Understanding of Allah’s Names and Attributes - Overview

Compiled by: Ali Hussain Dhuniya

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Previous article-eleven(11) link: https://sunnisalafi.com/who-is-shaykh-rabi-ibn-hadee-al-madkhalee

Why Learn About Allah’s Names & Attributes

• To worship Allah correctly based on knowledge and avoid ignorance.
  
• Proper understanding is part of Tawheed Asma wa Sifaat.
  
• Avoid misguidance of groups like Jahmiyah, Mu’tazilah, Ashari, and Maturidi, who distort, deny, or misinterpret attributes.
  

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Names & Attributes of Allah

1. Names: Ar-Rahman, Al-Malik, Al-Quddus, Al-Alim, Al-Azeez, Al-Jabbar, Al-Ghafoor, Al-Kareem, Al-Majeed, etc.
   
2. Attributes: Allah has a Face, Hand, Eyes, He hears, sees, laughs, runs; descends to the lowest heaven; created Adam in His Image.
   
3. Principle: Affirm attributes as Allah affirmed them, without how (Takyeef), resemblance (Tashbih), distortion (Tahrif), or denial (Ta’teel).
   

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Key Principles from Scholars

• Attributes are real, eternal, and unique, not like creation.
  
• No resemblance (Tashbih): e.g., Allah’s Hand is not like human hands.
  
• No explanation of how (Takyeef): we affirm the attribute but do not ask "how".
  
• No distortion (Tahrif): do not change the meaning, e.g., Ashari interpretation of Hand = Power is false.
  

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Ibn Taymiyyah on Misinterpretation

Important Highlight:
“If it is said to you: We interpret the meaning of Anger to be ‘desiring to punish’ and Mercy to be ‘desiring to send blessings,’ then ask: Does this desiring resemble that of creation, or is it a desiring befitting His Majesty and Greatness? If one says the first, he has done Tashbih (resemblance). If he says the second, ask: Then why not say ‘Mercy and Anger befitting His Majesty and Greatness?’ This ends the argument.”
 – Shaykhul-Islâm Ibn Taymiyyah (d.728H)

• Implication: Changing the apparent meaning of Allah’s attributes (like Hand = Power) leads to error and circular reasoning.
  
• Correct approach: affirm the attribute as stated without likening to creation and without explaining “how”.

Ibn Taymiyyah on Misinterpretation of Allah’s Attributes

Shaykhul-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah (d.728H) emphasized the dangers of misinterpreting Allah’s attributes. He noted that some attempt to explain attributes like Anger as “desiring to punish” or Mercy as “desiring to bless.” He cautioned that this raises an important question: does this “desiring” resemble human desire, or is it something befitting Allah’s Majesty and Greatness? If one likens it to human desire, it falls into Tashbih (resemblance), which is major kufr and incorrect. If one claims it is befitting Allah’s Majesty, then why not simply affirm the attributes as they are in a manner befitting His greatness? This reasoning highlights the problem of trying to reinterpret Allah’s attributes in human terms.

Ibn Taymiyyah warned against changing the apparent meaning of attributes, such as saying “Hand” means “Power.” Doing so creates circular reasoning because humans and animals also have power. Any analogy drawn from creation is inherently limited and fails to capture Allah’s uniqueness. Therefore, interpreting attributes according to worldly understanding leads to confusion and misguidance.

The correct approach, Ibn Taymiyyah explained, is to affirm Allah’s attributes as stated in the Qur’an and Sunnah, without questioning “how” or likening them to creation. Human intellect is limited and cannot fully comprehend the unseen. Attempting to explain Allah’s attributes beyond what has been revealed is not only unnecessary but also potentially a grave error.

In practice, this means affirming attributes such as Hand, Eyes, Face, Anger, and Mercy in a manner befitting Allah’s Majesty. There is no need to delve into “how” these attributes manifest or compare them to human traits. Simply affirming what Allah and His Messenger affirmed preserves the correct understanding of Tawheed and avoids the errors of misinterpretation.

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Supporting Scholar Statements

• Imam al-Tirmidhi: No Tashbih in Allah’s attributes; affirm ahadith as they are, do not ask “how”.
  
• Ibn Uthaymin: Three questions for every attribute:
  

1. Is it real? → Yes, affirmed.
   
2. Can we ask how? → No.
   
3. Is it like creation? → No.
   

• Ishaq ibn Ibrahim al-Rahawaiah: Only resemblance is Tashbih; affirm Hand, Hearing, Seeing as Allah states without “like my hand/hearing”.
  
• Imam bin Baz: Ta’wil is allowed to explain context or meaning, not to distort.
  
• Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah creed: Affirm names & attributes as Allah revealed, without distortion, denial, how, or resemblance.
  

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Misguided Interpretations

• Ashari: Change apparent meaning (Hand = Power).
  
• Maturidi: Claim real meaning unknown; renders Names/Attributes meaningless.
  
• Jahmiyah / Mu’tazilah: Deny attributes (Ta’teel) or misinterpret.
  

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✅ Core Takeaway:

• Affirm Allah’s Names & Attributes as revealed.
  
• Do not liken to creation (no Tashbih).
  
• Do not distort (no Tahrif).
  
• Do not ask “how” (no Takyeef).
  
• Ibn Taymiyyah’s method: interpret attributes in a way befitting Allah’s Majesty without resembling creation—reject interpretations like Ashari “Hand = Power”.
  

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InshAllah later on, in this site, I will present to you in detail about Allah’s Names and Attributes for now see this playlist: Allah's Names and Attributes full playlist - Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAURPwJsXrk&list=PLO4fRwhT8n1qioyABen2lmztvPObIcDfr