THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON ON UNDERSTANDING ATTRIBUTES (SIFAT)

Thee object of this lesson is to allow you to properly be able to navigate through all the misconceptions regarding the Attributes (Sifat) in relation to Allah and His creation. This lesson is in accordance to the statement of Imam al-Junayd al-Baghdadi (d. 297 AH), rahimahullah, which means:

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. To Allah belongs the endowments, befitting perfection, and commendations. We ask Allah to raise the rank of Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam, his Al (Family), and Sahabah (Companions), and to protect his nation from what he fears for it. Ameen. Thereafter:

"Tawheed is to differentiate between the Eternal [Allah] and the created [the creation].

So know this important lesson and know it well concerning the understanding that there are three (3) important concepts related to Attributes (Sifat):

1. Sifat (Attributes) that only Allah ta'ala possesses such as: At-Takwin (The Creator, only Allah brings everything from non-existence into existence); Al-Qidam (Eternal, only Allah has no beginning); etc;

Allah ta'ala impose a question in Surah 16:17, which means, "Then is He [Allah] who creates like one who does not create? So will you not be reminded?

NOTE: That ayat emphasizes that Allah, the Creator, cannot be compared to creations that cannot create, challenging people to use their reason and recognize the truth. Therefore, to give Creation attributes that only Allah ta'ala possesses is "shirk fi sifat (associating partners with Allah by giving a created thing Attributes that are specific only to Allah)". For example, place (makan), time (zaman), the six directions (jihah), and all things other than Allah are created. To say, indicate, or believe that they create or have no beginning is "shirk fi sifat".

The Prophet ﷺ taught us that Allah existed in eternity and there was nothing else.

That means there was no place (makan), no direction (jihah), no Throne (Arsh), no sky, no earth, no light or darkness, no air, no Angels, no jinn, no Jahanam, Jannah, etc. Only Allah ta'ala existed without a beginning, without a place, no time, no space. Just that simple.

2. Sifat (Attributes) and ma'na (meanings) that are specific and explicit to Creation and are not befitting to be attributed to Allah because they indicate a created thing such as but not limited to: kayf [pl. kayfiyyah] (how, howness, or modality); jawhar (particle); arad (attribute of a particle); jism (body); makan (place); zaman (time); space; jihah (direction); jahl (ignorance); forgetfulness; beginning end; color; movement; stillness; weight; size; gender; opposite; need; change; emotions; etc.

In light of the second concept with regard to the Attributes (Sifat), Imam Abu Ja'far at-Tahawi (d. 321 AH), rahimahullah, said, which means:

"Whoever describes Allah with a meaning (ma'na) from the meanings that apply to human beings (creation) has committed blasphemy." ['Aqeedah at-Tahawi]

NOTE: To attribute to Allah a location, a direction, a limb, or an organ is apply a meaning from the meanings that apply to human beings (creation). To give Allah ta'ala any Attributes (Sifat) or meanings (ma'na) that are specific and explicit to Creation is tashbeeh (anthropomorphism, likening Allah to His creation), which is ilhad (blasphemy, belittling Allah). Know that no Sifat (Attributes) or ma'na (meanings) that are specific to creation befit the majesty of Allah. Therefore the statement, "...in a manner that befits or suits Allah ta'ala's majesty..." does not clear a person from committing tashbeeh (anthropomorphism, likening Allah to His creation) and/or tajseem (attributing a body to Allah), which are forms of kufr (disbelief).

3. Sifat (Attributes) that Allah ta'ala possesses and His creations possess but the only similarity are in names or words and not meanings (ma'na) or functions, such as: life; power; hearing; seeing; knowledge; will; speech; mercy; forgiveness; yad; wajh; 'ayn; saq; etc.

In short, the Ash'ariyya and Maturidiyya, who are the true inheritors of Ahlus Sunnah wal-Jama'ah, with the only unbroken chains of transmissions (sanad), affirm (ithbaat) all of Allah ta'ala's Asma' was-Sifat (Names and Attributes), yet they do not give them meanings (ma'na) that are specific and explicit to creation. For example, the literal or apparent meanings (ma'na dhahir) of Attributes such as yad (hand), wajh (face), 'ayn (eye), saq (shin), etc. are limbs, organs, appendages, or body parts. Those meanings are specific and explicit to creation and indicate a created thing, not the Creator. Notice: we said meanings (ma'na) because they (the Ash'ariyya and Maturidiyya) affirm (ithbaat) the Attributes (Sifat), they just negate (nafy) the literal apparent non-befitting meanings to those Attributes. Whoever gives Allah or His Attributes (Sifat) meanings that are specific, explicit, and exclusive to creation is committing acts of ilhad (blasphemy, belittling Allah ta'ala), such as: tashbeeh (anthropomorphism, likening Allah to His creation); tajseem (attributing a body (jism) to Allah); tahreef (distorting the meanings of Allah's Attributes by giving them meanings specific to creation); and/or takyeef (attributing a how, howness, or modality to Allah and His Attributes), which all contradicts the Qur'an: 16:17, 42:11, and 112:4

So beware of those sects such as the mushabihah (those who liken Allah to His creation), mujassimah (those who attribute a body and limbs to Allah), hashwiyyah (those who attribute direction to Allah), and/or Wahhabis aka Pseudo Salafis and other religions that conflate and fail to properly understand these three (3) concepts related to Sifat (Attributes). As a result of them not knowing, they all commit those acts of ilhad (blasphemy, belittling Allah) mentioned above.

May Allah ta'ala guide us to the proper understanding of these matters. Ameen.