s_ali
February 19th, 2010, 18:20
The `Uloo (Transcendency) of Allaah
By: Shaykh Dr. Saalih As-Saalih رحمه الله تعالى
Delivered on May 21st, 2005
Our Shaykh’s Introduction and Khutbatul-Haajah
Our Shaykh – May Allaah shower him with Mercy – began with the Name of Allaah, praising and thanking Him سبحانه وتعالى and sending the salaam and salawaat on our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions. He clarified the amount of time that he spent seeking knowledge from our Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله تعالى. It began as long distance at first, and then on a discontinuous basis from 1412 to 1415 after the Hijrah of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and then on a regular basis from 1415 H until his death, may Allaah’s Mercy be upon him.
The title of this lecture is: The `Uloo (Transcendence) of Allaah, the Lord of all that exists: Refuting doubts and misconceptions as is evident from the Qur’aan, the authentic Sunnah, the belief of the Sahaabah and their followers, and the attestation of the ingrained nature and intellect.
All praise is due to Allaah; we praise Him and seek His Help and His Forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allaah the Most High from the evils of our own selves and from our wicked deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides no one can lead astray and whomsoever Allaah leads astray cannot be guided. I testify that there is no true god worthy of being worshipped except Allaah Alone without partner or associate, and I further testify that Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم is His Slave and Messenger. May Allaah’s salaah and salaam also be granted to the Prophet’s household and to all of his noble Companions.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ اتَّقُواْ اللّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلاَ تَمُوتُنَّ إِلاَّ وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُون
{O you who believe! Fear Allaah (by doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be feared. [Obey Him, be thankful to Him, and remember Him always], and die not except in a state of Islaam (as Muslims) with complete submission to Allaah.} [Aal-`Imraan 3:102]
[size=+2][color=blue][center] يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُواْ رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالاً كَثِيراً وَنِسَاء وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءلُونَ بِهِ وَالأَرْحَامَ إِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا[/size][/color]
{O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife [Hawwa (Eve)], and from them both He created many men and women and fear Allaah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allaah is Ever an All-¬Watcher over you.} [An-Nisaa’ 4:1] [/CENTER]
[size=+2][color=blue][center] يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا {70} يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَالَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَمَن يُطِعْ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا [/size][/color]
{O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allaah and fear Him, and speak (always) the truth. He will direct you to do righteous good deeds and will forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allaah and His Messenger he has indeed achieved a great achievement (i.e. he will be saved from the Hell-fire and made to enter Paradise).} [Al-Ahzaab 33:70-71][/CENTER]
It proceeds that the most truthful speech is that of Allaah’s Book - the Qur’aan, and that the best guidance is that of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم. The worst of evils are the newly invented matters in the Deen, and every innovated matter in the Deen is a bid`ah (innovation) and every bid`ah is misguidance and every misguidance is in the Fire of Hell.
[u]What is the Greatest and Most Beneficial Knowledge[/u]?
The greatest, most honourable and excellent knowledge is that of Allaah the Most High - His Names, Attributes and Actions; the knowledge of His Deen and of His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم, with love and magnification, being pleased with it all. The ranks of people with respect to this knowledge vary to a great extent.
Some people know of Allaah by virtue of His Generosity, Bounties and Favors.
Others know of Him through His Forgiveness, Clemency, and Pardoning.
Others through His Knowledge and Wisdom.
Others recognize Him by His Might and Majesty.
Others by His Mercy, Goodness, Kindness, Courtesy.
Others by His Subduing and Sovereignty.
Others by the fact that He answers their supplications, fulfils their needs and relieves their grief.
The One who is most comprehensive in His knowledge of Allaah knows of Him by means of His own words. He knows a Rabb (Lord) to Whom belongs the most majestic and perfect attributes. Far is He removed from having a parable or equal, free from all kinds of defects and imperfections, qualified with every beautiful name and every perfect attribute, doer of what He intends, what He wills, above everything - ascended the `Arsh (Throne) above the seven heavens. He encompasses everything while He is the Most High above everything; the One Who is able to do everything, the One who manages the affairs of everything. He commands and forbids; He speaks the Legislative and Universal words; He is greater than everything and He is the Most Beautiful, the Most Merciful, the All-Able, the All-Wise.
