Saad
27-04-2010, 10:23 PM
The Issue of the Ambiguous Attributes of Allah (http://deoband.org/2010/04/hadith/hadith-commentary/the-issue-of-the-ambiguous-attributes-of-allah/)
His statement "two fingers of the fingers of the Most Merciful": al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "This is from the hadiths of attributes and there are two views in regards to them which have just preceded:"One of them is to believe in them without venturing into ta'wil (interpretation), or trying to understand its meaning. Rather, one believes it is the truth and that its outward purport is not intended. Allah Most High said 'Naught is as His likeness' (42:11)."And the second is to interpret it in a manner that is befitting. According to this, the intended meaning is figurative. This is just as is said 'such-and-such a person is in my grasp and in my palm'; it is not intended by it that he took up residence in his palm, rather the intent is: he is under my power. It is said: 'such-and-such a person is between my two fingers, I turn him however I wish' i.e. that he is under my control and disposal of him is how I wish. Thus, the meaning of the hadith is that He (Glorified and High is He) disposes of the hearts of His servants and other hearts besides them however He wills. None of them are thwarted from him, and what He intends does not escape Him, just as what is between the two fingers of man is not thwarted from him. Thus, He addresses the Arabs by which they will understand it and the like of it by [making use of] sensual meanings that give assurance to their souls. If it is said: Allah's Power is one, and 'two fingers' ([I]isba'an) is for duality, the response is that it has preceded that this is figurative and metaphorical, so the simile (tamthil) occurred in accordance to what they are used to without intending thereby duality or plurality. And Allah knows best."
Read the entire article... (http://deoband.org/2010/04/hadith/hadith-commentary/the-issue-of-the-ambiguous-attributes-of-allah/)
His statement "two fingers of the fingers of the Most Merciful": al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "This is from the hadiths of attributes and there are two views in regards to them which have just preceded:"One of them is to believe in them without venturing into ta'wil (interpretation), or trying to understand its meaning. Rather, one believes it is the truth and that its outward purport is not intended. Allah Most High said 'Naught is as His likeness' (42:11)."And the second is to interpret it in a manner that is befitting. According to this, the intended meaning is figurative. This is just as is said 'such-and-such a person is in my grasp and in my palm'; it is not intended by it that he took up residence in his palm, rather the intent is: he is under my power. It is said: 'such-and-such a person is between my two fingers, I turn him however I wish' i.e. that he is under my control and disposal of him is how I wish. Thus, the meaning of the hadith is that He (Glorified and High is He) disposes of the hearts of His servants and other hearts besides them however He wills. None of them are thwarted from him, and what He intends does not escape Him, just as what is between the two fingers of man is not thwarted from him. Thus, He addresses the Arabs by which they will understand it and the like of it by [making use of] sensual meanings that give assurance to their souls. If it is said: Allah's Power is one, and 'two fingers' ([I]isba'an) is for duality, the response is that it has preceded that this is figurative and metaphorical, so the simile (tamthil) occurred in accordance to what they are used to without intending thereby duality or plurality. And Allah knows best."
Read the entire article... (http://deoband.org/2010/04/hadith/hadith-commentary/the-issue-of-the-ambiguous-attributes-of-allah/)