A Summary of Hamawiyyah

Creed of Hamawiyyah - Chapter 7 : Some Sayings of the Salaf Concerning Allaah's Attributes

Author: Shaikh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah

Source: Aqidat ul-Hamawiyyah

Article ID : AQD070007  [42165]

7.1 "LEAVE THEM ALONE AS THEY WERE REPORTED, WITHOUT [RELATING] HOW"

- Related from Makhool, az-Zuhree, Maalik bin Anas, Sufyaan ath-Thawree, al-Layth bin Sa'd and al-Awzaa'ee.

7.1.1 IT REFUTES THE PEOPLE OF TA'TEEL.

i.e. the part saying "Leave them alone as they were reported"

7.1.2 IT REFUTES THE PEOPLE OF TASHBEEH

i.e. the part saying "without [relating] how"

7.1.3 IT PROVES THAT THE SALAF DID CONFIRM THE CORRECT MEANINGS BEFITTING ALLAAH

For the texts dealing with the Attributes, from two angles:

7.1.3.1 The Part Saying "Leave them Alone as they were Reported" Means: to leave alone the meanings.

- And if they believed there was no meaning to the words, they would have said: "Leave the words alone and don't delve into the meaning"

7.1.3.2 The Part Saying "Without [relating] How" clearly shows affirmation of the real meaning.

- Otherwise they would not need to deny asking or relating how.

7.2 "WE BELIEVE IN THEM AND AFFIRM THEM, WITHOUT [RELATING] HOW AND WITHOUT MEANING"

-Related by al Imaam Ahmad concerning the hadeeth of Allaah's descending and the like.

7.2.1 SO WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE PART: "WITHOUT HOW?"

There is a "how" concerning Allaah - but it is unknown to us.

It can only be known by way of:

- Seeing directly or
- A report of someone truthful
- And none of these exist concerning how Allaah's Attributes are.

7.2.2 SO THE MEANING OF "WITHOUT HOW" IS "WITHOUT RELATING HOW"

- And it does not mean to deny any "how" for Allaah's Attributes, for that would be pure Ta'teel.
- So what's the meaning of the part "without meaning"?
- Ahmad is talking about the twisted meanings of the people of Ta'teel who adopted non-apparent meanings. This is also shown by what Ibn Taymeeyah says: "All the scholars ... are agreed upon having Faith in ... without giving explanation..." He means the explanation of the people of Ta'teel.
- Hence the word "meaning" or "explanation" is of two kinds:

7.2.2.1 The Acceptable Meaning/Explanation - which the Companions and their followers were upon i.e. the most apparent meanings which befit Allaah's Greatness.

7.2.2.2 The Unacceptable Meaning/Explanation - which the Companions and their followers were not upon.