Allaah the Most High sent down the Qur’aan in order to inform His `Ibaad (servants) - mankind and jinn - about Himself so that they know of Him and of the way that leads to Him and of the status of travellers to Him after their arrival.
The most beneficial knowledge is that which deals with the Oneness and the Uniqueness of Allaah - Tawheed - being the only true God worthy of being worshipped. The knowledge of Allaah’s Names, attributes, and actions is part of Tawheed because it demands awe, reverence, and love of Allaah and it necessitates submission to Him inwardly and outwardly, worshipping none but Him. In this respect we contemplate Allaah’s command in Soorah Muhammad, verse 19:
[size=+2][color=blue][center]فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلا اللَّهُ [/size][/color]
{So know (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) that [I]Laa ilaaha illallaah[/I] (none has the right to be worshipped but Allaah)…} [Muhammad 47:19] [/CENTER]
In seeking to obtain this beneficial knowledge, we remind ourselves of the invocation of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم in which he said, [color=green][i]“Ask Allaah for the beneficial kind of knowledge and seek refuge in Him from knowledge which is of no avail.”[/I][/color][1] This hadeeth is [i]Saheeh[/i] as authenticated by Shaykh al-Albaanee رحمه الله.
[b][u]The Beneficial Knowledge and Scholastic Theology[/b][/u]
All praise is due to Allaah who sent Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, with the guidance and the Deen of the truth in order to lead mankind out of darkness, unbelief and [i]shirk[/i] into the light of belief in [i]Tawheed[/i] by their Rabb's (Lord’s) Leave, to the path of the All-Mighty, the Owner of all praise. Allaah سبحانه وتعالى bears witness that He sent Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم as one who invites to Him, and as a lamp spreading light; from the instruction in the Qur’aan and authentic Sunnah, He commanded him صلى الله عليه وسلم to say:
[font=traditional arabic][size=+2][color=blue][center]قُلْ هَـذِهِ سَبِيلِي أَدْعُو إِلَى اللَّهِ عَلَى بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَاْ وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِي وَسُبْحَانَ اللّهِ وَمَا أَنَاْ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ[/font][/size][/color]
[B] {Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): "This is my way; I invite unto Allaah with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me (also must invite others to Allaah i.e. to the Oneness of Allaah - Islaamic Monotheism) with sure knowledge. And Glorified and Exalted be Allaah. And I am not of the [I]Mushrikoon [/I]}[/B] [Yusuf 12:108] [/CENTER]
So, knowing that:[list]
Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم is the lamp spreading light through which Allaah leads mankind from the darkness to the light.
He صلى الله عليه وسلم is the one to whom Allaah has sent the Book (the Qur’aan) in truth, to judge between people in matters wherein they differ.
Allaah commanded the believers to refer any matters of the Deen about which they differ to the Book (the Qur’aan) and to the Wisdom (i.e. the Prophet’s Sunnah).
He صلى الله عليه وسلم invites people to Allaah and His Way, by Allaah’s Leave, with sure knowledge ([I]`alal-Baseerah[/I]).
Allaah سبحانه وتعالى has perfected the Deen for the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and for this Ummah.[/list]
Then, no one knows of Allaah better than the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
The Companions who took this knowledge of Allaah from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم related it to the entire Ummah - to the entire Muslim nation at large. Therefore, the knowledge of Allaah, by way of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and the righteous predecessors - [I]As-Salafus-Saalih[/I], supersedes and prevails above the innovated scholastic theology which is mostly philosophical in essence, vis-à-vis, the tenets of faith in general and the attributes of Allaah the Most High in particular. The Muslim therefore, should be aware as to the sources of knowledge regarding his Deen.
Allaah سبحانه وتعالى has made Himself known; He described Himself in the Qur’aan and through His Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم so that man may know of Him as He is - qualified with the most perfect attributes. These safeguard against ascribing to Allaah any false description, especially when man’s intellect is limited in its scope and knowledge.
In light of this, and given the intentional and unintentional distortions by many deviant sects, and/or some Muslims regarding one of the noble attributes of Allaah - [I]al-`Uloo[/I] (Transcendence), I would like to convey to you the correct belief of [I]As-Salafus-Saalih[/I] (the Righteous Predecessors) concerning this matter based upon evidences from the following:[list=1]
The Qur’aan
The authentic Sunnah
The belief of the Sahaabah (Companions) and their followers
The attestation of the ingrained nature - the [I]fitrah[/I]
The intellect [/list]
I ask Allaah سبحانه وتعالى to accept this effort as a sincere act and that He makes it a benefit for me and you in this life and in the Hereafter.
