In His saying, the Exalted: {The hand of Allah is above their hands}, is it correct to say that the hand belongs to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and that Allah only attributed it to Himself as an honor?
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The questioner : The issue, O Shaykh, regarding His saying, the Exalted: [Al-Fath 48:10] This is where Allah, the Exalted and Sublime, attributed the hand of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to Himself as an honor. Consequently, the reality contradicts the idea that this hand with which the Companions took the pledge is the hand of Allah in reality, because... because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and Muslim took his right hand from the left and placed it on the right. This is what I am taking the pledge with, from 'Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him). And this is clear. Then, if we say that this hand with which the Companions took the pledge is the hand of Allah in reality, this claim necessitates that it is the hand of Allah, the Exalted and Sublime, in reality. And consequently, this claim necessitates the doctrine of *hulul* (incarnation), because the Companions took the pledge with it, described it, and touched it, O Shaykh. And it is known to them, like this, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : And why, meaning... according to the claim?
The Shaykh : As for the first sentence, there is no issue with it.
The questioner : Because this is the hand of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in reality, and Allah, the Exalted and Sublime, attributed it to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as an honor, just as He attributed the speech to Jibril (peace be upon him) and to Himself.
The Shaykh : Now, regarding the first verse, the first sentence, there is no issue with it.
The questioner : Yes, the second one, O Shaykh.
AThe Shaykh :[Al-Fath 48:10] Is there no issue with this, or is there?
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : All right, we are left with[Al-Fath 48:10] There are two possibilities. The first is what we established in *Al-'Aqidah al-Wasitiyyah*.
The student: O Shaykh, you preferred the second opinion.
The Shaykh : The first is what we established in *Al-'Aqidah al-Wasitiyyah*, which is that the hand of Allah is above their hands, and what is meant by that is the hand of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and Allah attributed it to Himself because he stands in His place. Did you understand? But there is an issue with this: the word "above" in "above their hands." When the Messenger wants to take the pledge, does he place his hand above the hand of the one taking the pledge, or does he extend it to him?
The student: This is linguistic, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : How is it linguistic? I have not seen anyone take a pledge. How is it linguistic for one to take a pledge?
The Shaykh : Come, come.
The questioner : Is this taking a pledge?
The Shaykh : This is taking a pledge.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good... All right, O our Shaykh, and this opinion, if we say this is the hand of Allah in reality, this is evidence for...
The Shaykh : In reality, the two possibilities are both present. But if we say that the hand of Allah is above their hands, it is closer to the apparent meaning of the text that the hand of Allah in reality is above their hands, meaning that it is as if they took the pledge with Allah, the Glorious and Exalted, and the hand is above their hands, even if it were in the sky. If we say it is the hand of the Messenger, it became the hand of the Messenger, and Allah attributed it to Himself because he stands in the place of Allah, the Glorious and Exalted, because he is His Messenger, so he stands in His place. And if we say the opposite, that the hand of Allah is real but it is in the sky, and physical contact is not necessary, this strengthens the view that taking the pledge is not the Messenger placing his hand above. The apparent meaning is like a handshake exactly. For this reason, 'Amr ibn al-'As said to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):.
The questioner : All right, O Shaykh, if we asked someone, where is the evidence that the hand which the Companions took the pledge with is the hand of Allah, the Exalted and Sublime? Because the Companions are more knowledgeable than us.
The Shaykh : No, no, we do not say that it is the hand of Allah in the sense that the hand of Allah physically contacted their hands. No, we cannot say that.
Indeed, those who pledge allegiance to you, [O Muhammad] - they are actually pledging allegiance to Allah. The hand of Allah is over their hands.
إن الذين يبايعونك إنما يبايعون الله يد الله فوق أيديهمThe Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : And why, meaning... according to the claim?
The Shaykh : As for the first sentence, there is no issue with it.
The questioner : Because this is the hand of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in reality, and Allah, the Exalted and Sublime, attributed it to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as an honor, just as He attributed the speech to Jibril (peace be upon him) and to Himself.
The Shaykh : Now, regarding the first verse, the first sentence, there is no issue with it.
The questioner : Yes, the second one, O Shaykh.
AThe Shaykh :
they are actually pledging allegiance to Allah
إنما يبايعون اللهThe questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : All right, we are left with
The hand of Allah is over their hands
يد الله فوق أيديهمThe student: O Shaykh, you preferred the second opinion.
The Shaykh : The first is what we established in *Al-'Aqidah al-Wasitiyyah*, which is that the hand of Allah is above their hands, and what is meant by that is the hand of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and Allah attributed it to Himself because he stands in His place. Did you understand? But there is an issue with this: the word "above" in "above their hands." When the Messenger wants to take the pledge, does he place his hand above the hand of the one taking the pledge, or does he extend it to him?
The student: This is linguistic, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : How is it linguistic? I have not seen anyone take a pledge. How is it linguistic for one to take a pledge?
The Shaykh : Come, come.
The questioner : Is this taking a pledge?
The Shaykh : This is taking a pledge.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good... All right, O our Shaykh, and this opinion, if we say this is the hand of Allah in reality, this is evidence for...
The Shaykh : In reality, the two possibilities are both present. But if we say that the hand of Allah is above their hands, it is closer to the apparent meaning of the text that the hand of Allah in reality is above their hands, meaning that it is as if they took the pledge with Allah, the Glorious and Exalted, and the hand is above their hands, even if it were in the sky. If we say it is the hand of the Messenger, it became the hand of the Messenger, and Allah attributed it to Himself because he stands in the place of Allah, the Glorious and Exalted, because he is His Messenger, so he stands in His place. And if we say the opposite, that the hand of Allah is real but it is in the sky, and physical contact is not necessary, this strengthens the view that taking the pledge is not the Messenger placing his hand above. The apparent meaning is like a handshake exactly. For this reason, 'Amr ibn al-'As said to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Extend your hand so that I may pledge allegiance to you
ابسط يدك فلأبايعكThe questioner : All right, O Shaykh, if we asked someone, where is the evidence that the hand which the Companions took the pledge with is the hand of Allah, the Exalted and Sublime? Because the Companions are more knowledgeable than us.
The Shaykh : No, no, we do not say that it is the hand of Allah in the sense that the hand of Allah physically contacted their hands. No, we cannot say that.