THE ATTRIBUTE OF ALLAAH
One of the things that increase Imaan is to understand the beautiful names and attributes of Allah and have firm belief in them. The aqeedah of a Muslim (i.e. his belief) regarding Allah and other unseen beings as reported both in the Quraan and authentic hadith of the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) is fundamental to how he practices Islam. Right understanding of the attributes of Allah is essential and fundamental. If Allah gives Himself an attribute but was rejected, denied or misinterpreted, this may lead the person to kufr. There are some attributes with which Allah has described Himself but seems like that of human beings. How should we understand them? Allah says: "there is nothing like unto Him, and He is the all-Hearer, the all-Seer." (Q42 [Ash-Shura]:11)
The above ayah performs two important functions as regards the attributes of Allah. The first part of it denies any resemblance of Allah in whatever form. The other part affirms the attributes of Allah. This implies that Allah has attributes but they do not resemble any of His creation. Allah describes Himself with the following attributes: face (Q55:27), two hands (Q5:64, Q39:67), two eyes (Q11:37), love, hate, leg and foot, descends, comes closer; A number of people have erred regarding their understanding of Allaah’s attributes. Some resemble or compare Allah’s attributes to that of creation (Tashbeeh or Tamleel); some liken Allaah to a body (Tajseem); some others enquire into the how and nature of the attributes of Allaah (Takyeef). Some others distort the meaning of these attributes or even change it altogether (Tahreef and Tagyeer) some try to figuratively interpret the meaning of Allaahs attributes (Taweel) or even deny them outrightly (Tateel).
These distortions about the attributes of Allaah as described above are wrong. The issues of ibaadah and aqeedah are that of limitation (Tawqeef). i.e restricting oneself to the text of the Quraan and hadeeth as explained by the Prophet (salalIahu alayhi wa sallam) and understood by the sahabah. The knowledge of man cant encompass the nature of Allah and His attributes.
To safeguard oneself from heresy and deviation, one should leave the matter as it is. Imam Ash-Shafiee is reported to have said: "To Allah belong names and attributes that occur in His book and His prophet related to the nation. It is not possible for anyone to refute (radd) them. So the one who contradicts this after the evidence has been established against him, then he is a kaafir (non-believer), and is for before the establishment of the proof then, he is excused due to ignorance, because the knowledge of that cant be attained through the intellect. So we affirm these attributes and we negate Tashbeeh (likening Allah to his creation) as Allah negated it by saying, "there is nothing like Him." Nuayn ibn Hammad, the Shaykh of Bukharee, said, "whoever compares Allah with His creation has committed kufr (unbelief).
Whoever denies what Allah has described Himself with has also committed kufr (unbelief). Whatever He has described Himself with, or His messenger (described Him with), then there is no Tashbeeh (resemblance) in it." The only way to safeguard oneself from going astray is to believe in the attribute of Allah without asking "how?" because the question cannot be answered by anybody but Allah and Allah alone.
ADMONITION: Seek help in whatever you do by being discreet." "The worst thief among people is the one who steals from his prayer, by not doing rukoo and sujood properly." "No one can keep their wudoo except the believer. " "Everyone who is given a blessing will be envied."
AR-RAUF [THE MOST KIND]
A woman who had a son of tiers with her was kindling a fire under her pot. and when the heat increased she moved him away. She then went to the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) and asked "Is Allah not more Merciful to His servants than a mother to her child?" and when the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) assured her that He certainly was. she replied that a mother does not cast her child into the fire. Allahs Messenger (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) then bowed his head and wept. and afterwards raised it looked at her and said. "AIlaah punishes only those of His servants who act audaciously towards Him and refuse to say that there is no god but AIlah." (Tirmidhi)
Allah's kindness is divided into two. One part He accords His creatures living on earth the other (by right the greatest) He reserves till the Day of Judgment. The Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "There are one hundred (parts of) mercy of Allah and He has sent down out of these one part of mercy upon the jinn and human beings and the insects and it is because of this (one part) that they love one another show kindness to one another and even the beast treats its young one with affection and Allah has reserved ninety-nine parts of mercy with which He would treat His servants on the Day of Resurrection." (Muslim) Part of His kindness is that He has guided man to faith. He leads man from the darkness of kufr into the light of faith: "He is the One Who Sends to His servants manifest Signs that He may lead you from the depths of Darkness into the Light. And verily Allah Is to you Most Kind and Merciful." (Q57[Hadid]:9).