[b][u]The Attribute of Trancendence ([I]Al-‘Uloo[/I])[/b][/u]
Know, may Allaah’s Mercy be upon me and you, that the attribute of Transcendence [I](Al-`Uloo[/I]) of Allaah سبحانه وتعالى is of two types. Our Shaykh Muhammad ibn `Uthaymeen رحمه الله said concerning these two types:[list=1]
The [I]`Uloo of Adh-Dhaat[/I]- which means the Transcendence of Allaah in His Essence (in Himself).
The [I]`Uloo of As-Sifaat[/I]- which means the Transcendence of Allaah’s Attributes.[/list]
The [I]`Uloo of Adh-Dhaat[/I] - of the Essence, means that Allaah سبحانه وتعالى, in His Essence is above everything and everything is below Him Most Majestic and Mighty is He. Regarding the [I]`Uloo of As-Sifaat[/I] - of the Attributes, it means that Allaah is qualified with the superlative qualities as He the Most High said in Soorah An-Nahl, Verse 60:
[font=traditional arabic][size=+2][color=blue][center]...وَلِلّهِ الْمَثَلُ الأَعْلَىَ... [/font][/size][/color]
[B] {…and for Allaah is the highest description…} [/B] [an-Nahl 16:60][/CENTER]
[b][u]The Reason For Classification[/b][/u]
Every attribute which Allaah سبحانه وتعالى qualifies Himself with, is an attribute of perfection, and is in every respect free from any kind of imperfection. If you ask the questions: [list]
What is the reason behind this kind of classification?
Do you have a proof of it from the Qur’aan or the authentic Sunnah?
Did you find this in the sayings of the Sahaabah?[/list]
The answer is No, but the Shaykh رحمه الله said, [I]“I found it to be necessary when it was determined that the people of negation who are themselves Ahlut-Ta`teel (those who negate the attributes), restrict the ‘Uloo to the qualities only.” [/I] They said that Allaah’s Transcendence is in His attributes ([I]sifaat[/I]) only, and not in His Essence. The people of [I]ta`teel[/I] (تعطيل - denial and negation), themselves became divided regarding the Transcendence of Allaah’s Essence as will be discussed later.
What is important is that the Imaams of [I]As-Salaafus-Saalih[/I] رحمهم الله and the scholars who came after, resorted to this classification [u]out of necessity[/u] because they were tested by the people of [I]ta`teel[/I] who denied the `Uloo of Allaah’s Essence. Thus, they were obligated to affirm the transcendence in this way. In fact, if we say, “Allaah is the Most High” and if someone from the people of [I]ta`teel[/I] (negation) says, “the [I]`uloo[/I] (transcendence) here relates to His attributes,” then what would the common Muslim understand? The only thing that he would understand is that Allaah is qualified with the [I]`uloo[/I] (transcendence) of the [I]sifaat[/I] (attributes) only. If we say Allaah is Most High in His [I]sifaat[/I] as well as in His Essence, the common Muslim would understand this meaning. In fact, the first thing that is obvious to the common Muslim is that Allaah’s `Uloo (Transcendence) concerns His Essence. Certainly the [I]`uloo[/I] (transcendence) of the [I]sifaat[/I] is part of the meaning of the transcendence ([I]`uloo[/I]).
[b][u]Division of People of Ta`teel[/b][/u]
In their denial of the `Ulooof Allaah in His Essence, the people of [I]ta`teel[/I] were divided into two groups: [list=1]
Those who said that Allaah in His Essence is everywhere.
Those who said that He سبحانه وتعالى is neither in [I]`uloo[/I] (loftiness) nor in [I]sufl[/I]- the opposite of `Uloo meaning lowness. They said He is neither inside the world nor outside it, neither to right nor to the left, neither joined nor separate.[/list] This position is in fact [b]absolute [I]ta`teel[/I][/b] - absolute negation, because it is a description of [I]al-`adam[/I] which means non-existence. Some scholars said, “If we were asked to describe [I]al-`adam[/I] (non-existence), we would not find a more comprehensive definition than this description of theirs.” So contemplate how their negation of what has been affirmed by the way of texts and rational led them to say that which cannot be accepted - neither by sensory perception nor by text or intellect.
