Response to a question on the Attributes - Exp. Abu Iyaad

Some of the matters or points covered:

- Introductory words about the treatise.
- A look at the history of sects that appeared.
- Mention of some ayaat (verses in the Qur’an) in relation to Allah either freeing Himself from false, incorrect, ascriptions, or affirmation of His lofty attributes, and the need to accept and believe the khabar (reports) of the Prophets and Messengers regarding the Names and Attributes.
- Schisms and separations was the way of previous nations, with some texts provided.
- The dire need to acquire sound knowledge and principles.
- Brief summary of the first four sects to appear; 1) Khawarij 2) Raafidah 3) Qadariyyah and 4) Murji’ah, and the topics they went astray in.
- In the second century, some people delved into the Names and Attributes – disputing and philosophizing. These kalaam groups are mentioned with a brief description of them.

Supplementary material:
https://islamtees.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/khatib-sifat-text-translation.pdf

The following 2 page PDF contains the visual diagram above along with brief descriptions of the sects mentioned:
https://islamtees.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/sects-diagram.pdf

Response To A Question on the Attributes

Response To A Question on the Attributes - Lesson 1

Some matters or points covered:

- Biography of the author, Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi (rahimahullah) including; his birth place, his travels, his acquiring of knowledge at a young age, the Islamic sciences he excelled at, the scholars praise of him and some of his virtuous works.
- Introduction to the authors reply to a question put to him about the Attributes of Allaah, wherein four important and mighty principles are mentioned and laid down.
- Four ways of categorizing Allah’s attributes with terms such as Sifaat as-Salbiyyah, ath-Thubootiyyah, adh-Dhahiriyyah and Fi’liyyah mentioned.
- What is the root through which we come to know Allaah’s attributes?
- What obligates you to acquire knowledge? The Texts or aql?

Supplementary material:
https://islamtees.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/khatib-sifat-text-translation.pdf

The following 2 page PDF contains the visual diagram above along with brief descriptions of the sects mentioned:
https://islamtees.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/sects-diagram.pdf

Response To A Question on the Attributes - Lesson 2

Some of the matters or points covered:

- Mention of Sifaat Dhaatiyah and Sifaat Fi’liyah.
- Important Principles regarding Attributes of Allaah:

1) Intellect alone cannot lead to understanding of Allah’s attributes and actions. Point for reflection: Would you be punished if you didn’t know Allaah by using ‘aql, or by using revelation (texts in Qur’an and Sunnah)?

2) When speak about Allaah, not possible to go beyond or exceed the Qur’an and the authentic Sunnah. Names and Attributes are from the affairs of the Ghaib (unseen). Only khabar (report) depended upon, tafseel (detail) can only come from revelation.

3) Names and Attributes can come from Ahad hadith as long as reported by trustworthy, upright ones. Salaf don’t distinguish between Mutawatir and Ahad hadith i.e. both are accepted and relied upon. The rejection of Ahad hadith was innovated by the Mu’tazilah, it is not the way of the Salafus-Salih. Innovated principle: don’t accept Ahad reports in Aqeedah but do so in Fiqh, Mu’amamalat, etc. Mu’tazilah invented this, Hizbut Tahrir believe in the same.

Supplementary material:
https://islamtees.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/khatib-sifat-text-translation.pdf

The following 2 page PDF contains the visual diagram above along with brief descriptions of the sects mentioned:
https://islamtees.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/sects-diagram.pdf

Response To A Question on the Attributes - Lesson 3

Some of the matters or points covered:

- A very important principle, the most important one, which is to affirm the Attributes upon what is apparent (upon the language of the Arabs), which is extracted from this part of the text “…and to carry them upon their apparent meanings…”
- Misguidance and deviation of Ahlul-Kalaam in that they believe Rahmah (mercy) refers to Allaah’s intent to reward. We know the meaning of mercy. If the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) meant something else he would have mentioned it.
- Also, Mu’tazilah said Istiwaa (to ascend/rise/go above) means Istawlaa (to conquer something) as they wanted to negate Allaah rising because according to Greek philosophy there can’t be motion.
- Likewise, misguidance of belief of Hand meaning Power. Why didn’t the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) explain istiwaa means Istawlaa and Hand means Power? He didn’t do this because Arabs knew what he meant.
- We distinguish between the ma’na (meaning) and the haqiqah (reality). Example of the soul, we know it exists but don’t know what the soul is made of. It has a true and real existence. The soul ascends, can see, speak, etc. We don’t know the reality of it, it has attributes. Meaning of seeing and hearing known. Reality is something else.
- Mu’tazilah rejected Mizaan (The Scale) as couldn’t comprehend how actions could be weighed.

