Part 3
Series of Benefits of the Greatness of Allaah’s Attributes
Translated
by
Abbas Abu Yahya
Part 3
Resemblance of Allaah to that of Allaah’s Creation
Na’eem bin Hammad -Rahimahullaah- (d.228 A.H.) said:
‘Whoever brings a resemblance of Allaah to that of Allaah’s creation then he has committed kufr (disbelief).
Whoever rejects that which Allaah described Himself with then he has committed kufr (disbelief).
In those matters which Allaah described Himself with and what His Messenger described Him, there is no Tashbeeh (resemblance).’
Adh-Dhahabi (d. 748 A.H.) commented:
‘I say this speech is the truth, we seek refuge with Allaah from Tashbeeh (resemblance) and from rejecting the Ahadeeth of Sifat (Attributes).
What is affirmed of their understanding is not rejected, however after having Eemaan in these matters there are two despised circumstances:
[First] – to interpolate and change the Ahadeeth of Sifat (Characteristics) from the subject addressed. The Salaf did not interpolate and twist them nor did they change the wording from its correct wording, in fact they believed in them and accepted them as they were.
The second circumstance is: exaggeration and extremism in affirming the Sifat (Attributes of Allaah), and to give and embody that Sifat a form like that of the forms of humans. Also to give it a form in your mind, this is ignorance and misguidance.
Indeed the Sifat (Characteristic) explains who the described is; so if the described is Allaah the Most Honourable and magnificent whom we have not seen, nor has anyone informed us that he has seen Him. Along with Allaah telling us about Him in the revelation sent down:
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ
《There is nothing like unto Him 》
Therefore, how can there be space in our intellect to affirm how Allaah al-Bari (He who brings His creation into existence) is?
How Far and free Allaah is from this.
Likewise is the Sifat al-Muqadisa (Holy & Pure), we accept it as it is and believe that it is true, we do not give a similitude for it fundamentally nor do we give it a form.’
[Seera alaam an-Nubala 10/610-611]
Arabic Reference
التشبيه الله تعالى بخلقه
قال نُعَيمُ بنُ حمَّادٍ: “مَن شبَّه اللهَ بخلقِه فقد كفر، ومَن أنكر ما وصف به نفسَه فقد كفر، وليس فيما وصف اللهُ به نفسَه ولا رسولُه تشبيهٌ”.
قال الذَّهَبيُّ: قلتُ: هذا الكلامُ حقٌّ، نعوذُ باللهِ من التَّشبيهِ ومن إنكارِ أحاديثِ الصِّفاتِ، فما يُنكِرُ الثَّابِتَ منها مَن فَقُهَ، وإنَّما بعدَ الإيمانِ بها هنا مقامانِ مذمومانِ:
– تأويلُها وصَرفُها عن موضوعِ الخِطابِ؛ فما أوَّلَها السَّلَفُ، ولا حرَّفُوا ألفاظَها عن مواضعِها، بل آمَنُوا بها، وأمَرُّوها كما جاءَتْ.
– المقامُ الثَّاني: المُبالَغةُ في إثباتِها، وتَصَوُّرُها من جِنسِ صِفاتِ البَشَرِ، وتَشَكُّلُها في الذِّهنِ؛ فهذا جهلٌ وضلالٌ.
وإنَّما الصِّفةُ تابعةٌ للموصوفِ؛ فإذا كان الموصوفُ عزَّ وجلَّ لم نَرَهُ، ولا أخبَرَنا أحدٌ أنَّه عايَنَهُ مع قولِه لنا في تنزيلِه: ( لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ )، فكيف بَقِيَ لأذهانِنا مجالٌ في إثباتِ كيفيَّةِ البارئِ؟ تعالى اللهُ عن ذلك.
فكذلك صِفاتُه المُقدَّسةُ، نُقِرُّ بها ونعتقدُ أنَّها حقٌّ، ولا نُمَثِّلُها أصلًا ولا نَتَشَكَّلُها.
السِّير ( ١٠ / ٦١٠ – ٦١١ ).
Also see:
Part 2 The General Madhab of the People of Truth regarding the Sifaat of Allaah Ta’ala