[I]continued in next post ....[/I]
By: Shaykh Dr. Saalih As-Saalih رحمه الله تعالى
Delivered on May 21st, 2005
Our Shaykh’s Introduction and Khutbatul-Haajah
Our Shaykh – May Allaah shower him with Mercy – began with the Name of Allaah, praising and thanking Him سبحانه وتعالى and sending the salaam and salawaat on our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions. He clarified the amount of time that he spent seeking knowledge from our Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله تعالى. It began as long distance at first, and then on a discontinuous basis from 1412 to 1415 after the Hijrah of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and then on a regular basis from 1415 H until his death, may Allaah’s Mercy be upon him.
The title of this lecture is: The `Uloo (Transcendence) of Allaah, the Lord of all that exists: Refuting doubts and misconceptions as is evident from the Qur’aan, the authentic Sunnah, the belief of the Sahaabah and their followers, and the attestation of the ingrained nature and intellect.
All praise is due to Allaah; we praise Him and seek His Help and His Forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allaah the Most High from the evils of our own selves and from our wicked deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides no one can lead astray and whomsoever Allaah leads astray cannot be guided. I testify that there is no true god worthy of being worshipped except Allaah Alone without partner or associate, and I further testify that Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم is His Slave and Messenger. May Allaah’s salaah and salaam also be granted to the Prophet’s household and to all of his noble Companions.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ اتَّقُواْ اللّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلاَ تَمُوتُنَّ إِلاَّ وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُون
{O you who believe! Fear Allaah (by doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be feared. [Obey Him, be thankful to Him, and remember Him always], and die not except in a state of Islaam (as Muslims) with complete submission to Allaah.} [Aal-`Imraan 3:102]
[size=+2][color=blue][center] يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُواْ رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالاً كَثِيراً وَنِسَاء وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءلُونَ بِهِ وَالأَرْحَامَ إِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا[/size][/color]
{O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife [Hawwa (Eve)], and from them both He created many men and women and fear Allaah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allaah is Ever an All-¬Watcher over you.} [An-Nisaa’ 4:1] [/CENTER]
[size=+2][color=blue][center] يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا {70} يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَالَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَمَن يُطِعْ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا [/size][/color]
{O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allaah and fear Him, and speak (always) the truth. He will direct you to do righteous good deeds and will forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allaah and His Messenger he has indeed achieved a great achievement (i.e. he will be saved from the Hell-fire and made to enter Paradise).} [Al-Ahzaab 33:70-71][/CENTER]
It proceeds that the most truthful speech is that of Allaah’s Book - the Qur’aan, and that the best guidance is that of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم. The worst of evils are the newly invented matters in the Deen, and every innovated matter in the Deen is a bid`ah (innovation) and every bid`ah is misguidance and every misguidance is in the Fire of Hell.
[u]What is the Greatest and Most Beneficial Knowledge[/u]?
The greatest, most honourable and excellent knowledge is that of Allaah the Most High - His Names, Attributes and Actions; the knowledge of His Deen and of His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم, with love and magnification, being pleased with it all. The ranks of people with respect to this knowledge vary to a great extent.
Some people know of Allaah by virtue of His Generosity, Bounties and Favors.
Others know of Him through His Forgiveness, Clemency, and Pardoning.
Others through His Knowledge and Wisdom.
Others recognize Him by His Might and Majesty.
Others by His Mercy, Goodness, Kindness, Courtesy.
Others by His Subduing and Sovereignty.
Others by the fact that He answers their supplications, fulfils their needs and relieves their grief.
The One who is most comprehensive in His knowledge of Allaah knows of Him by means of His own words. He knows a Rabb (Lord) to Whom belongs the most majestic and perfect attributes. Far is He removed from having a parable or equal, free from all kinds of defects and imperfections, qualified with every beautiful name and every perfect attribute, doer of what He intends, what He wills, above everything - ascended the `Arsh (Throne) above the seven heavens. He encompasses everything while He is the Most High above everything; the One Who is able to do everything, the One who manages the affairs of everything. He commands and forbids; He speaks the Legislative and Universal words; He is greater than everything and He is the Most Beautiful, the Most Merciful, the All-Able, the All-Wise.
Allaah the Most High sent down the Qur’aan in order to inform His `Ibaad (servants) - mankind and jinn - about Himself so that they know of Him and of the way that leads to Him and of the status of travellers to Him after their arrival.
