What is the Asha'irah's reasoning for denying the attribute of satisfaction to Allah the Exalted?
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The questioner : Shaykh, what is the reason the Asha'irah deny... Allah Mighty and Majestic
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : What is the Asha'irah's reason for denying satisfaction? Why did they not say that it is an attribute of Allah Mighty and Majestic?
The Shaykh : Satisfaction
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : They say that satisfaction is a reaction, a reaction that befalls a person when something suitable to him occurs. And Allah is free from reactions and from actions. And they say a strange word, O Usamah, they say: "Glory to the One who is free from parts, purposes, and attributes." When the common person hears these words, he cries out: "Glory to You, Glory to the One who is free from what?"
The student: From parts
The Shaykh : From parts, attributes, and purposes. You have understood. So, glory to the One who is free from parts. In their view, they deny the face, the hands, the two eyes, the foot, and the leg, because these are parts. As for the attributes of action, they say that the attributes of action are accidents that vanish. A person becomes angry, then... the anger... Allah does not become angry, because this is an accident. He rose above the Throne after He was not above it. They say this is an accident, so He is free from it. All voluntary actions, in their view, Allah is free from them. What is left for us?
The student: Purposes
The Shaykh : Purposes. The ruling is that there is nothing, absolutely nothing, in the divine decree or the destiny that is attributed to a wisdom. Rather, Allah the Exalted does what He wills without wisdom. And according to their opinion, it is permissible for Allah the Exalted to do what is foolish. Do you understand? Memorize this glorification composed of these three words, but do not believe it. Memorize it and do not believe it. Read it. Read it to me.
The student: Glory to the One who is free from attributes, purposes, and parts
The Shaykh : Yes, perfect.
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : What is the Asha'irah's reason for denying satisfaction? Why did they not say that it is an attribute of Allah Mighty and Majestic?
The Shaykh : Satisfaction
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : They say that satisfaction is a reaction, a reaction that befalls a person when something suitable to him occurs. And Allah is free from reactions and from actions. And they say a strange word, O Usamah, they say: "Glory to the One who is free from parts, purposes, and attributes." When the common person hears these words, he cries out: "Glory to You, Glory to the One who is free from what?"
The student: From parts
The Shaykh : From parts, attributes, and purposes. You have understood. So, glory to the One who is free from parts. In their view, they deny the face, the hands, the two eyes, the foot, and the leg, because these are parts. As for the attributes of action, they say that the attributes of action are accidents that vanish. A person becomes angry, then... the anger... Allah does not become angry, because this is an accident. He rose above the Throne after He was not above it. They say this is an accident, so He is free from it. All voluntary actions, in their view, Allah is free from them. What is left for us?
The student: Purposes
The Shaykh : Purposes. The ruling is that there is nothing, absolutely nothing, in the divine decree or the destiny that is attributed to a wisdom. Rather, Allah the Exalted does what He wills without wisdom. And according to their opinion, it is permissible for Allah the Exalted to do what is foolish. Do you understand? Memorize this glorification composed of these three words, but do not believe it. Memorize it and do not believe it. Read it. Read it to me.
The student: Glory to the One who is free from attributes, purposes, and parts
The Shaykh : Yes, perfect.