Understating the Divine Attributes

7-4-2011 | IslamWeb

Question:

What should be taken into consideration in approaching the Divine Attributes?

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Answer:

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.

 

The methodology of the righteous predecessors, the Companions, their successors, and their followers from Ahl As-Sunnah (the People of the Sunnah) and scholars affirm that Allaah The Almighty has names and attributes that they believe in. They believe that these attributes have real meaning but their description is unknown. They also believe in all the attributes that Allaah has given Himself and in those mentioned by the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. They believe in the attributes of Allaah that are mentioned in the Quran and the authentic Hadeeths of the Prophet without distorting their wording or meaning, or denying them, asking how they are, or drawing any resemblance between Allaah and any of His creation.

Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {There is nothing like unto Him.} [Quran 42:11] This verse includes two main rules that are the basis for approaching the Attributes of Allaah.

1. Establishing that these attributes are the Attributes of  Allaah.

2. Not to distort their wording or meanings, or to deny, ask how, or draw resemblance between Allaah and any of His creation.

A third rule should be added which is:

3. Not to wish to realize the Attributes of Allaah. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {but they do not encompass} [Quran 20 :110]

For further information, please refer to the book of Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen which is called Al-Qawaa‘id Al-Muthla fi Sifaat Allaah wa Asmaa’ih Al-Husna.

Allaah Knows best.