What is the ruling on saying the phrase "There is no limit to Allah"?
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The student: ... limit?
The Shaykh : The word "limit" and the word "body" and similar expressions are religious innovations intended by the people of denial of the divine attributes to force the people of the Sunnah and the community to accept what is not befitting of Allah. As for "limit," we ask: First, the word "limit" did not come in the Book or the Sunnah, neither as an affirmation nor a negation, so let it be set aside. Second, in terms of meaning, if you mean that Allah is limited in the sense that He is distinct from the creation, that He alone is one thing and the created things are another, then this is correct. If you mean that He is limited in the sense that something from the creation surrounds Him, then this is invalid. We do not need to say "limit" or "no limit." Indeed, some scholars disliked saying, "He rose above the Throne with His Self," saying: Do not say "with His Self"; we do not need to say "with His Self." If one says, "He rose above the Throne," it means He Himself, so what is the need to say "with His Self"? But some of the Salaf were compelled to use the phrase "with His Self" to ward off the innovation, saying: "He descends to the lowest heaven with His Self." Do we need "with His Self"? ... Because Allah attributed the action to HimselfMishkat al-Masabih 2601 We do not need to say: "with His Self." It is known from the word "descends" that it is He who descends. But they needed to say "with His Self" in response to the innovators who said: "Allah descends, meaning His command." So they countered "His command" with "with His Self." The phrase "with His Self" is valid, and the expression indicates it, while the phrase "His command" is invalid. Be aware that the Salaf (may Allah have mercy on them) sometimes express themselves with things they are compelled to use, but these do not contradict the truth, even though it is better to leave them out because the Companions left them out. But did these innovations appear among the Companions? No, they did not. That is why it is said: and they do not say "with His Self," because there was no one among them who said: "His command comes" or "His command descends" or similar.
The Shaykh : The word "limit" and the word "body" and similar expressions are religious innovations intended by the people of denial of the divine attributes to force the people of the Sunnah and the community to accept what is not befitting of Allah. As for "limit," we ask: First, the word "limit" did not come in the Book or the Sunnah, neither as an affirmation nor a negation, so let it be set aside. Second, in terms of meaning, if you mean that Allah is limited in the sense that He is distinct from the creation, that He alone is one thing and the created things are another, then this is correct. If you mean that He is limited in the sense that something from the creation surrounds Him, then this is invalid. We do not need to say "limit" or "no limit." Indeed, some scholars disliked saying, "He rose above the Throne with His Self," saying: Do not say "with His Self"; we do not need to say "with His Self." If one says, "He rose above the Throne," it means He Himself, so what is the need to say "with His Self"? But some of the Salaf were compelled to use the phrase "with His Self" to ward off the innovation, saying: "He descends to the lowest heaven with His Self." Do we need "with His Self"? ... Because Allah attributed the action to Himself