Sometimes our follies make us commit misdeeds that are enough reason that Allaah should destroy us but instead He kept open a wide route to repentance and forgiveness, "Were it not for the grace and mercy of Allah on you and that Allah is full of kindness and mercy (you would be ruined indeed)." (Q24[Nur]:22)
Part of Allaah’s kindness are the vast conveniences of life: "and cattle He has created for you (men): from them you derive warmth and numerous benefits and of their (meat) you eat. And you have a sense of pride and beauty in them as you drive them home in the evening and as you lead them forth to pasture in the morning. And they carry your heavy loads to lands that you could not (otherwise) reach except with souls distressed: for your Lord is indeed Most Kind Most Merciful. And (He has created) horses mules and donkeys for you to ride and use for show; and He has created (other) things of - what you have no knowledge." (Q 16[Nahl]:5-8)
What Allaah has demanded for all He has done for us is to follow His guidance. No doubt the path is fraught with trials and difficulties but if we are sincere with our faith. He will strengthen us when, we are occasionally weakened just as "Allaah turned with favour to the prophet, the Muhajirs and the Ansar who followed Him in a time of distress after that the hearts of a part of them had nearly swerved (from duty); but He turned to them (also): for He is unto them Most Kind Most Merciful." (Q9[Taubah]: 117)
On the Day of Judgement, when all the sins man has all the while thought were insignificant will tower on him like a hovering mountain at this point nothing will avail him against the command of Allaah except His kindness and mercy for those who sincerely served Him in the world: "On the day when every soul will be confronted with all the good it has done and all the evil it has done it will wish there were a great distance between it and its evil. But Allah cautions you (to remember) Himself. And Allah is full of kindness to those that serve Him." (Q3 [A1i-I-lmran]:30) Renounce pleasure in worldly things and Allaah will love you "Show disinterest in what people have and people will love you. " feel properly shy and modest before Allaah." Protect "the head and what does through it (thoughts and ideas)." Protect "the stomach and what goes into it."
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited
THE ATTRIBUTE OF ALLAAH
One of the things that increase Imaan is to understand the beautiful names and attributes of Allah and have firm belief in them. The aqeedah of a Muslim (i.e. his belief) regarding Allah and other unseen beings as reported both in the Quraan and authentic hadith of the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) is fundamental to how he practices Islam. Right understanding of the attributes of Allah is essential and fundamental. If Allah gives Himself an attribute but was rejected, denied or misinterpreted, this may lead the person to kufr. There are some attributes with which Allah has described Himself but seems like that of human beings. How should we understand them? Allah says, "there is nothing like unto Him, and He is the all-Hearer, the all-Seer." (Q42 [Ash-Shura]:11)
The above ayah performs two important functions as regards the attributes of Allah. The first part of it denies any resemblance of Allah in whatever form. The other part affirms the attributes of Allah. This implies that Allah has attributes but they do not resemble any of His creation. Allah describes Himself with the following attributes: face (Q55:27), two hands (Q5:64, Q39:67), two eyes (Q11:37), love, hate, leg and foot, descends, comes closer; A number of people have erred regarding their understanding of Allaahs attributes. Some resemble or compare Allahs attributes to that of creation (Tashbeeh or Tamleel); some liken Allaah to a body (Tajseem); some others enquire into the how and nature of the attributes of Allaah (Takyeef). Some others distort the meaning of these attributes or even change it altogether (Tahreef and Tagyeer) some try to figuratively interpret the meaning of Allaahs attributes (Taweel) or even deny them outrightly (Tateel).
These distortions about the attributes of Allaah as described above are wrong. The issues of ibaadah and aqeedah are that of limitation (Tawqeef). i.e restricting oneself to the text of the Quraan and hadeeth as explained by the Prophet (salalIahu alayhi wa sallam) and understood by the sahabah. The knowledge of man cant encompass the nature of Allah and His attributes.
