The Meaning of Distortion in the Names of Allah
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Question:
What is meant by distortion in the names of Allah, as mentioned in the saying of Allah the Exalted: “And leave those who distort His names” [Al-A'raf: 180]?
Answer:
Linguistically, distortion means deviation or turning away from something. Distortion in the names of Allah and His signs means deviating from their true realities and correct meanings to false meanings that they do not indicate. This is what the Jahmiyyah, the Mu'tazilah, and their followers did when they said that these are mere words that do not contain attributes or meanings; for example, Al-Sami' (The All-Hearing) does not indicate hearing, and Al-Basir (The All-Seeing) does not indicate sight, and so on. Allah has threatened those who distort His signs and His names, saying: “And leave those who distort His names; they will be recompensed for what they used to do” [Al-A'raf: 180]. He also said: “Indeed, those who distort Our verses will not escape from Us” [Fussilat: 40]. Similarly, the Asha'irah say that the hand means grace, and the face means the essence, and so on. These are false interpretations that are, in their reality, distortion in the names and attributes of Allah. It is obligatory to affirm them as they came and to believe in the true meanings they indicate.
What is meant by distortion in the names of Allah, as mentioned in the saying of Allah the Exalted: “And leave those who distort His names” [Al-A'raf: 180]?
Answer:
Linguistically, distortion means deviation or turning away from something. Distortion in the names of Allah and His signs means deviating from their true realities and correct meanings to false meanings that they do not indicate. This is what the Jahmiyyah, the Mu'tazilah, and their followers did when they said that these are mere words that do not contain attributes or meanings; for example, Al-Sami' (The All-Hearing) does not indicate hearing, and Al-Basir (The All-Seeing) does not indicate sight, and so on. Allah has threatened those who distort His signs and His names, saying: “And leave those who distort His names; they will be recompensed for what they used to do” [Al-A'raf: 180]. He also said: “Indeed, those who distort Our verses will not escape from Us” [Fussilat: 40]. Similarly, the Asha'irah say that the hand means grace, and the face means the essence, and so on. These are false interpretations that are, in their reality, distortion in the names and attributes of Allah. It is obligatory to affirm them as they came and to believe in the true meanings they indicate.
Source
www.alfawzan.af.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.