Supplementary material:
https://islamtees.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/khatib-sifat-text-translation.pdf

The following 2 page PDF contains the visual diagram above along with brief descriptions of the sects mentioned:
https://islamtees.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/sects-diagram.pdf

Response To A Question on the Attributes - Lesson 4

Some of the matters or points covered:

- Whatever has come from the Qur’an and the authentic Sunnah, we must accept it and this includes the Names and Attributes of Allaah. We take them (the text) upon the dhaahir (apparent) meaning. If didn’t do so then there would be mass confusion and chaos.
- Discussion of fourth important principle: negating kaifiyyah and resemblance for Allaah. Khabar is greatest and highest report, that from Allaah and His Messenger, it must be meaningful and understandable.
- Elaboration on what is meant by kaifiyyah with examples given e.g. we believe in the angels but do we understanding everything about the angels or the reality of the angels? Same with Paradise and Hellfire. Don’t know reality of them but doesn’t make our belief in them any deficient.
- A mention of several texts from the Qur’an negating knowledge of the how with regards to Allaah’s Names and Attributes. Whole of the Qur’an is to be reflected upon and this would include the Names and Attributes of Allaah. The meanings are known but the realities are unknown.
- Statements from the Sahaba, Ibn Masood (رضي الله عنه) on meaning of as-Samad and Ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنه) on meaning of verse in Surah Az-Zukhruf (43:55).
- Mention of the well-known statements from Salafus Saalih like Rabi’ah Ibn Abi Abdir-Rahman and Imaam Maalik Ibn Anas (rahimahumullaah) regarding Istiwaa.
- Some statements from the likes of Imaam Ibn Battah and As-Sijzi (rahimahumullaah) containing clarity on issue of creed and belief in Allah’s Names and Attributes.
- Important point: We don’t deny that there is a kaifiyyah, we can’t comprehend the reality of Allaah’s Attributes and Actions, just like for example the soul.

Supplementary material:
https://islamtees.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/khatib-sifat-text-translation.pdf

The following 2 page PDF contains the visual diagram above along with brief descriptions of the sects mentioned:
https://islamtees.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/sects-diagram.pdf

Response To A Question on the Attributes - Lesson 5

Some of the matters or points covered:

- Tashbīh (resemblance) and the Mutashabbihah (those who resemble Allaah to the creation).
- Three ways in which people fall into tashbīh with examples provided such as that of the Karrāmiyyah and Mutashabbihah Rāfidah.
- Salafis are free and innocent from all these ways of tashbīh, to accuse Salafis of falling into tashbīh would be slander. We negate tashbīh (resemblance) from the attributes as mentioned in the treatise.
- Mention of some vile, evil and repugnant statements from the own works of famous heretical Rāfidis and Sufis like Hisham bin al-Hakam, Abu Yazeed al-Bistami and Abu Mansoor Al-Hallaj, in which they liken Allaah to the creation.
- Discussion of meanings – the universal meaning (al-ma’na al-kullī), shared meaning (Al-Qadr al-Mushtaraq) and the distinguishing part (Al-Qadr al-Mumayyiz).
- An important principle: “Agreement in the name does not necessitate agreement in the reality”, which was mentioned by Shaikuhl-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah in at-Tadmuriyyah. This means there is agreement in labels such as Allaah is hearing and we are hearing, but the reality is different, it is not the same.
- Quick reply to those who say that if you affirm attributes for Allaah (like hearing for example) then you have likened Him to the creation. We say: do you affirm existence for Allaah? Humans also have existence. So have you likened Allaah to the creation?

