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The Glorious Qur'an

Abu Jafar at-Tahawi

Source: The Muslim Creed

Published On: 28/4/2016 A.D. - 20/7/1437 H. Visited: 5428 times

1- The Qur’an, undoubtedly, is the word of Allah. It reveals the sayings of Allah. Allah Almighty revealed this Book to His Messenger. The believers testify to it as the whole truth with a firm faith that it is the word of Allah and that it is not a created thing like the words of the creatures themselves. Whoever listens to this Book and thinks that it is a word of a human being, commits infidelity. Allah Almighty condemns such a person and threatens him with chastisement in the Hell- fire. "Soon will I cast him into Hell-Fire." (Surah Al-Muddathir, 74:26) in reply to the one who said about the Book of Allah: "This is nothing but the word of a mortal." (Surah Al-Muddathir, 74:25)

We believe that the Qur’an is the word of the Creator of the human beings. It does not resemble the words of human beings.

2- Whoever compares the attributes of Allah to those of human beings, commits infidelity. Anyone who thinks deeply and escapes the onslaught of the thinking of the infidels will certainly realise that the attributes of Allah have no resemblance at all to those of a human being.

3- The dwellers of Paradise will see their Lord in accordance with the Qur’anic saying:

“Some faces that day will beam (in brightness and beauty) Looking towards their Lord” (Surah Al-Qiyamah, 75:22-23).

How this will happen is known to Allah Almighty. The above verse should be understood in a manner akin to Allah's will and knowledge. The best explanation in this regard is that of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) himself as narrated in some authentic Ahadith. We must have no consideration for our own will or desire in this issue. A man is safe as long as he refers back to Allah and His Messenger. Whenever in doubt he should try to consult a man of learning.

4- Whoever does not concede to the evidences produced by the Book and the Sunnah is no longer a Muslim. A man who indulges in the fundamentals of faith without proper knowledge and does not submit himself to these two sources, will remain deprived of true faith, of understanding of the religion and of pure belief in the Oneness of Allah. Instead he will find himself swinging between faith and infidelity, belief and unbelief, submission and denial. He will always be confused and doubtful. He will neither be a believer who has a strong faith, nor a disbeliever who rejects wholeheartedly.

5- To imagine Allah in a certain form is not correct. The safest way for a Muslim is to believe in all the attributes of Allah without adding any interpretation. To negate the attributes of Allah altogether or to compare Him to someone, is a deviation from the right path. Our Lord is unique and without any equal at all.

6- Allah Almighty is above all limits and anthropomorphic descriptions. Unlike other things He is not bound by the six directions. [1]

[1] This phrase can be exploited at face value by those who are obsessed with twisting the meaning or who got out of their way to interpret the names and attributes of Allah. Yet they have no argument because the author (may Allah have mercy on him) uses this expression to absolve the Creator from resembling His Creatures. Anyway, this brief statement needs explanation in order to remove all lingering doubts.

By hudood (limits) the author means such as known by humans since no one except Allah Almighty knows his limits. Thus Allah the Exalted has said:

"He knows what is before or after or behind them, but they shall comprehend Him not." (Surah Ta Ha 20:110)

Those among the pious predecessors who spoke of a limit with regard to His attribute of istawa, meant a limit known to Allah only and not known by people. As for al-ghayaat wal arkan wal a'da' wal adawaat (the ends, columns, the organs and the utensils), the author means that Allah is absolved in His divine attributes and wisdom from resembling any of His creatures. Allah has the attributes of face, hand and foot etc., these attributes of His in no way resemble those of His creatures. No one except Allah knows their true nature.

The people of innovation use such expressions in order to negate some of the attributes of Allah. They use words other than those approved by Allah in order to avoid being exposed by the scholars of Islam. The author, al-Tahawi, undoubtedly did not mean this because he holds the same belief as that of Ahl-us-Sunnah as far as the attributes of Allah are concerned.

Whatever he says about belief can be better understood by his own sayings which explain what is briefly stated in other places.

Similarly, his saying "The six directions do not surround Him like all other innovations" means the six created directions. He does not means the negation of Allah being above His creation and established on His throne because His position is not covered by the six directions, as He is above this universe and surrounding it. Allah made His servants instinctively believe that He is above them as maintained by the consensus of the Ahl-ul-Sunnah-wal-Jam'ah among the Companions of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) and their Successors. All the evidence from the Book and the authentic Mutawatir Sunnah prove that He is in the direction above us. Dear reader, be alert to this point which is the sole truth and anything else is falsehood.

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