Is a scholar's statement rejected if he errs in matters of the names and attributes?
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The questioner : Regarding what you mentioned about the names and attributes... some people say that the innovators, or those who oppose the people of the Sunnah and the community in creed regarding the names and attributes, should not be followed and their statements should not be accepted...
The Shaykh : No, that is an exaggeration. Those who say that if a scholar errs in a matter of the names and attributes, then everything he says is rejected—that is an error and an exaggeration. It is obligatory for us to accept the truth and to ask Allah to forgive them for what they erred in, because they are human. Al-Qurtubi (may Allah have mercy on him) has a good statement, which Ibn Hajar transmitted in al-Fath on page 345, in the chapter we are discussing. It is a very good statement. If you were to write it down and include it in a notebook, it would serve as a reference, because it is among the best of statements.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. What is your opinion on the issue of affirming rights for Allah? That no created being has any right over Allah the Exalted in any circumstance, but we know what Allah Mighty and Majestic does with His creation based on what has come in the form of a promise in the Book or a report from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
The Shaykh : Well, if we know that Allah obligated this upon Himself, is it an error for us not to affirm anything that Allah obligated upon Himself? Can we deny what Allah obligated upon Himself as a form of disbelief? That is impossible. As a form of distortion? That is also impossible. In any case, we say that Allah the Exalted obligated upon Himself that whoever performs His worship without associating partners with Him, He will not punish him. This is from His grace, His excellence, and His mercy.
The Shaykh : No, that is an exaggeration. Those who say that if a scholar errs in a matter of the names and attributes, then everything he says is rejected—that is an error and an exaggeration. It is obligatory for us to accept the truth and to ask Allah to forgive them for what they erred in, because they are human. Al-Qurtubi (may Allah have mercy on him) has a good statement, which Ibn Hajar transmitted in al-Fath on page 345, in the chapter we are discussing. It is a very good statement. If you were to write it down and include it in a notebook, it would serve as a reference, because it is among the best of statements.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. What is your opinion on the issue of affirming rights for Allah? That no created being has any right over Allah the Exalted in any circumstance, but we know what Allah Mighty and Majestic does with His creation based on what has come in the form of a promise in the Book or a report from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
The Shaykh : Well, if we know that Allah obligated this upon Himself, is it an error for us not to affirm anything that Allah obligated upon Himself? Can we deny what Allah obligated upon Himself as a form of disbelief? That is impossible. As a form of distortion? That is also impossible. In any case, we say that Allah the Exalted obligated upon Himself that whoever performs His worship without associating partners with Him, He will not punish him. This is from His grace, His excellence, and His mercy.