The Ruling on Ta'wil (Figurative Interpretation) of the Attributes
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Q: A brother asks and says: What is the ruling on ta'wil (figurative interpretation) of the attributes?
A: Ta'wil (figurative interpretation) of the attributes is reprehensible and not permissible. Rather, it is obligatory to pass the attributes as they came, in their apparent meaning befitting Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He), without tahrif (distortion of a text's meaning), ta'til (denial of the divine attributes), takyif (asking how an attribute is), or tamthil (comparing Allah to creation). Allah (Mighty and Majestic) informed us of His attributes and His names, and He said: [Surah al-Shura: 11]. So it is upon us to pass them as they came. And so said the people of the Sunnah and the community: "Pass them as they came without asking how," meaning pass them as they came without distorting them, interpreting them figuratively, asking how, or comparing. Rather, affirm them as they came in their apparent meaning and in the manner befitting Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He), and without asking how or comparing.
It is said regarding the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Surah Ta-Ha: 5] and similar verses: It is an istiwa' (rising above the Throne) befitting the majesty and greatness of Allah, not resembling the istiwa' of the created beings. And its meaning according to the people of truth is: elevation and rising high.
And so it is said regarding the Eye, the Hearing, the Sight, the Hand, the Foot, and other attributes established for Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) and mentioned in the sacred texts. All of them are attributes befitting Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), and creation does not resemble Him in them (Exalted and Majestic is He). And upon this path walked the people of knowledge from the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and those after them from the imams of the Sunnah, such as al-Awza'i, al-Thawri, Malik, Abu Hanifah, Ahmad, Ishaq, and others from the imams of the Muslims—may Allah have mercy on them all.
Among this is the saying of Allah the Exalted in the story of Noah:[Al-Qamar 54:13-14] the verse [Surah al-Qamar: 13-14], and His saying (Glorified is He) in the story of Moses: [Surah Ta-Ha: 39]. The people of the Sunnah interpreted it by saying that the intended meaning of His saying (Glorified is He): is that He (Glorified is He) guided it under His care (Exalted and Majestic is He) until it settled on al-Judi.
So is His saying in the story of Moses: meaning under His care (Glorified and Exalted is He) and His guidance for those who raised him, upon him be peace and blessings.
And so is His saying (Glorified is He) to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): [Surah al-Tur: 48], meaning that you are under our protection, our care, and our safeguarding. And this is not all of it ta'wil (figurative interpretation), rather that is the known interpretation in the language of the Arabs and their styles. And among this is the hadith qudsi, which is the saying of Allah (Glorified is He): Sahih Muslim 2675h It is passed as it came from Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), without tahrif (distortion of a text's meaning), takyif (asking how an attribute is), or tamthil (comparing Allah to creation), but in the manner that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) intended. And so is His descent (Glorified is He) in the last part of the night.
So is the Hearing and the Sight, the Anger and the Pleasure, the Laughing and the Joy, and other established attributes. All of them are passed as they came in the manner befitting Allah, without takyif (asking how an attribute is), tahrif (distortion of a text's meaning), ta'til (denial of the divine attributes), or tamthil (comparing Allah to creation), acting upon His saying (Glorified is He): [Surah al-Shura: 11] and what came in the meaning of it from the verses.
As for ta'wil (figurative interpretation) of the attributes and diverting them from their apparent meaning, that is the doctrine of the people of innovation from the Jahmiyyah (a sect that denied the divine attributes) and the Mu'tazilah (a rationalist theological sect) and those who followed in their footsteps. It is a batil (invalid) doctrine that the people of the Sunnah and the community rejected and disavowed, and they warned against its people. And Allah is the wali (close friend of Allah) of success.
A: Ta'wil (figurative interpretation) of the attributes is reprehensible and not permissible. Rather, it is obligatory to pass the attributes as they came, in their apparent meaning befitting Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He), without tahrif (distortion of a text's meaning), ta'til (denial of the divine attributes), takyif (asking how an attribute is), or tamthil (comparing Allah to creation). Allah (Mighty and Majestic) informed us of His attributes and His names, and He said:
There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُIt is said regarding the saying of Allah the Exalted:
The Most Merciful [who is] above the Throne established.
الرَّحْمَنُ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ اسْتَوَىAnd so it is said regarding the Eye, the Hearing, the Sight, the Hand, the Foot, and other attributes established for Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) and mentioned in the sacred texts. All of them are attributes befitting Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), and creation does not resemble Him in them (Exalted and Majestic is He). And upon this path walked the people of knowledge from the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and those after them from the imams of the Sunnah, such as al-Awza'i, al-Thawri, Malik, Abu Hanifah, Ahmad, Ishaq, and others from the imams of the Muslims—may Allah have mercy on them all.
Among this is the saying of Allah the Exalted in the story of Noah:
(13) And We carried him on a [construction of] planks and nails, (14) Sailing under Our observation as reward for he who had been denied.
وَحَمَلْنَاهُ عَلَى ذَاتِ أَلْوَاحٍ وَدُسُرٍ تَجْرِي بِأَعْيُنِنَاAnd it is made before My eyes
وَلِتُصْنَعَ عَلَى عَيْنِيIt moves by Our eyes
تَجْرِي بِأَعْيُنِنَاSo is His saying in the story of Moses:
And it is made before My eyes
وَلِتُصْنَعَ عَلَى عَيْنِيAnd so is His saying (Glorified is He) to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
And be patient, [O Muhammad], for the decision of your Lord, for indeed, you are in Our eyes.
وَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ فَإِنَّكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَاWhen he draws near Me by the span of his hand. I draw near him by the length of a cubit and when he draws near Me by the length of a cubit. I draw near him by the length of a fathom and when he draws near Me walking I draw close to him hurriedly.
من تقرب إلي شبرا تقربت إليه ذراعا، ومن تقرب إلي ذراعا تقربت إليه باعا، ومن أتاني يمشي أتيته هرولةSo is the Hearing and the Sight, the Anger and the Pleasure, the Laughing and the Joy, and other established attributes. All of them are passed as they came in the manner befitting Allah, without takyif (asking how an attribute is), tahrif (distortion of a text's meaning), ta'til (denial of the divine attributes), or tamthil (comparing Allah to creation), acting upon His saying (Glorified is He):
There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُAs for ta'wil (figurative interpretation) of the attributes and diverting them from their apparent meaning, that is the doctrine of the people of innovation from the Jahmiyyah (a sect that denied the divine attributes) and the Mu'tazilah (a rationalist theological sect) and those who followed in their footsteps. It is a batil (invalid) doctrine that the people of the Sunnah and the community rejected and disavowed, and they warned against its people. And Allah is the wali (close friend of Allah) of success.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.