Kitaab At-Tawheed, Chapter: 38

Whoever Denies Any of the Names and Attributes of Allah

Allah , says:

 

" Thus We have sent you among a people [before whom] other peoples have passed away, in order that you might recite to them what We have revealed to you. But they reject [Allah,] the Most Gracious! Say: "He is my Rabb: There is none worthy of worship save He; in Him I have placed my trust and to Him I shall return" (Qur'an 13:30)

In this verse, Allah , Most Glorified, Most High, informs us that He has sent His Messenger, Muhammad to this Ummah to lead them from the darkness of ignorance and despair, into the light of guidance and certainty, just as He sent to the previous nations, Messengers with Revelation, and that it is the responsibility of the Messenger to impart to his people the Message that was revealed to him, even though the disbelievers may reject it and deny Allah's Divine Names Attributes. In addition, He must remain steadfast in broadcasting the message of Tawheed, firm in his dependence upon Allah in all matters, and that he must turn to his Rabb in repentance and for guidance in every important affair.

Benefits Derived From This Verse

 

1. That rejection of any confirmed Name or Attribute of Allah is kufr.

2. Confirmation of Allah's Name: Ar-Rahman (the Most Merciful to all His creatures in the life of this world).

3. The obligation to place one's trust and dependence in Allah, Most High, and no other.

4. The obligation of turning to Allah in repentance.

Relevance of This Verse to the Subject of the Chapter and to the Subject of Tawheed

That it proves that rejecting any of Allah's Names or His Divine Attributes is kufr because it invalidates the belief in Tawheed Al-Asmaa`i Was-Sifaat (i.e. the Oneness of Allah in His Names and Attributes.

..ooOOoo..

In Saheeh Bukhari, it is reported that `Ali (ra) said: "Speak to the people in a way they will understand. Would you like that Allah and His Messenger be denied?"

In this narration, the fourth Khaleefah, `Ali Ibn Abi Talib (ra) commands the people of knowledge to guide the people by speaking to them in a manner suited to their intellects in order that they may understand, and not to engage them in speech which is above their level of comprehension. This would include lengthy and involved explanations of Allah's Name and Attributes, for that might lead to misunderstanding, causing them to deny something from Allah's Book or the Sunnah of His Prophet , causing them to be destroyed without even knowing the reason.

Benefits Derived From This Narration

 

1. That whatever leads to the prohibited is itself prohibited.

2. That it is not permissible to talk to people in a manner which they cannot understand, particularly in religious matters.

Relevance of This Narration to the Subject of the Chapter and to the Subject of Tawheed

That the narration proves that it is forbidden to talk to people in a manner which they do not understand; this includes long and complex explanations of Allah's Names and Attributes for that might lead to their rejecting something of His Names and Attributes which would amount to kufr because it entails negation of Tawheed Al-Asmaa Was-Sifaat.

..ooOOoo..

`Abdul-Razzaq report, on the authority of Ma'amar Ibn Tawoos, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ibn `Abbas (ra) that he saw a man springing to his feet in disapproval when he heard a Hadith from the Prophet About the Divine Attributes. Then he (Ibn `Abbas ra ) said: "What kind of fear is it that these people have? They find in the completely clear verses which admit of no ambiguity that, which they fear but they are brought to ruin by those verses which are not entirely clear."

Abdullah Ibn `Abbas (ra) informs us in this narration that he saw a man rise to his feet in anger and disbelief when he heard a Hadith of the Prophet concerning Allah's Divine Attributes and that he (Ibn `Abbas ra ) rejected that man's action, asking what do such people fear and why is it that they fear the clear, unambiguous Qur'anic verses, yet fear not and reject those which are not entirely clear to them due to their limited knowledge.

Benefits Derived From This Narration

 

1. The obligation to reject the detestable.

2. The obligation to believe in all of Allah's Name and Attributes.

3. The obligation to believe in the clear and the unclear verses.

4. The permissibility of mentioning what relates to Allah's Names and Attributes from the Qur'an and Sunnah before the general populace.

Relevance of This Narration to the Subject of the Chapter and to the Subject of Tawheed

That it proves the obligation of belief in all of Allah's Names and Attributes from the Qur'an and Sunnah which is a necessary part of correct Tawheed Al-Asmaa` Was-Sifaat.

When Quraish heard Allah's Messenger mention Ar-Rahman, they rejected it, at which Allah revealed:

" And they reject Ar-Rahmaan" (Qur'an 13:30)

We are informed in this narration that when the Prophet wished to include Allah's Name: Ar-Rahmaan in the Treaty of Al-Hudaibiyyah, the pagans of Quraish rejected it, saying that they did not know this Name, and that after this Allah revealed:

" And they reject Ar-Rahman" (Qur'an 13:30)

Benefits Derived From This Narration

 

1. Confirmation of Allah's Name: Ar-Rahman, which connotes the Divine Attribute of Mercy and Beneficence.

2. That whoever denied anything relating to Allah's Names and Divine Attributes is a disbeliever and is destroyed.

Relevance of This Narration to the Subject of the Chapter and to the Subject of Tawheed

That it proves the kufr of one who denies anything of Allah's Names and Attributes, because this is a negation of Tawheed Al-Asmaa Was-Sifaat.