Explanation of the author's statement: "And the one who likens Allah to creation (tamthil) is the one who affirms the attributes for Allah by likening Him to His creation, such as the early Rafidah and the like of them."
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The Shaykh :"The one who likens Allah to creation (tamthil) is the one who affirms the attributes for Allah by likening Him to His creation, such as the early Rafidah". The Rafidah, who claim to be the Shi'ah of 'Ali ibn Abi Talib and the Household of the Prophet, have a well-known methodology. They are divided into sections and groups; some of them have reached the level of disbelief, while others are below that.
These Rafidah, their early followers used to hold to likening Allah to creation (tamthil). They would say: "Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, is far above what they say, in great elevation. They would say that Allah the Exalted is in the form of a young boy, and that He descends to the earth and does this and that." Yes. But after that, they realized that this is nonsensical speech, so they adopted the methodology of the people of denial of the divine attributes (ta'til), the methodology of the Mu'tazilah.
As for their early followers, they used to liken Allah to creation.
But regarding those who liken Allah to His creation, this is because they exaggerated in affirming the attributes. They said: "Allah has a hand, and we do not understand a hand except what we see. Allah has a face, and we do not understand a face except what we see," and so on. The response to them will come, if Allah wills, later on.
These Rafidah, their early followers used to hold to likening Allah to creation (tamthil). They would say: "Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, is far above what they say, in great elevation. They would say that Allah the Exalted is in the form of a young boy, and that He descends to the earth and does this and that." Yes. But after that, they realized that this is nonsensical speech, so they adopted the methodology of the people of denial of the divine attributes (ta'til), the methodology of the Mu'tazilah.
As for their early followers, they used to liken Allah to creation.
But regarding those who liken Allah to His creation, this is because they exaggerated in affirming the attributes. They said: "Allah has a hand, and we do not understand a hand except what we see. Allah has a face, and we do not understand a face except what we see," and so on. The response to them will come, if Allah wills, later on.