Summary of the Rules on the Names and Attributes.
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The Shaykh : And the summary of this is that we avoid likening Allah to creation and asking how an attribute is, and we avoid distortion of a text's meaning and denial of the divine attributes, and we avoid delving into them with a depth that is not needed, and we remain silent regarding what the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) remained silent about, because we know that they were more eager than we are to know Allah the Exalted by His names and attributes. This is one point.
And we know that they were the people who, when asked, gave the most forceful answers, and we know that they were the most scrupulous in leaving off what has no benefit. Then, we take the texts at their apparent meaning, but on the condition that this apparent meaning is befitting of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). It must be the apparent meaning, meaning it is impossible for the apparent meaning of the texts regarding the names and attributes to be a meaning that is not befitting of Allah; that is impossible. After that, the people of falsehood must liken their falsehood to the truth and raise objections against it in order to silence their opponents from the people of truth. And this is what we mentioned in this chapter.
And we know that they were the people who, when asked, gave the most forceful answers, and we know that they were the most scrupulous in leaving off what has no benefit. Then, we take the texts at their apparent meaning, but on the condition that this apparent meaning is befitting of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). It must be the apparent meaning, meaning it is impossible for the apparent meaning of the texts regarding the names and attributes to be a meaning that is not befitting of Allah; that is impossible. After that, the people of falsehood must liken their falsehood to the truth and raise objections against it in order to silence their opponents from the people of truth. And this is what we mentioned in this chapter.