The Methodology of the People of the Sunnah and the Community Regarding the Names and Attributes
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Question:
A group of students of knowledge sent this question, saying in their question: We would like His Eminence the Shaykh to speak about the methodology of the People of the Sunnah and the Community regarding the Names and Attributes; because we have differed greatly with the brothers on this matter, so please guide us, His Eminence the Shaykh.
Answer:
The methodology of the People of the Sunnah and the Community regarding the Names and Attributes of Allah is that they believe in them and affirm them as they came in the Qur'an and the Sunnah, and they pass them over as they came, without distortion, without denial of the divine attributes, without asking how an attribute is, and without likening Allah to creation. This is the statement of the People of the Sunnah and the Community, who are the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and those who follow their path. They believe in the Names and Attributes of Allah that came in the Noble Qur'an or in the authentic Sunnah, and they affirm them for Allah in the manner befitting Allah, without distorting them, without denying the divine attributes, without asking how an attribute is, and without likening Allah to creation. That is, they do not distort them and change them, nor do they deny them as the Jahmiyyah and the Mu'tazilah do.
Nor do they liken the Attributes of Allah to the attributes of His creation, nor do they ask how an attribute is and say: its manner is such and such, its manner is such and such. No, rather they pass them over as they came, without distortion, without denial of the divine attributes, without asking how an attribute is, and without likening Allah to creation. For example: al-Rahman (The Most Merciful). We say: He is described with mercy in the manner befitting Allah, not like the mercy of the created beings. We do not know its manner, nor do we add to it or subtract from it. And so we say: Allah is described with rising above the Throne: [Ta-Ha:5].
As for how He rose above the Throne? Allah knows best. We do not say as the Jahmiyyah say: He took control. No, we say: He rose above the Throne, meaning: He rose and is high above the Throne. Rising above the Throne is being high and elevated, but in the manner befitting Allah. It does not resemble the rising of the created beings on their mounts or on their rooftops. No, His rising above the Throne is befitting Him and suitable for Him, and it does not resemble the attributes of the created beings. And none knows its manner except He (Exalted and Majestic is He).
Likewise, regarding His anger: it is true that He is angry (Exalted and Majestic is He) with those who disobey Him and contradict His command. But it is not like our anger. We do not ask how an attribute is and say: its manner is such and such. No, we say: He is angry with an anger befitting His Majesty, which does not resemble the attributes of the created beings. As He, the Exalted, said: [Al-Shura:11]. He, the Exalted, said: [Al-Ikhlas:4]. He, the Exalted, said: [Al-Baqarah:22], meaning: likenesses and counterparts.
And so we say: He gives and withholds, He loves, and He hates, but in the manner befitting Allah, not resembling the attributes of the created beings in their love, hatred, dislike, and anger. No, His attributes are befitting Him. And so we say: He has a Face, He has a Hand, He has a Foot, He has Hearing, and He has Sight, but not like our hearing, nor like our sight, nor like our hands, nor like our faces. A Face befitting Allah, a Hand befitting Allah, Hearing befitting Allah, an Eye befitting Allah. He does not resemble His creation in any of His attributes (Exalted and Majestic is He), as He, the Exalted, said: [Al-Shura:11]. And He informed about Himself that He is All-Hearing, All-Seeing: [Al-Anfal:63]: [Al-Ma'idah:64], [Sad:75]. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: meaning: Enough, enough. And so the rest of the attributes we pass over as they came, with belief in them and affirming them for Allah in the manner befitting Allah, without distortion, without denial of the divine attributes, without asking how an attribute is, and without likening Allah to creation. We say: they are established, and they are the truth, and none knows their manner except He, the Exalted, as He (Exalted and Majestic is He) said: [Al-Shura:11].
And when Malik ibn Anas (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about rising above the Throne, he said: Rising above the Throne is known, the manner is unknown, belief in it is obligatory, and asking about it is a religious innovation, meaning: asking about the manner.
And so said Sufyan al-Thawri, Ibn 'Uyaynah, al-Awza'i, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Imam Ishaq ibn Rahawayh, and others of the Imams of the Salaf. And so the Companions and the Tabi'un are upon this path: they do not liken the Attributes of Allah to the attributes of His creation, nor do they ask how an attribute is, nor do they say: how, how? Rather, they say: We affirm them for Allah, in the manner befitting Allah, without distortion, without denial of the divine attributes, without asking how an attribute is, and without likening Allah to creation. Rather, we say as He, the Exalted, said: [Al-Shura:11]. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh.
