KABBANI’S OBJECTION TO USAGE OF THE TERM
‘BI-DHATIHI’
As for Kabbani’s objection to usage of the term
‘bi-Dhatihi’ in relation to the Istawaa of Allaah over the Throne
(pp. 65, 108, 140, 142, 176), and particularly his conclusion that this term:
"has no precedent in Qur’an and hadith, and is therefore
rejected," then this conclusion is in itself rejected. There are a number
of phrases and terminologies used within the various Islamic sciences, such as
the science of hadeeth, fiqh, tajweed and their like, which are not to be found
in either the Qur’aan or hadeeth. Should all these terms then be rejected?
In the age of the Companions the Qur’aan was referred to as the
‘Speech of Allaah’, the addition ‘not created’ commonly
used later was not employed by them due to an absence of the need to so do. When
the fitnah of the Jahmiyyah raised its head concerning the status of the
Qur’aan (created or uncreated) the scholars of the Salaf had no hesitation
in then refering to the Qur’aan as the ‘Speech of Allaah, not
created.’ But the term ‘not created’ is found neither in the
Qur’aan nor in hadeeth. Just as Imaam Ahmad clarified on being asked about
a persons who refrains from saying that the Qur’aan is uncreated or that
it is created but merely affirming that it is the Speech of Allaah and remains
silent beyond this, is there any leeway for such an indivual? He replied:
"Why should he remain silent? If what the people had fallen into had not
occured, silence would have been permissible, but since they have said what they
have said, then why should they (Ahlus Sunnah) not speak?" (Abu Dawood in
his al-Masaa’il pp.263-264). Accordingly, the term ‘bi
dhatihi’, although not employed to begin with, came into use at the
appropriate time when it was helpful for the People of Knowledge to clarify the
false interpretations of the various sects.
Abu Ja’far ibn Abee Shaybah (d.297H) wrote:
"It is known through continuous narrations that
Allaah created the Throne then made Istawaa over it with His Dhaat."
(Kitaab al-’Arsh p.51 of ibn Abee Shaybah, as cited
in ‘Usool ad-Deen ‘inda Imaam Aboo Haneefah p.308, footnote, of
Muhammad ibn ‘Abdur-Rahmaan al-Khamees)
Imaam at-Talamankee al-Maaleekee (d.429H) said:
"There is a consensus from Ahlus-Sunnah that Allaah Ascended over His
Throne bi-Dhatihi... There is a consensus from Ahlus-Sunnah that Allaah Ascended
over His Throne in a real sense, not metaphorically."
(Related in Siyaar A’laamun-Nubalaa (17/566) of
adh-Dhahabee)
Qaadee Abdul Wahhab (d.422) said: "The
greatest of Ahlus Sunnah, may Allaah have mercy upon them, have made it clear
that Allaah rose over His Throne in Person."
(Darr at-Ta’aarid al-Aqal wan Naql, pg. 203, of ibn
Taymiyyah)
Adh-Dhahabee said:
"The likes of this phrase (bi Dhatihi) has preceded
from Abu Ja’far ibn Abee Shaybah and Uthmaan bin Sa’eed ad-Daarimee.
Likewise, Yahya bin ‘Ammaar, the preacher of Sijistaan, used it in his
Risaalah, and al-Haafidh Abu Mansoor al-Waa’ilee as-Sijzee in al-Ibaanah
where he said: ‘Our scholars, such as ath-Thawree, Maalik, the two
Hamaads, ibn ‘Uyaynah, ibn al-Mubaarak, al-Fudayl, Ahmad and Ishaaq are
agreed that Allaah is above His Throne by His Dhaat and His Knowledge is in
every place.’"
(Mukhtasar al-’Uluww p.255)
Adh-Dhahabee goes on to explain:
"These (narrations) that he (as-Sijzee) quotes from them are famous and
preserved, except for the word ‘in Person’, for it is from himself
which he attributes to them in meaning."
Shaykh ‘Abdul-Qaadir al-Jeelaanee (d.561H) -
revered amongst Sufis - said: "It is essential to carry the Attribute of
al-Istawaa (Allaah’s ascending) upon its apparent sense without
ta’weel; and that He Ascended by His Dhaat (Self) over the Throne. Istawaa
does not mean sitting and touching as the Mujassimah and Karraamiyyah say; nor
does it mean grandeur and highness (‘uluww) as the Ashariyyah say; nor
does it mean conquering (isteelaa) as the Mu’tazilah say. None of this is
related in the Sharee’ah. Neither has this been related by any one of the
Pious Predecessors from the Companions and their students, nor is it related
from the Scholars of Hadeeth. Rather, it is related from them that they carried
the meaning of Istawaa with its apparent meaning."
(Al-Ghuniyatut-Taalibeen (1/50) of ‘Abdul-Qaadir
al-Jeelaanee).
THE CONTRADICTION BETWEEN THE WAY OF KABBANI AND SHAYKH
‘ABDUL-QAADIR AL-JEELAANEE
Exposing Kabbani 12 : Kabbani and the Usage of the Term 'Bi Dhaatihi'
