Is it correct to say that Allah is All-Hearing without an ear and All-Seeing without an eye?
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The questioner : Shaykh, is it correct to say that Allah is All-Hearing without an ear and All-Seeing without an eye?
The Shaykh : No, because it is also not permissible to deny an ear for Allah. Did Allah deny an ear for Himself? I am asking you.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : We do not deny it. It is not permissible for us to deny it, because it is possible that He has an ear. Likewise, saying "All-Seeing without an eye" is also not correct for two reasons. First, Allah has affirmed an eye for Himself, so how can we deny it? Second, even if it were assumed that Allah did not affirm an eye for Himself, it is not permissible to deny it, because this is a rule: understand it. Everything pertaining to the attributes of Allah, it is not permissible to affirm it or deny it except with evidence, except for what we know is not befitting His Majesty (Mighty and Majestic), such as things that imply deficiency. For example, if a person asks, "Does Allah have teeth and molars?"
The student: ...
The Shaykh : Yes.
The student: We do not know.
The Shaykh : No, we do not say "we do not know." We say we know that He has no teeth and no molars, because these are only needed for chewing food, and Allah the Exalted does not eat. We also know that He has no stomach and no intestines, and we deny that, because these are only needed by one who needs to eat. Then, Allah is al-Samad. Some scholars interpreted al-Samad as meaning He has no cavity, because He is free from the need for food. Pay attention to this point. Do not think that we do not deny anything until its denial is specifically established. No, if affirming it implies deficiency, we deny it, because deficiency and everything it implies is all denied of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Yes, yes.
The Shaykh : No, because it is also not permissible to deny an ear for Allah. Did Allah deny an ear for Himself? I am asking you.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : We do not deny it. It is not permissible for us to deny it, because it is possible that He has an ear. Likewise, saying "All-Seeing without an eye" is also not correct for two reasons. First, Allah has affirmed an eye for Himself, so how can we deny it? Second, even if it were assumed that Allah did not affirm an eye for Himself, it is not permissible to deny it, because this is a rule: understand it. Everything pertaining to the attributes of Allah, it is not permissible to affirm it or deny it except with evidence, except for what we know is not befitting His Majesty (Mighty and Majestic), such as things that imply deficiency. For example, if a person asks, "Does Allah have teeth and molars?"
The student: ...
The Shaykh : Yes.
The student: We do not know.
The Shaykh : No, we do not say "we do not know." We say we know that He has no teeth and no molars, because these are only needed for chewing food, and Allah the Exalted does not eat. We also know that He has no stomach and no intestines, and we deny that, because these are only needed by one who needs to eat. Then, Allah is al-Samad. Some scholars interpreted al-Samad as meaning He has no cavity, because He is free from the need for food. Pay attention to this point. Do not think that we do not deny anything until its denial is specifically established. No, if affirming it implies deficiency, we deny it, because deficiency and everything it implies is all denied of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Yes, yes.