Why do you, the followers of Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab, differ with the rest of the followers of the Sunnah and adopt the doctrine of embodying and comparing Allaah with His creation?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab and ourselves are followers of Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullaah , the final prophet and messenger. Every Muslim must follow this noble prophet, and no Islam or faith will be accepted except through this following, which is the implication of testifying that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah.

The followers of the Sunnah affirm the Names and Attributes that Allaah has ascribed to Himself or by which His Messenger described Him, without distorting their wordings or meanings, denying, asking how they are, or by drawing resemblance between Allaah and any of His creation, nor stripping the true Sharee‘ah denotations from their meanings.

This was the belief of the Prophet his Companions and those who followed them in the best way. Jurists, scholars of Hadeeth and Muslim Imaams adopted this belief as well. For more details, you may review the books of Sunnah that are concerned with explaining the creed of the followers of the Sunnah, based on the Quran, the Sunnah and the sayings of the Companions, Taabi‘is (their followers) and the [righteous] Imaams.

Embodying or resembling Allaah with His creation is an evil religious innovation which results in disbelief in Allaah The Almighty. Shaykhul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah quoted Nu‘aym ibn Hammaad Al-Khuzaa‘i as stating that he who likens Allaah to His creation is a disbeliever, and he who denies how Allaah has described Himself is also a disbeliever. Moreover, how Allaah describes Himself or His Messenger described Him does not involve any resemblance.

He also clarified that the methodology of the Salaf (righteous predecessors) is midway between two methodologies and guidance between two misguided beliefs, that is: affirming the Attributes of Allaah and rejecting any resemblance with His creation. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.} [Quran 42:11]

The first part of this verse refutes the claims of the people of Tashbeeh and Tamtheel (who liken Allaah to His creation), while the second part rebuts the belief of the people of Nafy and Ta‘teel (who reject and deny His Attributes). He added that the first group worship a god that is like an idol, and the second group worship a nonexistent god.

Contrary to what people attribute to him, Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah spent a long time and much effort in refuting the false claims from those who liken Allaah to His creatures in many of his books. Imaams and devout scholars found him innocent of this accusation, like the eminent scholar Mulla ‘Ali Al-Qaari in his defence of Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Al-Qayyim all. He said that Allaah guarded them against false and corrupt beliefs, and that they were followers of the Sunnah and even allies of Allaah. This was mentioned in his reply to the sayings of Ibn Hajar Al-Haytami . Also, Imaam Ath-Thahabi quoted the saying of Imaam Nu‘aym ibn Hammaad that was previously mentioned by Ibn Taymiyyah . He approved of it and commented that Nu‘aym wanted to say that the attributes are connected with the one described by them. Thus, since the described Holy One has nothing like His Holy Being, the same is the case with His Attributes. This is because there is no difference when talking about a being and its attributes. This was the methodology of the Salaf.

It is an open lie and an affront to Allaah and His Book if a person claims that the Attributes that are mentioned in the Quran, such as the "Hand," 'Istiwaa' (being established above the Throne) and the "Coming" of Allaah apparently show resemblance between Allaah and His creation. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Say, "Are you more knowing, or is Allaah?"} [Quran 2:140]

As for Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Abd  Al-Wahhaab fair scholars have attested to his knowledge, uprightness and devoutness. He was a reformer and Mujaddid (revivalist) of the symbols of Tawheed (Islamic monotheism) that had disappeared in his time .  Indeed he is innocent of embodying and resembling Allaah. His books and publications are available for all researchers, so let anyone find a sentence that propagates, affirms or accepts this falsity.

Allaah Knows best.