Supplementary material:
https://islamtees.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/khatib-sifat-text-translation.pdf

The following 2 page PDF contains the visual diagram above along with brief descriptions of the sects mentioned:
https://islamtees.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/sects-diagram.pdf

Response To A Question on the Attributes - Lesson 6

Some of the matters or points covered:

- Statement of Al-Khateeb al-Baghdadi regarding one group who denied and rejected the attributes so they nullified what Allaah and His Messenger affirmed and another group who affirmed these attributes in such a way that they entered into something of tashbeeh (resemblance) and takyeef (how attributes are).
- We are in the middle, the moderate path, we affirm the meanings of the attributes and we do not have knowledge of the reality of them (how they are). We avoid exaggeration in the religion.
- An important principle: Speech about the attributes is a branch of the speech about the essence, as mentioned in the treatise text “And the principle in this matter is: That speaking about the attributes is a branch of speaking about the essence (dhāt) and thus follows it exactly and takes its example”.
- Quote from the speech of Shaikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah in at-Tadmuriyyah containing elaboration and an illustration of the method to refute those who reject the attributes of Allaah.
- How the example of the soul aids in grasping the issue of Allah’s essence and His attributes.
- This is really a simple issue: Because we don’t know what His essence is made of then it’s impossible for us to know how His attributes are (Hearing, Seeing, etc).
- All these groups (Ahlul-Kalaam) became misguided because they didn’t understand this simple issue. They began to use philosophy, reason, opinion, and they left the simplicity of the Qur’an and Sunnah. “There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.” [42:11]
- Discussion on how to reply to a Jahmi and what probing questions to ask them.
- Statement of Al-Khateeb al-Baghdadi establishing Allaah’s essence exists and has a reality but we are unable to define it in words. In the same way, the attributes exist but we cannot define their realities. A mentioned of how this is a refutation of five groups of people.

Supplementary material:
https://islamtees.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/khatib-sifat-text-translation.pdf

The following 2 page PDF contains the visual diagram above along with brief descriptions of the sects mentioned:
https://islamtees.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/sects-diagram.pdf

Response To A Question on the Attributes - Lesson 7

Some of the matters or points covered:

- Recap of all the previous lessons.
- Anything which is ambigious in the Qur’an we refer back to the clear and decisive verses as mentioned in the treatise text: “In the Book of Allāh there are clear, decisive verses, the intent behind them is understood by their apparent meanings and there are unclear verses the meanings of which cannot be grasped except by referring them to the clear and decisive (verses)”.
- Irrespective of whether you understand the verses or not, you have to make tasdeeq as mentioned in the following passage: “But it is obligatory to accept and believe in all of them and to have faith in them all.”
- The same principle is applied to the ahādeeth as mentioned in the following part: “Similarly, the narrations of the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) are carried upon the same principle, they are revealed (just) like this Revelation — the unclear amongst them are referred to the clear and decisive amongst them — but all of them are to be accepted”.
- A mention of the hadīths reported about the attributes being of three types as mentioned in the treatise but an additional fourth type can be added with an example hadīth mentioned as evidence.
- Discussion of several attributes given as an example.

Supplementary material:
https://islamtees.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/khatib-sifat-text-translation.pdf

The following 2 page PDF contains the visual diagram above along with brief descriptions of the sects mentioned:
https://islamtees.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/sects-diagram.pdf

Response To A Question on the Attributes - Lesson 8

The treatise of Al-Khateeb al-Baghdadi was finished in the last lesson. The treatise provided a nice and concise treatment of Allah’s Names and Attributes, covering many different issues. It was a nice primer for this subject.

To seal everything off, 20 or so principles regarding the attributes will be mentioned, serving as a reminder and also to add a bit more detail to what has already been learned. The first 7 of these principles are mentioned in this lesson with the other principles to be covered in subsequent lessons, inshaa’Allaah.

Supplementary material:
https://islamtees.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/khatib-sifat-text-translation.pdf

The following 2 page PDF contains the visual diagram above along with brief descriptions of the sects mentioned:
https://islamtees.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/sects-diagram.pdf

Response To A Question on the Attributes - Lesson 9

General principles (numbers 8 to 21) regarding the attributes of Allāh covered in this lesson, completing the full set of principles.

Response To A Question on the Attributes - Lesson 10

This is the final lesson of the series and covers the important issue of the actions of Allah in more detail with three related principles discussed.

Response to a question on the Attributes - Exp. Abu Iyaad

الدروس السلفية-Salafi Lectures