Is it correct to say that the reason the rationalists deny the attributes is their inability to comprehend them?
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The questioner : Is there a response to those who denied some attributes on rational grounds, such as those who denied the descent? They said that this implies Allah is empty of the Throne. It is said to them: You are unable to comprehend some matters that are currently occurring. If these devices, such as telephones, had existed before their invention, you would have denied them because you did not comprehend them. It is said: Since you did not comprehend these matters before they occurred, likewise, you cannot comprehend Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in His true attributes.
The Shaykh : There is no doubt that a human being not comprehending what is reported, whether present or future, is a reality. For example, if it were said to us that a person writes a book in America and sends the book to here in al-Qasim in an instant,
The questioner : you would naturally deny it.
The Shaykh : ... this does not happen, and what brings it? ... mountains fly before him, and buildings, and trees. How does a paper come? This does not happen. Yes, one does not believe it. Similarly, when some people read[As-Saffat 37:51-55] his companion saw him in the midst of the Hellfire, in its center, in its depths. He said to him [As-Saffat 37:56-57] meaning, who would believe that this one is in the highest ranks and this one is in the lowest depths, and he is addressing him? He is addressing him now. It has happened through human invention: now there are telephones, and the speaker sees his companion and addresses him. They even hold conferences and seminars via this... they set up a large screen, and people appear: this one is in Germany, this one in America, this one in Paris, this one in London. One does not believe it.
In any case, the most important thing we say is that the Lord (Mighty and Majestic) is great and immense, beyond what we can imagine. It is not possible to measure His attributes with our attributes in any way. The Lord must be held in the heart with a reverence that is not equal to any other reverence, and no other reverence equals it. This is not a matter of analogy where you say, for example, "this is like that," as if we were to ask Allah to spare us: you explain Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and how are His fingers? Does He have nails? Does He have hair? I seek refuge in Allah, we ask Allah to spare us. This is not a light matter, my brothers, regarding Lordship; it is not light.
Does anyone create a star like the stars, or a sun like the suns? They sent satellites to the end of the horizon, and they failed to last even fifty years. Do not try to measure the Creator with the created in any way. Who are we? Allah created man weak. It is obligatory for him to believe in what has been conveyed to him and to turn away from what has not been conveyed to him. This is the duty, my brothers. If you try anything other than that, you will go astray.
The student : Shaykh, it is time.
The Shaykh : It is over, the lesson has ended, but we want to take the lesson on inheritance; it does not conflict.
The Shaykh : There is no doubt that a human being not comprehending what is reported, whether present or future, is a reality. For example, if it were said to us that a person writes a book in America and sends the book to here in al-Qasim in an instant,
The questioner : you would naturally deny it.
The Shaykh : ... this does not happen, and what brings it? ... mountains fly before him, and buildings, and trees. How does a paper come? This does not happen. Yes, one does not believe it. Similarly, when some people read
(51) A speaker among them will say, "Indeed, I had a companion [on earth] (52) Who would say, 'Are you indeed of those who believe (53) That when we have died and become dust and bones, we will indeed be recompensed?'" (54) He will say, "Would you [care to] look?" (55) And he will look and see him in the midst of the Hellfire.
قال قائل منهم إني كان لي قرين يقول أئنك من المصدقين أإذا متنا وكنا ترابا وعظاما أإنا لمدينون قال هل أنتم مطلعون فاطلع فرآه في سواء الجحيم(56) He will say, "By Allah, you almost ruined me. (57) If not for the favor of my Lord, I would have been of those brought in [to Hell].
تالله إن كدت لتردين ولولا نعمة ربي لكنت من المحضرينIn any case, the most important thing we say is that the Lord (Mighty and Majestic) is great and immense, beyond what we can imagine. It is not possible to measure His attributes with our attributes in any way. The Lord must be held in the heart with a reverence that is not equal to any other reverence, and no other reverence equals it. This is not a matter of analogy where you say, for example, "this is like that," as if we were to ask Allah to spare us: you explain Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and how are His fingers? Does He have nails? Does He have hair? I seek refuge in Allah, we ask Allah to spare us. This is not a light matter, my brothers, regarding Lordship; it is not light.
Does anyone create a star like the stars, or a sun like the suns? They sent satellites to the end of the horizon, and they failed to last even fifty years. Do not try to measure the Creator with the created in any way. Who are we? Allah created man weak. It is obligatory for him to believe in what has been conveyed to him and to turn away from what has not been conveyed to him. This is the duty, my brothers. If you try anything other than that, you will go astray.
The student : Shaykh, it is time.
The Shaykh : It is over, the lesson has ended, but we want to take the lesson on inheritance; it does not conflict.