Notes for Class #3 of Fiqhul-Asmaa al-Husnaa

Abu Muhammad al-Maghribee

This is a continuation of the introduction to the principles by which we understand the Names and Attributes of Allahu ta’aala; reading from the book The Correct Aqeedah and That Which Opposes It by Sheikh ibn Baaz, rahimahullah.

We begin by remembering the statement of the sheikh:

❃ It is from eemaan in Allah to have faith in His Beautiful Names and Lofty Attributes which are found in the Book of Allah, azza wa jal, and have been affirmed in the authentic sunnah of the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. And we do this without tahreef (distorting the words or meanings), without ta’teel (divesting or denying His Names or Attributes), without takyeef (asking “how”) and without tamtheel (making resemblance of Allah to any of His creation).

❃ Some of the statements of the imaams of the past regarding these principles:

Rabee’ah bin Abee Abdir-Rahmaan (died in 136, was from amongst the tabi’oon of Madinah) said: “Al-istawa (Allah’s Ascending) is known, and how is not comprehendable, and from Allah is the Message (islam) and upon the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم is to clearly convey it, and upon us is to affirm it.

Imaam Malik said: “Al-istawa is known, how is unknown, to have eemaan in it is obligatory and to question it is an innovation.”

Abdullah ibn Mubaarak said: “We know that our Lord, the Most Perfect, is above the heavens, above his Arsh (throne), separate from His creation.

❃ Knowing and understanding these principles is the door to the proper understanding of the Beautiful and Perfect Names of Allah and His Lofty Attributes. Whoever wishes to read additional books of the great ualama of the past on this topic regarding our creed may turn to such books like:

Kitaabus-Sunnah by Abdullah ibn Imaam Ahmad (died in 290 H.)

Kitabut-Tawheed by Imaam Muhammad ibn Khuzaymah (died 311 H.)

Kitaabus-Sunnah by Abul-Qaasim al-Laalikaaee at-Tabaree (died 418 H.)

Aqeedatul-Hamawiyyah of Sheikhul-Islam ibn Taymiyyah (died 728 H)

❃ We must know and adhere to the Aqeedah (belief) of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah, those who are on the pathway of the Salafusl-Saaleh, the pathway of that which the Messengerصلى الله عليه وسلم left his Companions upon. They affirm for Allah that which He has affirmed for Himself in His Book and what has been affirmed for Him in the authentic sunnah of His Messenger .And we must hold firmly to the truth, humbly accepting it, while being sincere to Allah in the quest for it. And Allah wilh grant such person harmony with the truth and show him clear evidences. And Allah says in the Quran:

بَلْ نَقْذِفُ بِالْحَقِّ عَلَى الْبَاطِلِ فَيَدْمَغُهُ فَإِذَا هُوَ زَاهِقٌ وَلَكُمُ الْوَيْلُ مِمَّا تَصِفُونَ

Nay, We fling (send down) the truth (this Qur'ân) against the falsehood (disbelief), so it destroys it, and behold, it (falsehood) is vanished. And woe to you for that (lie) which you ascribe (to Us) (against Allâh by uttering that Allâh has a wife and a son). Surat Al-Anbiya 21:1

وَلَا يَأْتُونَكَ بِمَثَلٍ إِلَّا جِئْنَاكَ بِالْحَقِّ وَأَحْسَنَ تَفْسِيرًا

And no example or similitude do they bring (to oppose or to find fault in you or in this Qur'ân), but We reveal to you the truth (against that similitude or example), and the better explanation thereof. Surat Al-Furqan 25:33