The most beneficial knowledge is that which deals with the Oneness and the Uniqueness of Allaah - Tawheed - being the only true God worthy of being worshipped. The knowledge of Allaah’s Names, attributes, and actions is part of Tawheed because it demands awe, reverence, and love of Allaah and it necessitates submission to Him inwardly and outwardly, worshipping none but Him. In this respect we contemplate Allaah’s command in Soorah Muhammad, verse 19:
[size=+2][color=blue][center]فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلا اللَّهُ [/size][/color]
{So know (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) that [I]Laa ilaaha illallaah[/I] (none has the right to be worshipped but Allaah)…} [Muhammad 47:19] [/CENTER]
In seeking to obtain this beneficial knowledge, we remind ourselves of the invocation of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم in which he said, [color=green][i]“Ask Allaah for the beneficial kind of knowledge and seek refuge in Him from knowledge which is of no avail.”[/I][/color][1] This hadeeth is [i]Saheeh[/i] as authenticated by Shaykh al-Albaanee رحمه الله.
[b][u]The Beneficial Knowledge and Scholastic Theology[/b][/u]
All praise is due to Allaah who sent Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, with the guidance and the Deen of the truth in order to lead mankind out of darkness, unbelief and [i]shirk[/i] into the light of belief in [i]Tawheed[/i] by their Rabb's (Lord’s) Leave, to the path of the All-Mighty, the Owner of all praise. Allaah سبحانه وتعالى bears witness that He sent Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم as one who invites to Him, and as a lamp spreading light; from the instruction in the Qur’aan and authentic Sunnah, He commanded him صلى الله عليه وسلم to say:
[font=traditional arabic][size=+2][color=blue][center]قُلْ هَـذِهِ سَبِيلِي أَدْعُو إِلَى اللَّهِ عَلَى بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَاْ وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِي وَسُبْحَانَ اللّهِ وَمَا أَنَاْ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ[/font][/size][/color]
[B] {Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): "This is my way; I invite unto Allaah with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me (also must invite others to Allaah i.e. to the Oneness of Allaah - Islaamic Monotheism) with sure knowledge. And Glorified and Exalted be Allaah. And I am not of the [I]Mushrikoon [/I]}[/B] [Yusuf 12:108] [/CENTER]
So, knowing that:[list]
Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم is the lamp spreading light through which Allaah leads mankind from the darkness to the light.
He صلى الله عليه وسلم is the one to whom Allaah has sent the Book (the Qur’aan) in truth, to judge between people in matters wherein they differ.
Allaah commanded the believers to refer any matters of the Deen about which they differ to the Book (the Qur’aan) and to the Wisdom (i.e. the Prophet’s Sunnah).
He صلى الله عليه وسلم invites people to Allaah and His Way, by Allaah’s Leave, with sure knowledge ([I]`alal-Baseerah[/I]).
Allaah سبحانه وتعالى has perfected the Deen for the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and for this Ummah.[/list]
Then, no one knows of Allaah better than the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
The Companions who took this knowledge of Allaah from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم related it to the entire Ummah - to the entire Muslim nation at large. Therefore, the knowledge of Allaah, by way of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and the righteous predecessors - [I]As-Salafus-Saalih[/I], supersedes and prevails above the innovated scholastic theology which is mostly philosophical in essence, vis-à-vis, the tenets of faith in general and the attributes of Allaah the Most High in particular. The Muslim therefore, should be aware as to the sources of knowledge regarding his Deen.
Allaah سبحانه وتعالى has made Himself known; He described Himself in the Qur’aan and through His Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم so that man may know of Him as He is - qualified with the most perfect attributes. These safeguard against ascribing to Allaah any false description, especially when man’s intellect is limited in its scope and knowledge.
In light of this, and given the intentional and unintentional distortions by many deviant sects, and/or some Muslims regarding one of the noble attributes of Allaah - [I]al-`Uloo[/I] (Transcendence), I would like to convey to you the correct belief of [I]As-Salafus-Saalih[/I] (the Righteous Predecessors) concerning this matter based upon evidences from the following:[list=1]
The Qur’aan
The authentic Sunnah
The belief of the Sahaabah (Companions) and their followers
The attestation of the ingrained nature - the [I]fitrah[/I]
The intellect [/list]
I ask Allaah سبحانه وتعالى to accept this effort as a sincere act and that He makes it a benefit for me and you in this life and in the Hereafter.
