What is attributed and ascribed to Allah is divided into four categories.
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The Shaykh : So what is attributed to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is four categories. Names, and all of these include the best of perfections.
The second: Attributes about which He is informed, but by which He is not named.
The third: Attributes by which He is described in a qualified manner.
The fourth: Attributes by which He is not described absolutely.
For if He were described by them, that would be transgression and injustice. The Jews said: "Indeed, Allah is poor." Is it correct to describe Allah with poverty? No. They said: "The hand of Allah is chained; He is stingy." This is not something by which He can be described, because it is a deficiency in every case. The rest of the rules in this chapter will come, if Allah wills. We ask Allah for beneficial knowledge for us and for you.
Given the importance of tawhid (the oneness of Allah), and because the book *Fath al-Bari* is circulated among students of knowledge, and because the Hafiz (may Allah have mercy on him) has some errors in some issues, we hope you would be kind enough to comment on it and correct what is in it, in addition to your comments on the hadiths. This is the desire of more than one student.
I mean, they want us to read *Fath al-Bari*. That is fine, if he wants us to stay for ten years, there is no objection. Yes, do you agree to this? I mean, Allah knows best.
The questioner : ... If it is a specific section that we read, he comments on some of it.
The Shaykh : In any case, are you reviewing *Fath al-Bari* or not? Whatever you are reading that is difficult for you, he will clarify it, if Allah wills.
The questioner : There is a scholar who followed up on *Fath al-Bari*.
The Shaykh : Yes, there is a small book, not a big one.
The questioner : Only part of it has appeared.
The Shaykh : No, I have a small, complete paper.
The questioner : No, this one follows up and reveals [the issues].
The Shaykh : From the beginning of the book. Okay, let us be patient until we see it.
Well, he says the Shaykh al-Islam divided people in the names and attributes into six categories, and it is not clear which of these categories is the one that is the "mufawwidah" (those who refer the knowledge of the attributes to Allah). The fourth one is clear.
The second: Attributes about which He is informed, but by which He is not named.
The third: Attributes by which He is described in a qualified manner.
The fourth: Attributes by which He is not described absolutely.
For if He were described by them, that would be transgression and injustice. The Jews said: "Indeed, Allah is poor." Is it correct to describe Allah with poverty? No. They said: "The hand of Allah is chained; He is stingy." This is not something by which He can be described, because it is a deficiency in every case. The rest of the rules in this chapter will come, if Allah wills. We ask Allah for beneficial knowledge for us and for you.
Given the importance of tawhid (the oneness of Allah), and because the book *Fath al-Bari* is circulated among students of knowledge, and because the Hafiz (may Allah have mercy on him) has some errors in some issues, we hope you would be kind enough to comment on it and correct what is in it, in addition to your comments on the hadiths. This is the desire of more than one student.
I mean, they want us to read *Fath al-Bari*. That is fine, if he wants us to stay for ten years, there is no objection. Yes, do you agree to this? I mean, Allah knows best.
The questioner : ... If it is a specific section that we read, he comments on some of it.
The Shaykh : In any case, are you reviewing *Fath al-Bari* or not? Whatever you are reading that is difficult for you, he will clarify it, if Allah wills.
The questioner : There is a scholar who followed up on *Fath al-Bari*.
The Shaykh : Yes, there is a small book, not a big one.
The questioner : Only part of it has appeared.
The Shaykh : No, I have a small, complete paper.
The questioner : No, this one follows up and reveals [the issues].
The Shaykh : From the beginning of the book. Okay, let us be patient until we see it.
Well, he says the Shaykh al-Islam divided people in the names and attributes into six categories, and it is not clear which of these categories is the one that is the "mufawwidah" (those who refer the knowledge of the attributes to Allah). The fourth one is clear.