Search In Fatwa

Ta’weel of Allah’s Attributes and Istiwaa’

Question

Did anyone from the Salaf did tafweed/taweel of Allaah’s hands, legs, face, etc? And what about Istiwaa; did anyone from the Salaf did tafweed/taweel of that too?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

A great number of scholars have quoted the consensus of the righteous predecessors on affirming the Attributes of Allah, Glory be to Him, which are mentioned in the Book of Allah and in the authentic Sunnah in a manner befitting to Allah’s Perfection and Majesty, without distorting their wordings or meanings, nor denying, asking how, or drawing resemblance between Allah and any of His Creation.

Abu Ya’la al-Faraa’ said in Ibtaal at-Ta’weelaat:

Another evidence for invalidating the interpretation [of Allah’s Attributes] is that the Companions and those who came after them from among the Taabi’is understood it according to its apparent (literal) meaning and did not engage in interpreting it [i.e. distorting their wordings or meanings, or denying, or asking how, or drawing resemblance] or give it a meaning other than its apparent and literal meaning.” [End of quote]

Ibn al-Qayyim  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him said in as-Sawaa’iq al-Mursala ‘ala al-Jahmiyyah wal-Mu’atila:

They – meaning the Companions  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  them – did not dispute regarding the interpretation of the verses of the Attributes of Allah and its information even in one place. Rather, they agreed as well as the Taabi’is after them in confirming it and understanding its meanings and proving its facts.” [End of quote]

For more benefit on the pious predecessors’ belief concerning Istiwaa’ and other Attributes of Allah, please refer to Fatawa 7256, 4805, 19144, 90390, 275167, 277453, 330607 and 384256.

Allah Knows best.

Related Fatwa