[b][u]The Attribute of Trancendence ([I]Al-‘Uloo[/I])[/b][/u]
Know, may Allaah’s Mercy be upon me and you, that the attribute of Transcendence [I](Al-`Uloo[/I]) of Allaah سبحانه وتعالى is of two types. Our Shaykh Muhammad ibn `Uthaymeen رحمه الله said concerning these two types:[list=1]
The [I]`Uloo of Adh-Dhaat[/I]- which means the Transcendence of Allaah in His Essence (in Himself).
The [I]`Uloo of As-Sifaat[/I]- which means the Transcendence of Allaah’s Attributes.[/list]
The [I]`Uloo of Adh-Dhaat[/I] - of the Essence, means that Allaah سبحانه وتعالى, in His Essence is above everything and everything is below Him Most Majestic and Mighty is He. Regarding the [I]`Uloo of As-Sifaat[/I] - of the Attributes, it means that Allaah is qualified with the superlative qualities as He the Most High said in Soorah An-Nahl, Verse 60:
[font=traditional arabic][size=+2][color=blue][center]...وَلِلّهِ الْمَثَلُ الأَعْلَىَ... [/font][/size][/color]
[B] {…and for Allaah is the highest description…} [/B] [an-Nahl 16:60][/CENTER]
[b][u]The Reason For Classification[/b][/u]
Every attribute which Allaah سبحانه وتعالى qualifies Himself with, is an attribute of perfection, and is in every respect free from any kind of imperfection. If you ask the questions: [list]
What is the reason behind this kind of classification?
Do you have a proof of it from the Qur’aan or the authentic Sunnah?
Did you find this in the sayings of the Sahaabah?[/list]
The answer is No, but the Shaykh رحمه الله said, [I]“I found it to be necessary when it was determined that the people of negation who are themselves Ahlut-Ta`teel (those who negate the attributes), restrict the ‘Uloo to the qualities only.” [/I] They said that Allaah’s Transcendence is in His attributes ([I]sifaat[/I]) only, and not in His Essence. The people of [I]ta`teel[/I] (تعطيل - denial and negation), themselves became divided regarding the Transcendence of Allaah’s Essence as will be discussed later.
What is important is that the Imaams of [I]As-Salaafus-Saalih[/I] رحمهم الله and the scholars who came after, resorted to this classification [u]out of necessity[/u] because they were tested by the people of [I]ta`teel[/I] who denied the `Uloo of Allaah’s Essence. Thus, they were obligated to affirm the transcendence in this way. In fact, if we say, “Allaah is the Most High” and if someone from the people of [I]ta`teel[/I] (negation) says, “the [I]`uloo[/I] (transcendence) here relates to His attributes,” then what would the common Muslim understand? The only thing that he would understand is that Allaah is qualified with the [I]`uloo[/I] (transcendence) of the [I]sifaat[/I] (attributes) only. If we say Allaah is Most High in His [I]sifaat[/I] as well as in His Essence, the common Muslim would understand this meaning. In fact, the first thing that is obvious to the common Muslim is that Allaah’s `Uloo (Transcendence) concerns His Essence. Certainly the [I]`uloo[/I] (transcendence) of the [I]sifaat[/I] is part of the meaning of the transcendence ([I]`uloo[/I]).
[b][u]Division of People of Ta`teel[/b][/u]
In their denial of the `Ulooof Allaah in His Essence, the people of [I]ta`teel[/I] were divided into two groups: [list=1]
Those who said that Allaah in His Essence is everywhere.
Those who said that He سبحانه وتعالى is neither in [I]`uloo[/I] (loftiness) nor in [I]sufl[/I]- the opposite of `Uloo meaning lowness. They said He is neither inside the world nor outside it, neither to right nor to the left, neither joined nor separate.[/list] This position is in fact [b]absolute [I]ta`teel[/I][/b] - absolute negation, because it is a description of [I]al-`adam[/I] which means non-existence. Some scholars said, “If we were asked to describe [I]al-`adam[/I] (non-existence), we would not find a more comprehensive definition than this description of theirs.” So contemplate how their negation of what has been affirmed by the way of texts and rational led them to say that which cannot be accepted - neither by sensory perception nor by text or intellect.
[I]continued in next post ....[/I]