To safeguard oneself from heresy and deviation, one should leave the matter as it is. Imam Ash-Shafiee is reported to have said: "To Allah belong names and attributes that occur in His book and His prophet related to the nation. It is not possible for anyone to refute (radd) them. So the one who contradicts this after the evidence has been established against him, then he is a kaafir (non-believer), and is for before the establishment of the proof then, he is excused due to ignorance, because the knowledge of that cant be attained through the intellect. So we affirm these attributes and we negate Tashbeeh (likening Allah to his creation) as Allah negated it by saying, "there is nothing like Him." Nuayn ibn Hammad, the Shaykh of Bukharee, said, "whoever compares Allah with His creation has committed kufr (unbelief).
Whoever denies what Allah has described Himself with has also committed kufr (unbelief). Whatever He has described Himself with, or His messenger (described Him with), then there is no Tashbeeh (resemblance) in it." The only way to safeguard oneself from going astray is to believe in the attribute of Allah without asking "how?" because the question cannot be answered by anybody but Allah and Allah alone.
ADMONITION: Seek help in whatever you do by being discreet." "The worst thief among people is the one who steals from his prayer, by not doing rukoo and sujood properly." "No one can keep their wudoo except the believer. " "Everyone who is given a blessing will be envied."
AR-RAUF [THE MOST KIND]
A woman who had a son of tiers with her was kindling a fire under her pot. and when the heat increased she moved him away. She then went to the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) and asked "Is Allah not more Merciful to His servants than a mother to her child?" and when the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) assured her that He certainly was. she replied that a mother does not cast her child into the fire. Allahs Messenger (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) then bowed his head and wept. and afterwards raised it. looked at her and said. "AIlaah punishes only those of His servants who act audaciously towards Him and refuse to say that there is no god but AIlah." (Tirmidhi)
Allah's kindness is divided into two. One part He accords His creatures living on earth. the other (by right the greatest) He reserves till the Day of Judgment. The Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "There are one hundred (parts of) mercy of Allah and He has sent down out of these one part of mercy upon the jinn and human beings and the insects and it is because of this (one part) that they love one another. show kindness to one another and even the beast treats its young one with affection. and Allah has reserved ninety-nine parts of mercy with which He would treat His servants on the Day of Resurrection." (Muslim) Part of His kindness is that He has guided man to faith. He leads man from the darkness of kufr intothe light of faith: ﾫHe is the One Who Sends to His servants manifest Signs that He may lead you from the depths of Darkness into the Light. And verily Allah Is to you Most Kind and Merciful." (Q57[Hadid]:9).
Sometimes our follies make us commit misdeeds that are enough reason that Allaah should destroy us but instead He kept open a wide route to repentance and forgiveness, "Were it not for the grace and mercy of Allah on you and that Allah is full of kindness and mercy (you would be ruined indeed)." (Q24[Nur1:22) Part of Allaahs kindness are the vast conveniences of life: and cattle He has created for you (men): from them you derive warmth and numerous benefits and of their (meat) you eat. And you have a sense of pride and beauty in them as you drive them home in the evening and as you lead them forth to pasture in the morning. And they carry your heavy loads to lands that you could not (otherwise) reach except with souls distressed: for your Lord is indeed Most Kind Most Merciful. And (He has created) horses mules and donkeys for you to rideﾕ and use for show; and He has created (other) things of - what you have no knowledge." (Q 16[Nahl]:5-8)
What Allaah has demanded for all He has done for us is to follow His guidance. No doubt. the path is fraught with trials and difficulties but if we are sincere with our faith. He will strengthen us when, we are occasionally weakened just as "Allaah turned with favour to the prophet, the Muhajirs and the Ansar who followed Him in a time of distress after that the hearts of a part of them had nearly swerved (from duty); but He turned to them (also): for He is unto them Most Kind Most Merciful." (Q9[Taubah]: 117)
On the Day of Judgement. when all the sins man has all the while thought were insignificant will tower on him like a hovering mountain at this point nothing will avail him against the command of Allaah except His kindness and mercy for those who sincerely served Him in the world: "On the day when every soul will be confronted with all the good it has done and all the evil it has done it will wish there were a great distance between it and its evil. But Allah cautions you (to remember) Himself. And Allah is full of kindness to those that serve Him." (Q3 [A1i-I-lmran]:30) Renounce pleasure in worldly things and Allaah will love youﾔ "Show disinterest in what people have and people will love you." "feel properly shy and modest before Allaah." Protect "the head and what does through it (thoughts and ideas)." Protect "the stomach and what goes into it. "
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited