What is the benefit of knowing the attribute of knowledge for Allah (Mighty and Majestic)?
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The Shaykh : We need to know what the benefit is in our knowing this great attribute? The benefit is that if a person knows that Allah is vast in knowledge and that He encompasses everything with knowledge, this belief must lead him to be upright in obedience to Allah. And this, my brothers, is a matter that is overlooked by many of those who speak about the attributes of Allah. You find them speaking about the attribute itself, but they do not speak about what the belief in this attribute produces in terms of behavioral states. And this is important. That is, if you know that Allah knows everything, do you harbor in your heart what contradicts uprightness while you know that He knows it? No. Do you do what contradicts uprightness? No. Do you say what contradicts uprightness? No. And this is a matter that a person should keep in mind: that the purpose is not only for us to know what pertains to the creed regarding the names and attributes, but the purpose is also what follows from this belief in terms of correcting one's conduct and being upright in obedience. Now, whoever denies that Allah is knowledgeable is a disbeliever. For this reason, Imam al-Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him) said regarding the Qadariyyah: "Argue with them regarding knowledge. If they acknowledge it, they are defeated; and if they deny it, they are disbelievers". This is because the Qadariyyah say that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) did not decree the actions of the servant nor will them. So he said: "Argue with them regarding knowledge. Ask them: Is Allah knowledgeable about the actions of the servants or not? If they say no, they are disbelievers. And if they say yes, they are defeated. And that is by saying: Did this occur contrary to His knowledge or in accordance with it? If they say contrary to the known, that is the denial of knowledge. And if they say in accordance with it, then it necessitates for them to say that it occurred by His will." Then the author (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned verses, and he said: The chapter on the saying of Allah the Exalted.
