Explanation of the author's statement and his saying: (So do not set up likenesses for Allah. Indeed, Allah knows, but you do not know)
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : Then the author (may Allah have mercy on him) said: [An-Nahl 16:74] meaning do not make a likeness for Allah, saying that the likeness of Allah is like such and such. [An-Nahl 16:74] meaning that He, Glorified and Exalted is He, knows that He has no likeness, and He has informed you that He has no likeness in His saying: [Ash-Shuraa 42:11] [Al-Ikhlas 112:4] [Maryam 19:65] and the like. So Allah knows, but you do not know. It may be said that this sentence contains clear evidence that Allah has no likeness, and that it is like setting a likeness in the impossibility of a likeness. How? Because we do not know, but Allah knows. So when general knowledge is negated for us and established for Allah, it becomes clear that there is no likeness. And what indicates the deficiency of our knowledge is that a person does not know what he will do the next day [Luqman 31:34] and that a person does not know his own self that is between his two sides [Al-Isra 17:85]. The philosophers and those who engage in philosophy and others have continued to search for the reality of this soul, yet they have not reached its reality, even though it is the substance of life. This indicates the deficiency of knowledge. Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Isra 17:85] If you ask how to reconcile this verse: [An-Nahl 16:74] with His saying: [Al-Baqarah 2:22] the answer is that there He is addressing those who associate partners with Him in divinity, saying: [Al-Baqarah 2:22] in worship and divinity, and you know that He has no peer in lordship. Read the verse: As for here, it is in the chapter of attributes: do not set up likenesses for Allah, saying for example that the hand of Allah is like the hand of such and such, or the face of Allah is like the face of such and such, or the essence of Allah is like the essence of such and such, and the like. Because Allah the Exalted knows, but you do not know, and He has informed you that He has no equal.
[Al-A'raf 7:33] ... If someone says: [An-Nahl 16:74] This is a negative attribute, but what perfection does it contain?
The student: The perfection of the attributes of Allah
The Shaykh : The perfection of the attributes of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, in that He has no equal
As for the practical benefit taken from this verse, it is the perfection of our magnification of the Lord, Mighty and Majestic. Because if we know that He has no equal, we attach ourselves to Him with hope and fear, and we magnify Him, and we know that no sultan, king, minister, or president can be like Him, no matter how great their kingship, presidency, or ministry may be, because Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, has no likeness.
So do not assert similarities to Allah. Indeed, Allah knows and you do not know.
فلا تضربوا لله الأمثال إن الله يعلم وأنتم لا تعلمونIndeed, Allah knows and you do not know.
إن الله يعلم وأنتم لا تعلمونThere is nothing like unto Him
ليس كمثله شيءNor is there to Him any equivalent."
لم يكن له كفواً أحدDo you know of any similarity to Him?"
هل تعلم له سمياًno soul perceives what it will earn tomorrow
وما تدري نفس ماذا تكسب غداًAnd they ask you, [O Muhammad], about the soul. Say, "The soul is of the affair of my Lord
ويسألونك عن الروح قل الروح من أمر ربيAnd they ask you, [O Muhammad], about the soul. Say, "The soul is of the affair of my Lord. And mankind have not been given of knowledge except a little."
ويسألونك عن الروح قل الروح من أمر ربي وما أوتيتم من العلم إلا قليلاًSo do not assert similarities to Allah. Indeed, Allah knows and you do not know.
فلا تضربوا لله الأمثال إن الله يعلم وأنتم لا تعلمونSo do not attribute to Allah equals while you know [that there is nothing similar to Him].
فلا تجعلوا لله أنداداً وأنتم تعلمونdo not attribute to Allah equals
لا تجعلوا لله أنداداO mankind, worship your Lord who created you and those before you, that you may be righteous. He who made for you the earth a bed and the sky a building, and sent down from the sky water, and brought forth thereby fruits as provision for you. So do not set up rivals for Allah while you know
يا أيها الناس اعبدوا ربكم الذي خلقكم والذين من قبلكم لعلكم تتقون الذي جعل لكم الذي جعل لكم الأرض فراشا والسماء بناءً وأنزل من السماء ماء فأخرج به من الثمرات رزقاً لكم فلا تجعلوا لله أنداداً وأنتم تعلمونSay, "My Lord has only forbidden immoralities
قل إنما حرم ربي الفواحشSo do not assert similarities to Allah. Indeed, Allah knows and you do not know.
فلا تضربوا لله الأمثال إن الله يعلم وأنتم لا تعلمونThe student: The perfection of the attributes of Allah
The Shaykh : The perfection of the attributes of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, in that He has no equal
As for the practical benefit taken from this verse, it is the perfection of our magnification of the Lord, Mighty and Majestic. Because if we know that He has no equal, we attach ourselves to Him with hope and fear, and we magnify Him, and we know that no sultan, king, minister, or president can be like Him, no matter how great their kingship, presidency, or ministry may be, because Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, has no likeness.