Discussion of the previously mentioned attributes of the Hands and the Eyes.
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The Shaykh : ... more of the plural and the dual.
The student: Did we not hear the answer, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : What?
The student: We did not hear the answer.
The Shaykh : The answer states that the plural in His saying:[Ya-Sin 36:71] is for magnification; the plural here is for magnification and appropriateness. As for it being for magnification, it is because the plural is more indicative of greatness than what is below it. And as for it being for appropriateness, it is because in His saying: for magnification, it was appropriate that what is attributed to Him be pluralized so that they would be in harmony.
But we say now: If someone were to ask, "Why do you not believe that Allah has many hands, since believing in many hands includes believing in one and two?" What do you say in response to this objection? Yes?
The student: We say that the correct view, if it is established that He, Glorified and Exalted is He, has two hands, is that we do not say He has more.
The Shaykh : Yes?
The student: We say that the correct view, if it is established that He, Glorified and Exalted is He, has two hands, is how do we believe in more than that.
The Shaykh : How do we believe in more than that? Because Allah says:[Ya-Sin 36:71].
The student: "na" this is from the category of magnification.
The Shaykh : Yes, we said it is from the category of magnification solely for the sake of the plural, meaning: we were compelled to say this, yes?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Fine, it does not contradict, but did something come from him indicating an increase? If I say: I have two sheep, and then I say I have many sheep, I have sheep, not many.
We say: It is established that they are two, because Allah the Exalted said in the response to the Jews, and the context is one of boasting about the abundance of giving, He said:[Al-Ma'idah 5:64] If He had many hands, it would have been appropriate for Him to say: "Nay, His hands are outstretched," because the context requires abundance of giving and bestowal, and this increases with the increase of what the giving is done with. This is evidence, this is from the Qur'an.
As for from the Sunnah, there are many, such as his saying, peace and blessings be upon him:, Adam's saying: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3367Hasan (Darussalam) and he said: this or its meaning.
That indicates that Allah has only two hands, just two. Yes.
How many forms did the attribute of the Eye come in, 'Abd al-Rahman?
The student: Three.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The student: The singular.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The student: And the dual and the plural.
The Shaykh : And the dual and the plural, fine, the singular?
The student: His saying, Exalted is He:.
The Shaykh : And the plural?
The questioner :.
The Shaykh : And the dual?
The student: It came in the hadith ... .
The Shaykh :Sahih Muslim 510a. So here two eyes are affirmed.
This hadith, as we mentioned in the book, Ibn al-Qayyim did not attribute it to anyone, and we do not know about its authenticity, but are there no authentic hadiths indicating that?
The student: The saying of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, regarding the Dajjal:Sahih al-Bukhari 7127.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : ... a person is not described as one-eyed unless he has two eyes.
The Shaykh : Yes, fine, is this correct?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, because if Allah had three eyes, for example, or more, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would have said: "Your Lord has three eyes" or more.
And by this, distinction is achieved; by this, distinction is achieved, and it is also more indicative of perfection for Allah, Mighty and Majestic, because there is no doubt that three or more in a context that requires perfection to be achieved by them is better than mentioning two. And on this basis, we say: Allah, Mighty and Majestic, has only two eyes. And we reconcile the singular and the plural as we reconciled that in the hands, yes.
The student: Did we not hear the answer, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : What?
The student: We did not hear the answer.
The Shaykh : The answer states that the plural in His saying:
from what Our hands have made, grazing livestock
مما عملت أيدينا أنعاماOur hands
أيديناBut we say now: If someone were to ask, "Why do you not believe that Allah has many hands, since believing in many hands includes believing in one and two?" What do you say in response to this objection? Yes?
The student: We say that the correct view, if it is established that He, Glorified and Exalted is He, has two hands, is that we do not say He has more.
The Shaykh : Yes?
The student: We say that the correct view, if it is established that He, Glorified and Exalted is He, has two hands, is how do we believe in more than that.
The Shaykh : How do we believe in more than that? Because Allah says:
from what Our hands have made, grazing livestock
مما عملت أيدينا أنعاماThe student: "na" this is from the category of magnification.
The Shaykh : Yes, we said it is from the category of magnification solely for the sake of the plural, meaning: we were compelled to say this, yes?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Fine, it does not contradict, but did something come from him indicating an increase? If I say: I have two sheep, and then I say I have many sheep, I have sheep, not many.
We say: It is established that they are two, because Allah the Exalted said in the response to the Jews, and the context is one of boasting about the abundance of giving, He said:
Rather, both His hands are extended
بل يداه مبسوطتانAs for from the Sunnah, there are many, such as his saying, peace and blessings be upon him:
I chose the right hand of my Lord
اخترت يمين ربيI chose the right My Lord and both of the Hands of my Lord are right, blessed.
اخترت يمين ربي وكلتا يدي ربي يمين مباركةIndeed, Allah holds the heavens with His right hand and with His other hand the earth
إن الله يقبض السماوات بيمينه وبيده الأخرى الأرضThat indicates that Allah has only two hands, just two. Yes.
How many forms did the attribute of the Eye come in, 'Abd al-Rahman?
The student: Three.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The student: The singular.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The student: And the dual and the plural.
The Shaykh : And the dual and the plural, fine, the singular?
The student: His saying, Exalted is He:
And you shall make it before My eyes
لتصنع على عينيThe Shaykh : And the plural?
The questioner :
It runs with our eyes
تجري بأعينناThe Shaykh : And the dual?
The student: It came in the hadith ... .
The Shaykh :
When any one of you stands for prayer
إذا قام أحدكم يصلي فإنه بين عيني الرحمنThis hadith, as we mentioned in the book, Ibn al-Qayyim did not attribute it to anyone, and we do not know about its authenticity, but are there no authentic hadiths indicating that?
The student: The saying of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, regarding the Dajjal:
Ad- Dajjal is one-eyed whereas Allah is not.
إنه أعور، وإن الله ليس بأعورThe Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : ... a person is not described as one-eyed unless he has two eyes.
The Shaykh : Yes, fine, is this correct?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, because if Allah had three eyes, for example, or more, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would have said: "Your Lord has three eyes" or more.
And by this, distinction is achieved; by this, distinction is achieved, and it is also more indicative of perfection for Allah, Mighty and Majestic, because there is no doubt that three or more in a context that requires perfection to be achieved by them is better than mentioning two. And on this basis, we say: Allah, Mighty and Majestic, has only two eyes. And we reconcile the singular and the plural as we reconciled that in the hands, yes.