A group of students of knowledge sent this question, saying in their question: We would like His Eminence the Shaykh to speak about the methodology of the People of the Sunnah and the Community regarding the Names and Attributes; because we have differed greatly with the brothers on this matter, so please guide us, His Eminence the Shaykh.
Answer:
The methodology of the People of the Sunnah and the Community regarding the Names and Attributes of Allah is that they believe in them and affirm them as they came in the Qur'an and the Sunnah, and they pass them over as they came, without distortion, without denial of the divine attributes, without asking how an attribute is, and without likening Allah to creation. This is the statement of the People of the Sunnah and the Community, who are the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and those who follow their path. They believe in the Names and Attributes of Allah that came in the Noble Qur'an or in the authentic Sunnah, and they affirm them for Allah in the manner befitting Allah, without distorting them, without denying the divine attributes, without asking how an attribute is, and without likening Allah to creation. That is, they do not distort them and change them, nor do they deny them as the Jahmiyyah and the Mu'tazilah do.
Nor do they liken the Attributes of Allah to the attributes of His creation, nor do they ask how an attribute is and say: its manner is such and such, its manner is such and such. No, rather they pass them over as they came, without distortion, without denial of the divine attributes, without asking how an attribute is, and without likening Allah to creation. For example: al-Rahman (The Most Merciful). We say: He is described with mercy in the manner befitting Allah, not like the mercy of the created beings. We do not know its manner, nor do we add to it or subtract from it. And so we say: Allah is described with rising above the Throne:
The Most Merciful [who is] above the Throne established.
الرَّحْمَنُ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ اسْتَوَىAs for how He rose above the Throne? Allah knows best. We do not say as the Jahmiyyah say: He took control. No, we say: He rose above the Throne, meaning: He rose and is high above the Throne. Rising above the Throne is being high and elevated, but in the manner befitting Allah. It does not resemble the rising of the created beings on their mounts or on their rooftops. No, His rising above the Throne is befitting Him and suitable for Him, and it does not resemble the attributes of the created beings. And none knows its manner except He (Exalted and Majestic is He).
Likewise, regarding His anger: it is true that He is angry (Exalted and Majestic is He) with those who disobey Him and contradict His command. But it is not like our anger. We do not ask how an attribute is and say: its manner is such and such. No, we say: He is angry with an anger befitting His Majesty, which does not resemble the attributes of the created beings. As He, the Exalted, said:
There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ البَصِيرُNor is there to Him any equivalent."
وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌSo do not attribute to Allah equals
فَلا تَجْعَلُوا لِلَّهِ أَندَادًاAnd so we say: He gives and withholds, He loves, and He hates, but in the manner befitting Allah, not resembling the attributes of the created beings in their love, hatred, dislike, and anger. No, His attributes are befitting Him. And so we say: He has a Face, He has a Hand, He has a Foot, He has Hearing, and He has Sight, but not like our hearing, nor like our sight, nor like our hands, nor like our faces. A Face befitting Allah, a Hand befitting Allah, Hearing befitting Allah, an Eye befitting Allah. He does not resemble His creation in any of His attributes (Exalted and Majestic is He), as He, the Exalted, said:
There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ البَصِيرُIndeed, He is Exalted in Might and Wise.
إِنَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌRather, both His hands are extended
بَلْ يَدَاهُ مَبْسُوطَتَانِwhat prevented you from prostrating to that which I created with My hands?
مَا مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تَسْجُدَ لِمَا خَلَقْتُ بِيَدَيَّHellfire will not cease to be thrown into, and it will say: Is there any more? Until the Mighty One places His Foot in it, so some of it will shrink together, and then it will say: Enough, enough
لا تزال جهنم يلقى فيها، وهي تقول: هل من مزيد؟ حتى يضع الجبار فيها قدمه فينزوي بعضها إلى بعض، ثم تقول: قط قطThere is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ البَصِيرُAnd when Malik ibn Anas (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about rising above the Throne, he said: Rising above the Throne is known, the manner is unknown, belief in it is obligatory, and asking about it is a religious innovation, meaning: asking about the manner.
And so said Sufyan al-Thawri, Ibn 'Uyaynah, al-Awza'i, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Imam Ishaq ibn Rahawayh, and others of the Imams of the Salaf. And so the Companions and the Tabi'un are upon this path: they do not liken the Attributes of Allah to the attributes of His creation, nor do they ask how an attribute is, nor do they say: how, how? Rather, they say: We affirm them for Allah, in the manner befitting Allah, without distortion, without denial of the divine attributes, without asking how an attribute is, and without likening Allah to creation. Rather, we say as He, the Exalted, said:
There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ البَصِيرُThe presenter: May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.