If a man asks out of ignorance and not out of stubbornness, is this prohibited?
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The questioner : If the questioner is in the chapter of attributes, he is not being stubborn; he is only asking whether such and such has been reported.
The Shaykh : Well, if a narrator tells you, saying: "The Lord of the Worlds places His foot with it," say, "I believe in Allah." That is enough; you are not responsible for anything beyond that.
The questioner : There is no doubt, O Shaykh, but it was mentioned earlier in the lesson that when someone asks about the attributes, we say... Is this a general statement, O Shaykh, or do we look at the questioner's situation?
The Shaykh : No, no, it is not about the questioner's situation. Imam Malik said that asking about them is a religious innovation, and then he said of the man, "He intended nothing but to be an innovator." The point is that one should not go beyond the text. As for someone who asks me, a new questioner, "Has it been reported that Allah has a leg?" and we know it is authentic, and he is seeking guidance, we may not rebuke him. But a man who has the attribute recited to him, then goes digging and asks, "Does He have fingers?" and then comes back to ask, "Does He have nails?"—may Allah keep us safe, O my brother, be respectful toward your Lord.
The Shaykh : Well, if a narrator tells you, saying: "The Lord of the Worlds places His foot with it," say, "I believe in Allah." That is enough; you are not responsible for anything beyond that.
The questioner : There is no doubt, O Shaykh, but it was mentioned earlier in the lesson that when someone asks about the attributes, we say... Is this a general statement, O Shaykh, or do we look at the questioner's situation?
The Shaykh : No, no, it is not about the questioner's situation. Imam Malik said that asking about them is a religious innovation, and then he said of the man, "He intended nothing but to be an innovator." The point is that one should not go beyond the text. As for someone who asks me, a new questioner, "Has it been reported that Allah has a leg?" and we know it is authentic, and he is seeking guidance, we may not rebuke him. But a man who has the attribute recited to him, then goes digging and asks, "Does He have fingers?" and then comes back to ask, "Does He have nails?"—may Allah keep us safe, O my brother, be respectful toward your Lord.