Qayyim, and explaining their evidence is not the place for it here, because people may need something more important than this.
And some said: there is no figurative language in the Qur'an, but in language there is figurative language.
And the correct view: that there is no figurative language, neither in the Qur'an nor in language.
And Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says:
And lower to them the wing of humility
وَاخْفِضْ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ الذُّلِّAnd lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy
اخْفِضْ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ الذُّلِّ مِنَ الرَّحْمَةِSo, they agreed on the meaning, but they differed on whether this style is actually used in its context or not? But those who prohibited figurative language in the Qur'an and affirmed it based on the fact that this figurative language was used in an incorrect manner, they said, for example, regarding the rising above the Throne: there is no rising above the Throne at all,
He rose above the Throne
اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِThen, His saying: He created, then He rose above, means that the Throne was capable of what? Of other than Allah, then He took possession of it.
I tell you: those who denied figurative language in the Qur'an and affirmed it because those who said there is figurative language arrived through it to denying something that is not permissible to deny, did you understand? And the scholars have three opinions or more in this issue: some said: all language is figurative, even if you say: I ate and I was full, he said: this is figurative.
And some said: there is no figurative language in language at all, and among those who said this opinion: Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, and his student Ibn al-Qayyim, and explaining their evidence is not the place for it here, because people may need something more important than this.
And some said: there is no figurative language in the Qur'an, but in language there is figurative language.
And the correct view: that there is no figurative language, neither in the Qur'an nor in language.