So it is clear that the Salaf affirm the Attribute of
Coming[34] and that they do not interpolate it by claiming that it means the
coming of His Judgement, or His Mercy and the likes.[35] So where does this
neo-Jahmite, the Ibn Safwaan of the era, stand in comparison with the likes of
ad-Dahak, Qataadah, and Hammaad bin Abu Haneefah, may Allaah shower his mercy
upon them?? Where does this deceiving ignoramus stand with respect to those
favoured with precedence, knowledge, piety and guidance?!
Concerning the Jahmite's Allegation about Tafweed
The aforementioned Jahmee also stated: "The real
aqeedah of Imaam Ahmad was very simple and consisted mainly of tafweedh, that is
to consign to Allaah the meaning of the mutashaabihaat - or unapparent meanings
of the Qur'aan and Hadeeth..." - and this is a wicked lie against Imaam
Ahmad - free is Imaam Ahmad of the Jahmee as is the milk from dung and
blood.
Shaikh Muhammad bin Saalih al-Uthaimeen - may Allaah
protect Him - said: "The aqeedah of Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah, therefore,
is free from tahreef and ta'teel. And by this we come to know misguidance or the
lie of those who say: 'The way of the Salaf is tafweedh'. These people have gone
astray if they have said this whilst being ignorant of the way of the Salaf and
if they said that with knowledge, they have lied (deliberately). We can also
say: They have lied in two ways: In the sense of the language of the Hijaaz,
since kadhib (a lie) to the people of the Hijaaz is with the meaning of khata'
(a mistake). And in any circumstance, there is no doubt that those who say: The
madhhab of Ahl us-Sunnah is tafweedh - that they have erred because the madhhab
of Ahl us-Sunnah is to affirm the meaning but to do tafweedh of its kaifiyyah
(how it is).
And let it be known that speaking with tafweedh - as
Shaikh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah[36] has said - is amongst the most evil of the
sayings of the Ahl ul-Bid'ah wal-Ilhaad. When a person hears about tafweedh he
says: 'This is good, I will be safe from these (people) and those (people). I
will not speak with the madhhab of the Salaf and nor will I speak with the
madhhab of those performing ta'weel, I will take the middle path and will be
saved from all of this. And I will say: Allaah knows best, we do not know what
its meaning is.'
However Shaikh ul-Islaam says: "This is amongst the
most evil of the sayings of Ahl ul-Bid'ah wal-Ilhaad".
And he - may Allaah have mercy upon him - has spoken the
truth. When you reflect upon it you will find that this necessitates (the
following): a denial of the Qur'aan, that the Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi
wasallam) was ignorant, and arrogance on behalf of the people of philosophy.
A denial of the Qur'aan because Allaah says:
And We have revealed to you (O Muhammad) the Book as an
exposition of every single thing [Soorah Nahl 16:89]
Where is the explanation in words whose meanings are not
known?! And most of what has been mentioned in the Qur'aan are the Names of
Allaah and His Attributes. If we do not know what their meanings are, is the
Qur'aan an exposition for everything?! Where is the explanation?!
These people are saying: 'The Messenger (sallallaahu
alaihi wasallam) does not know the meanings of the Qur'aan with respect to what
is related to the Names and Attributes'. And when the Messenger (sallallaahu
alaihi wasallam) does not know then it is certain and foremost that those
besides Him do not know.
More amazing than that is that they say: 'The Messenger
(sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) speaks about the Attributes of Allaah and he does
not know what they mean. He says: 'O Allaah, our Lord Who is above the Sky' and
when He is questioned about this he (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) says: 'I don't
know!' And likewise regarding his saying: 'Our Lord descends to the lowest
heaven...' and when he is asked about the meaning of 'Our Lord descends' he
says: 'I don't know' and built upon this - the same can be said [for all the
other Attributes].
And is there a greater slander of the Messenger
(sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) than this? Rather this is amongst the biggest of
slanders. A Messenger from Allaah sent to explain to mankind and yet he does not
know the meaning of the aayaat of the Attributes and the ahaadeeth pertaining to
them. And he is speaking with words whose meanings he does not know. So it [i.e.
the evil of tafweedh] is from two aspects - a denial of the Qur'aan and
ascribing ignorance to the Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam)"[37] End
of his words - may Allaah have mercy upon him.
It has already preceded - in the words of Imaam Maalik -
which are "the balance for all of Allaah's Attributes"[38] - that the
meaning of the Attributes are known but the kaifiyyah (how they are) is
not.[39]