We hold it obligatory to apply the texts of the Book and the Sunnah in this matter according to their apparent meaning, and to interpret them in accordance with the reality befitting Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh :"We hold it obligatory to apply the texts of the Book and the Sunnah in this matter according to their apparent meaning".
We hold it obligatory; the author is speaking on behalf of the people of the Sunnah, not on behalf of himself and not exalting himself, but he is speaking on behalf of the people of the Sunnah. He says: "We hold it obligatory to apply the texts of the Book and the Sunnah" in this matter, meaning: in what Allah has described Himself with, "according to their apparent meaning and interpreting them" meaning: the obligation to interpret them "in accordance with the reality befitting Allah (Mighty and Majestic)".
And this, the aspect of this, the aspect of the evidence for this is the saying of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He):[Az-Zukhruf 43:3] What? Meaning: so that you may understand, and He said: [Al-A'raf 7:3]. So the evidence for the obligation to apply them according to their apparent meaning is these two verses.
The first one? Read it? Read it? Beware that you stand up from your place, or that you are made to stand up from your place.
The student:.
The Shaykh : No, where did you go?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Hm?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Okay, tell us its meaning.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : No, it is not this, no, no, it is not this. Yes.
The student: His saying, Exalted is He:[Az-Zukhruf 43:3].
The Shaykh :, meaning: We made it in the Arabic language so that you may understand it.
Then He said: "[Al-A'raf 7:3]" So we were commanded to follow it according to the understanding we derive from the language, what? Arabic, because Allah the Exalted said: [Az-Zukhruf 43:3]. And on this basis, if the Book and the Sunnah indicate a meaning that we understand by virtue of the Arabic language, it is obligatory for us to what? To follow it.
Among this is the saying of Allah the Exalted: Ah?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Meaning: He rose above it? Ha?
The student: The Throne is above the heavens.
The Shaykh : The Throne is above the heavens, but what is the meaning of "He rose above it"? Meaning: He rose above it.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : "He rose above it," He rose above it, is that right?
Correct, "He rose above the Throne" means: He rose above the Throne.
The evidence? That "He rose above" something in the Arabic language means He rose above it. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Mu'minun 23:28], and He the Exalted said: [Az-Zukhruf 43:12-13]. And take the remaining examples on this basis; whatever the Qur'an indicates by virtue of Arabic, take it, and do not grieve, take it and do not grieve, because this is what Allah commanded you to do [Al-A'raf 7:3].
And for this reason he said: "We hold it obligatory to apply the texts of the Book and the Sunnah in this matter according to their apparent meaning" and you have known the evidence. He said: "and to interpret them in accordance with their reality" and this is part of the completion of applying them according to their apparent meaning, that we interpret them in accordance with their reality. But he said: "befitting Allah" and this is the point of benefit, "befitting Allah" meaning: not according to an apparent meaning that resembles the created beings, no, we do not see this; we see interpreting them according to their apparent meaning, what? The one befitting Allah.
And for this reason, if someone said to you: "Allah rose above the Throne, He rose above it as one of us rises above a chair?" Say: No, meaning, do not touch it lightly, meaning, or with strength? No, not with strength and not lightly? With strength, no, no, not as a person rises above a chair, because if you interpreted it with this interpretation, you would interpret it in a way that is not befitting Allah, because Allah the Exalted said in His Book:[Ash-Shuraa 42:11]. Is that clear, everyone? Okay, so "the obligation to apply them according to their apparent meaning" interpreting them in accordance with the reality, what? The one befitting Allah, not the one resembling the created beings.
We hold it obligatory; the author is speaking on behalf of the people of the Sunnah, not on behalf of himself and not exalting himself, but he is speaking on behalf of the people of the Sunnah. He says: "We hold it obligatory to apply the texts of the Book and the Sunnah" in this matter, meaning: in what Allah has described Himself with, "according to their apparent meaning and interpreting them" meaning: the obligation to interpret them "in accordance with the reality befitting Allah (Mighty and Majestic)".
And this, the aspect of this, the aspect of the evidence for this is the saying of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He):
Indeed, We have made it an Arabic Qur'an
إنا جعلناه قرآنا عربياthat you may understand
لعلكم تعقلونFollow, [O mankind], what has been revealed to you from your Lord and do not follow other than Him any allies. Little do you remember.
اتبعوا ما أنزل إليكم من ربكم ولا تتبعوا من دونه أولياء قليلا ما تذكرونThe first one? Read it? Read it? Beware that you stand up from your place, or that you are made to stand up from your place.
The student:
Follow what
اتبعوا ماThe Shaykh : No, where did you go?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Hm?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Okay, tell us its meaning.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : No, it is not this, no, no, it is not this. Yes.
The student: His saying, Exalted is He:
Indeed, We have made it an Arabic Qur'an
إنا جعلناه قرآنا عربياThe Shaykh :
that you may understand
لعلكم تعقلونThen He said: "
Follow, [O mankind], what has been revealed to you from your Lord
اتبعوا ما أنزل إليكم من ربكمIndeed, We have made it an Arabic Qur'an
إنا جعلناه قرآنا عربياAmong this is the saying of Allah the Exalted:
Then He rose above the Throne
ثم استوى على العرشThe student: ... .
The Shaykh : Meaning: He rose above it? Ha?
The student: The Throne is above the heavens.
The Shaykh : The Throne is above the heavens, but what is the meaning of "He rose above it"? Meaning: He rose above it.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : "He rose above it," He rose above it, is that right?
Correct, "He rose above the Throne" means: He rose above the Throne.
The evidence? That "He rose above" something in the Arabic language means He rose above it. Allah the Exalted said:
And when you have boarded the ship, you and those with you
فإذا استويت أنت ومن معك على الفلكand has made for you of ships and animals those which you mount. (13) That you may settle yourselves upon their backs
وجعل لكم من الفلك والأنعام ما تركبون لتستووا على ظهورهFollow, [O mankind], what has been revealed to you from your Lord
اتبعوا ما أنزل إليكم من ربكمAnd for this reason he said: "We hold it obligatory to apply the texts of the Book and the Sunnah in this matter according to their apparent meaning" and you have known the evidence. He said: "and to interpret them in accordance with their reality" and this is part of the completion of applying them according to their apparent meaning, that we interpret them in accordance with their reality. But he said: "befitting Allah" and this is the point of benefit, "befitting Allah" meaning: not according to an apparent meaning that resembles the created beings, no, we do not see this; we see interpreting them according to their apparent meaning, what? The one befitting Allah.
And for this reason, if someone said to you: "Allah rose above the Throne, He rose above it as one of us rises above a chair?" Say: No, meaning, do not touch it lightly, meaning, or with strength? No, not with strength and not lightly? With strength, no, no, not as a person rises above a chair, because if you interpreted it with this interpretation, you would interpret it in a way that is not befitting Allah, because Allah the Exalted said in His Book: