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al-Sansiyya

al al al al- -- -Aqdah Aqdah Aqdah Aqdahal al al al- -- -Sansiyya Sansiyya Sansiyya Sansiyya

AbAbdullhMu AbAbdullhMu AbAbdullhMu AbAbdullhMuammadibnY ammadibnY ammadibnY ammadibnYsuf suf suf suf
al al al al- -- -Sansal Sansal Sansal Sansal- -- -usayn usayn usayn usaynal al al al- -- -Mlik Mlik Mlik Mlik(d.795Hijrah)
Translation&CommentarybyAbdamal-Narjy
Releasedbywww.marifah.net www.marifah.net www.marifah.net www.marifah.net1428H.

al-Sansiyya
2

Table Table Table TableofContents ofContents ofContents ofContents


Introduction:TheDisappearanceofKnowledgeandtheImportanceoftheScience
ofBelief.................................................................................................................................3
TheSansiyya.......................................................................................................................6
PrefacetotheTranslationofTheSansiyya.................................................................6
Thejudgmentsofthesoundintellect............................................................................7
Requiredknowledgefortheaccountableperson.........................................................9
TheAttributesthatAllhmustbeattributedwith...................................................9
TheattributesthatareimpossibleforAllhtobeattributedwithandthosethat
arepossible......................................................................................................................16
TheproofsofAllhsattributes.....................................................................................17
Hisattributeofexistence...........................................................................................18
Hisattributeofnon-beginningexistence..................................................................19
Hisattributeofnon-endingexistence.......................................................................19
Hisattributeofnon-resemblancetocreation..........................................................19
Hisattributeofself-existence....................................................................................19
HisattributeofOneness............................................................................................20
HisattributesofPower,Will,KnowledgeandLife.................................................20
HisattributesofHearing,SightandSpeech............................................................20
WhatmaybetrueofAllh....................................................................................23
TheMessengersofAllhandtheirattributes...............................................................23
DefinitionofProphetandMessenger......................................................................23
AttributesthatMessengersmusthave......................................................................24
AttributesthatareimpossibleforMessengerstohave..........................................24
AttributesthatMessengerscouldhave....................................................................25
ProofthatMessengersabsolutelyneverlie..............................................................26
Miraclesandotherextraordinaryevents..................................................................27
TheproofthattheMessengersdonotsin................................................................28
TheproofthattheMessengersareexposedtohumanconditionsthatdonot
implyflawintheirrank..............................................................................................28
RelatingeverythingmentionedtothecreedalstatementofIslm.............................28
ThemeaningofthereisnogodbutAllh............................................................28
WhatitmeansthatAllhdoesnotneedanything................29
WhatitmeansthateverythingelseneedsAllh..................................................30
TheidentityoftheProphetMuammad..............................................................31
BelievinginProphetMuammadentailsbelievingallProphets........................31
AllProphetsandMessengeraretrustworthy...........................................................31
ProphetsandMessengersneversin..........................................................................31
ProphetsandMessengerareexposedtohumanconditionsthatdonotimply
flawintheirrank........................................................................................................31
Theimportanceofremembrancebythecreedalstatement...................................32
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................32
Translatorsafterword:theproofsofthemindinIslm..............................................32
AbouttheAuthor..........33
al-Sansiyya
3
Introduction:TheDisappearanceofKnowledge Introduction:TheDisappearanceofKnowledge Introduction:TheDisappearanceofKnowledge Introduction:TheDisappearanceofKnowledge
andth andth andth andtheImportanceoftheScienceofBelief eImportanceoftheScienceofBelief eImportanceoftheScienceofBelief eImportanceoftheScienceofBelief

IntheNameofGod,whoistheMostGracious,MostMerciful

I commence my writing by saying the name of Allh, appealing for His help and blessing. All
praisebelongsintruthtoHim,forHeistheCreatorofallandtheiractionslikegiving.Ideclare
myself a believer in His Absolute Oneness, and that for those who deny this there is no
forgiveness.OGodofAbraham!YouaretheCreatorofall,andbyyourmercyIstandorIfall.
Noonecanquestionyouractions,sinceanyoneelseismerelyamongyourcreations.Ibegyou
tofurtherraisetherankofthebestofallyouhavemade,theProphetMuammadandthatin
hisintercessionIwillfindshade.

ItwasreportedbyAmad,al-Tirmidh,al-Drimandal-awthattheProphetwasasked,
after telling them that knowledge of the religion will disappear in the future, O Prophet of
Allh, how can knowledge disappear when we have copies of the Qurn (al-Maif) and we
have learned what they contain, and we have taught our children and our wives and our
servants? He raised his head in anger and said, These Jews and Christians have with them
theirscriptures,yettheydidnotlearnfromthemwhattheirProphetsbroughtthem.
1 11 1

Ab Jafar al-aw in Mushkil al-thr narrated from the companion of the Prophet ,
Shaddd ibn Aws
2 22 2
that the first knowledge that will disappear is khush, and that there will
come a time when one will hardly ever see anyone with khush in the group prayer in the
Masjids. al-aw defined khush as submission and humbleness to Allh . He stated that
thisappearsonthosewhohaveit,becauseAllhsaidabouttheCompanionsoftheProphet
:

-- Q - ' - ~ - ; - - - - = ~ ' ; , - ; ) - - - ' - = ' - - - _ - - - ~ - Q- - - ' - ; ~


; = ~- , - Q - ; ) ; = - ; ' -- ~
3

Meaning:Thosewhoar Thosewhoar Thosewhoar Thosewhoarewithhimshownomercyfortheblasphemersandaremercifultoward ewithhimshownomercyfortheblasphemersandaremercifultoward ewithhimshownomercyfortheblasphemersandaremercifultoward ewithhimshownomercyfortheblasphemersandaremercifultoward


one another (as Muslims). You see them bowing and prostrating in prayer seeking grace and one another (as Muslims). You see them bowing and prostrating in prayer seeking grace and one another (as Muslims). You see them bowing and prostrating in prayer seeking grace and one another (as Muslims). You see them bowing and prostrating in prayer seeking grace and
rewardfromA rewardfromA rewardfromA rewardfromAll ll ll llh.Theirmarkisintheirfacesfromthetraceofprostration. h.Theirmarkisintheirfacesfromthetraceofprostration. h.Theirmarkisintheirfacesfromthetraceofprostration. h.Theirmarkisintheirfacesfromthetraceofprostration.

Al-awsaidthatthismarkmentionedintheyahwasstatedbyanumberoftheSalaftobe
theappearanceofkhush.
4 44 4

InJmial-Ulmwa-l-ikamIbnRajabexpandeduponthemeaningofkhushandsaidthat
there are two types of knowledge, knowledge that benefits, and knowledge of the tongue. The
first type of knowledge is a persons knowledge of Allh , His names, His attributes and His
actions which leads to fearing Him, glorifying Him, humbling oneself to Him, loving Him,

1 11 1
P.484,V.1,Alal-Qr.Mirqtal-Maft.Beirut,Lebanon:Dral-Kutubal-Ilmiyya,2001.
2 22 2
Hewasoneofthecompanionsthatwasknownforknowledgeandextremepiety.Heusedtogo
tobedatnight,saying:OAllh!TheHellfireispreventingmefromsleep.Thenhewouldgetupagain
andprayuntilmorning.
3 33 3
ratal-Fat,29
4 44 4
P.281-282V.1,al-aw,Mushkilal-thr,Muassasatal-Risla,Beirut.
al-Sansiyya
4
HopingforHisGraceandMercy,askingHimforonesneeds,relyingonHimandthelike.The
secondtypeofknowledgeisthatofthetongue,thatis,apparentknowledgeoftheQurnand
itsmeanings.Thisknowledgewithoutthe firstis whatwasmeantbyIbn Masdwhenhesaid:
somepeoplereadtheQurn,butitdoesnotreachbeyondtheircollarbone.

Then Ibn Rajab said: The first knowledge that is lifted away from earth is the beneficial
knowledge, which is inside and mixes with the hearts and mends them. The knowledge of the
tongue remains as a proof (i.e. apparent knowledge of the Qurn). Then people become
careless with it, and do not perform what it requires; neither those who carry this knowledge,
norothers.Thenthisknowledgedisappearswithitscarriers,andnothingremainsexceptcopies
oftheQurninbooks,andthereisnoonearoundthatknowsitsmeaning,oritslimitsorrules.
Thenthisalsodisappearsattheendofdaysandthereisnothingleftatallofthisknowledge,not
in copies and not in hearts. After that comes the Day of Judgment, as the Messenger of Allh
said:TheDayofJudgmentcomeswhenthereareonlybadpeople.

Thebasisforbeneficialknowledgethen,theknowledgethatleadstokhush,istoknowAllh
astheMessengertaught.ThismeanstoknowAllhsattributes,butitalsomeanstoknow
whytheymustbetrueofAllh.Thisisbecausefaithnotfoundedonthereasonofthemindis
susceptibletodoubtwhenexposedtotheargumentsofthosewhospreadit.Oncethemindhas
accepted that there is no possible alternative to what one believes, no matter what new
information one receives, then doubt will never have access. This is of course unless Allh
haswilledforonetoacceptfalsehoodduetoasicknessintheheart.

The Islamic Sunni Science of Belief, or the Science of Kalm, serves this purpose: to remove
doubts due to flaws in ones reasoning. This may be flaws in ones premises, arguments or
conclusions.OncethepurposeofKalmhasbeenachieved,thencombiningitwithperforming
onesreligiousobligationsandavoidingprohibitions,isthepathwaytotruekhushandsuccess
in the Hereafter. This is because the mind has been satisfied, and now only the heart needs
mending. Faith is now backed by flawless reason, a powerful combination that only Islam
provides.

It is this that transformed the companions of the Messenger of Allh to the greatest
generationinhistory.ItistheresultofthiscombinationAllhtoldusofwhenHesaidwhat
meansthatthecompanionsshownomercyfortheblasphemers;thetruthwasnowobviousto
them both in the mind and the heart, and they had realized the extent of the crime of not
acceptingIslm.TheytooktheenemiesofAllhasenemiesoftheirown,andtheenemiesof
Allharetheblasphemers,absolutelyandcategorically:

Q- , -' - - - - - -- ' -
5

A literal translation would state, Verily Verily Verily Verily Allh Allh Allh Allh is the enemy of the blasphemers. is the enemy of the blasphemers. is the enemy of the blasphemers. is the enemy of the blasphemers. Note,
however, that when Allh is referred to as having enmity towards someone in Arabic, it
meansthatHehascursedthemandwilledabaddestinyforthem,notthatHehasemotions.
6 66 6

This mercilessness of the companions was not due to a hardening of the heart, because they
were also merciful toward one another. Moreover, due to this same realization of the mind

5 55 5
ratal-Baqarah,98
6 66 6
Thiswasstatedbyal-Bayhaqinhisbookal-Asmwa-l-Sift
al-Sansiyya
5
andhearttogethertheirmarkisintheirfacesfromthetraceofprostration,fortheysoldthis
worldfortheirHereafter.

Mendingtheheartisachievedbythepracticalapplicationofonesknowledge.Firstbyknowing
Allh and thereby that He deserves to be worshiped, and that no matter how much He is
worshiped, glorified, and submitted to, it can never be to the extent that He truly deserves.
Second, one applies knowledge by first learning the way of worship that Allh accepts and
how to avoid His prohibitions. This is by the knowledge of fiqh, which is learned through
trustworthy scholars of one of its four schools, that of Ab anfa, Mlik, al-Shfi or Amad
ibnanbal.

Strictly speaking, knowing the Kalm proofs for the correctness of the Sunni belief is not an
obligationforeveryindividualMuslim.Itisacommunalobligation,inthesensethattheremust
beenoughpeopleknowingtheseproofstodefendIslm.Ifthisrequirementisnotmet,thenall
thosewhowereabletolearnaresinful.Inthisdayandagetherearenotenoughpeopledoing
this,andmanypeoplearesinfulfornotlearning.Notonlythat,butinlightofthemassiveattack
on certainty in belief at all levels of society today, there is no question that learning some of
theseproofsisamustforalmosteveryindividual.

EnglishspeakingteachersandwritingsonKalmtomakethissciencewidelyavailableissorely
needed. The following translation of the traditional Kalm text known as al-Sansiyya will
hopefully fill some of this need. Knowledge in Islam, however, must be received through a
properlyqualifiedteacher,andnotthroughreadingalone.ThiswaspointedoutbyOurBeloved
Prophetintheadthmentionedinthefirstparagraphofthissection.

al-Sansiyya
6
TheSansiyya TheSansiyya TheSansiyya TheSansiyya
PrefacetotheTranslationoft PrefacetotheTranslationoft PrefacetotheTranslationoft PrefacetotheTranslationoftheSansiyya heSansiyya heSansiyya heSansiyya

ThisisatranslationofthemeaningofthebookMatnUmmal-Barhn,orTheTextofthe
Mother of Proofs written by the Imm
7 77 7
Ab Abdullh Muammad ibn Ysuf al-Sans al-
usaynal-Mlik,whowasbornaround830oftheHijrahcalendar,orabout600yearsago.He
was a man of encyclopedic knowledge in many fields, including the sciences of belief,
jurisprudence,PropheticTraditions,logic,andtheQurn,andhewrotebooksonallofthem.
He was the head of the scholars in Tilmisn (Tlemsen), a capital of North Africa in Islamic
history.ItislocatedinwhatisAlgeriatoday.

ThebookbeingtranslatedhereisactuallyasummaryofhisbookUmmal-Barhn,whichis
one of the most important books explaining and proving the correctness of the Islamic belief.
ThissummaryoftheSunnidoctrineisdifferentfromthetwoothermajorsummaries,thatofal-
awandal-Nasaf,initsfocusonrationalproofsexplicitlywithinthesummary.

The emphasis on rational proofs


8 88 8
is particularly important today when religious beliefs in
generalarebeingattackedbyagnosticandatheistpropaganda.Thispropagandafalselyclaims
that freethinking is scientific thinking, something that has lured many away from believing
firmly in the Creator, let alone Islm itself. The reason for the success of this onslaught is the
generalignoranceabouttheproofsofthecorrectnessoftheIslamicbeliefsystem.Itisinfacta
beliefsystemsuperiortoanyotheranditismorescientificthanthephilosophyofskepticism.

Thetranslationisatranslationofmeaning,withouthighlycontrivedattemptstofollowthestyle
ofArabicwhilewritingEnglish,ortranslatingwordbyword.Thetranslationofthebookitselfis
in bold brown print, while explanations and additions have been made in regular print. In
certainplaceselaborationsthatareimportantinthisdayandagehavebeenadded.









7 77 7
ThewordimminArabicreferstosomeonewhoisfollowedbyothersintermsofwhathesays
ordoes.Itisusedasascholarlytitlemeaningagreatscholarwhoisfollowedevenbyotherscholars.
8 88 8
Thetopicofwhat is calledinArabic samiyt is not the focus ofthe Sansiyya. Samiyt means
literally,whatpertainstohearing,ormoreaccurately,whatisestablishedbynarrationoftheQurn
ortheteachingsoftheProphet,andcannotbeknownbyreasonalone.Agoodtranslationwouldbe
narrational beliefs. This term refers to the beliefs that cannot be known except by being told by a
ProphetandpertainmainlytowhatoccursafterthislifeandtowardstheDayofJudgment.Thistopic
iscoveredmorethoroughlybyal-awandal-Nasaf.
al-Sansiyya
7
Thejudgmentsofthesoundintellect Thejudgmentsofthesoundintellect Thejudgmentsofthesoundintellect Thejudgmentsofthesoundintellect

Theauthor(mayAllhhavemercyuponhimandbenefituswithhisknowledge)says:

PraisebetoA PraisebetoA PraisebetoA PraisebetoAll ll ll llhandPeaceandBlessingsupo handPeaceandBlessingsupo handPeaceandBlessingsupo handPeaceandBlessingsuponHis nHis nHis nHisMessenger Messenger Messenger Messenger. .. .

Knowthatthejudgmentsoftheintellectarelimitedto3categories: Knowthatthejudgmentsoftheintellectarelimitedto3categories: Knowthatthejudgmentsoftheintellectarelimitedto3categories: Knowthatthejudgmentsoftheintellectarelimitedto3categories:

1) 1) 1) 1) what what what whatabsolutelymustbe, absolutelymustbe, absolutelymustbe, absolutelymustbe,orthe orthe orthe ortheabsolutelynecessary absolutelynecessary absolutelynecessary absolutelynecessary, ,, ,
2) 2) 2) 2) what what what whatabsolutely absolutely absolutely absolutelycannotbe cannotbe cannotbe cannotbe,orthe ,orthe ,orthe ,ortheabsolutely absolutely absolutely absolutelyimpossible impossible impossible impossible,and ,and ,and ,and
3) 3) 3) 3) what what what whatmaybe maybe maybe maybe,orthe ,orthe ,orthe ,orthepossible possible possible possible. .. .

1) 1) 1) 1) What What What What absolutelymust absolutelymust absolutelymust absolutelymustbe be be beiswhatthemindabsolutelydoesnotacceptthenon iswhatthemindabsolutelydoesnotacceptthenon iswhatthemindabsolutelydoesnotacceptthenon iswhatthemindabsolutelydoesnotacceptthenon- -- -existence existence existence existence
of. of. of. of. That is, to propose its non-existence would be absurd. In other words, Allhs
existence.

2) 2) 2) 2) What What What What absolutely absolutely absolutely absolutely cannot be cannot be cannot be cannot be is what the mind does not accept the potential existence of is what the mind does not accept the potential existence of is what the mind does not accept the potential existence of is what the mind does not accept the potential existence of
under a under a under a under any circumstance. ny circumstance. ny circumstance. ny circumstance. That is, the proposition of its possible existence is absolutely
absurd and logically incongruent. What absolutely cannot be does not refer to what is
merely practically impossible, such as rivers flowing up a mountain, replacing the
Atlantic Ocean with orange juice, or awaking the dead.

3) 3) 3) 3) What may be is that which the mind alone can accept the existence or non-existence
of. All created things fall into this category.
Requiredknowledgefortheaccountableperson Requiredknowledgefortheaccountableperson Requiredknowledgefortheaccountableperson Requiredknowledgefortheaccountableperson

Itisrequiredofeveryacc Itisrequiredofeveryacc Itisrequiredofeveryacc Itisrequiredofeveryaccountablepersontoknowwhat ountablepersontoknowwhat ountablepersontoknowwhat ountablepersontoknowwhatabsolutelymustbe absolutelymustbe absolutelymustbe absolutelymustbetrueofA trueofA trueofA trueofAll ll ll llh,what h,what h,what h,what
absolutely absolutely absolutely absolutely cannot be cannot be cannot be cannot betrue of A true of A true of A true of All ll ll llh, and what h, and what h, and what h, and what may be may be may be may betrue of A true of A true of A true of All ll ll llh. One must alsoknow these h. One must alsoknow these h. One must alsoknow these h. One must alsoknow these
thingswithregardstothe thingswithregardstothe thingswithregardstothe thingswithregardstotheMessenger Messenger Messenger Messengers,uponthemPeaceandBlessings. s,uponthemPeaceandBlessings. s,uponthemPeaceandBlessings. s,uponthemPeaceandBlessings.

Anaccountablepersonissomeonewhoissane,hasreachedIslamicpuberty
9 99 9
andhasheardthe
CreedalStatementofIslm.

Asforsanityandpuberty,theProphetMuammad said,Thepen isliftedoffthree;offthe


sleepingpersonuntilhewakesup,andoffthechilduntilitgrowsupandofftheinsaneuntilhe
regainssanity.
10 10 10 10
Theliftingofthepenisafigureofspeechmeaningthatthesinsofthesethree
arenotwrittentobeansweredforlater.

AsforhearingtheCreedalStatement,AllhsaidintheQurn:

- > - - J ~ ,- - - = = -- _ - - ' -- - ; -
11


9 99 9
PubertyinIslmisbymenstruation,pregnancy,ejaculationorreaching15lunaryearsofage.
10 10 10 10
NasNo.3432
11 11 11 11
ratal-Nis4,165
al-Sansiyya
8
which means that Allh sent Messengers so that people would have no evidence of excuse people would have no evidence of excuse people would have no evidence of excuse people would have no evidence of excuse
fornothavingobeyedHim. fornothavingobeyedHim. fornothavingobeyedHim. fornothavingobeyedHim. Inaddition,Allhsaid:

V; ~ ~ - - _ - = Q- - - - ' - ' -
12

which means that Allh does not punish until He has sent a Messenger. This condition is
metbymerelyhearingthecreedalstatement.Thescholarsallagreedonthiswithconsensusof
the four schools of jurisprudence,
13 13 13 13
because as narrated by al-kim and others, The
MessengerofAllhneverfoughtapeopleuntilhehadcalledthemtoIslm.

The accountable person will be held accountable by Allh for all his sayings, deeds and
beliefs.HeisrequiredtoperformallobligationsprescribeduponhimbyAllhandavoidall
thatAllhhasprohibitedhimfrom.HeisthreatenedbyAllhspunishmentintheHereafter
ifhedoesnot.He ispromisedrewardintheHereafterforperformingtheobligationsAllh
hasorderedandavoidingwhatHehasforbidden.

IfanaccountablepersonisnotMuslim,thenhemustbecomeMuslimimmediatelybysaying,I
firmly believe that no one and nothing deserves to be worshiped except Allh, and that
Muammad is His Prophet and Messenger. He must accompany this with the intent in his
hearttobecomeMuslimandabandonanythingthatcontradictsthatbelief.Hemustsayitwith
a voice that is loud enough to hear himself under normal circumstances.
14 14 14 14
If someone cant
pronounce Muammad properly, then they may say: and Abul Qsim is His Prophet and
Messenger.Anyotherequivalentstatementwillalsodo.

AllhsaysintheQurn:

,- ~ Q- , -' - - - ' -- - - ' - ' - -; ~ --' - Q -; - ; - Q -


15

Meaning:WhoeverdoesnotbelieveinA WhoeverdoesnotbelieveinA WhoeverdoesnotbelieveinA WhoeverdoesnotbelieveinAll ll ll llhandH handH handH handHis is is isMessenger Messenger Messenger Messenger;verilyA ;verilyA ;verilyA ;verilyAll ll ll llhhaspreparedfor hhaspreparedfor hhaspreparedfor hhaspreparedfor
the blasphemers a fierce fire. the blasphemers a fierce fire. the blasphemers a fierce fire. the blasphemers a fierce fire. Thereby we know that the blasphemer is anyone that does not
believeinAllhorHisMessenger,andthatthisbeliefisanimmediateobligation.

Itisalsostatedinal-Qurn:


12 12 12 12
ratal-Isr17,15
13 13 13 13
Thoughsomescholars,suchasAbanfa,saidthatthereisaccountabilityforsomeissueseven
before hearing the creedal statement, because the mind alone is sufficient to figure out that there is a
Creator and that He is One. Many scholars among those who put hearing the call of Islam as a
prerequisite for accountability, such as al-Nawaw, said that some accountability come from merely
hearing about any past Prophet , because this should trigger him to think of the Creator and thus
believeinHim,andthatHedoesnothavepartner.AfterhavingheardaboutaProphethehasnoexcuse
for negligence any longer. Based on this theArab pagans prior tothe Prophet are in Hell forever as
indicatedinmanyadths.Source:Ibnal-Hummsal-Musyaraanditsexplanation.
14 14 14 14
This is the most solid and safest view, and is the saying of the anaf Imms as well as many
Ashars such as al-Q Iy. Other Ashars had some further details on this, but it is a rather long
discussionforanothertimeandplaceinshAllh.
15 15 15 15
ratal-Fat,13
al-Sansiyya
9
, ~ ; 4 - - ' )- - Q- - -' = ; - ) = ' - - Q- , ~ - - ' - - - J Q - , - Q- - - - , - -
16

Meaning:Thosewhoblaspheme,amongthePeopleoftheBook(theJewsandtheChristians) Thosewhoblaspheme,amongthePeopleoftheBook(theJewsandtheChristians) Thosewhoblaspheme,amongthePeopleoftheBook(theJewsandtheChristians) Thosewhoblaspheme,amongthePeopleoftheBook(theJewsandtheChristians)


andtheidolworshipers, andtheidolworshipers, andtheidolworshipers, andtheidolworshipers,willbeintheHell willbeintheHell willbeintheHell willbeintheHell- -- -Fireanddwellthereendlessly.Theyaretheworstof Fireanddwellthereendlessly.Theyaretheworstof Fireanddwellthereendlessly.Theyaretheworstof Fireanddwellthereendlessly.Theyaretheworstof
creation. creation. creation. creation.WetherebyknowthatblasphemersaretheabsoluteworstofAllhscreation,which
signifiestheenormityoftheircrime.Wealsoknowthattheirtortureisendless.Theyareworse
than the animals that Allh has created, because animals are not blessed with a mind and
accountability.

Theaccountableisonlyaccountableforhisorherownacts.Itmustbekeptinmind,however,
thatoneoftheobligationstoactistopreventthedisobedienceofothers.TheProphetsaid:
WhoeveramongyouseessomethingdisapprovedofbyAllh,lethimchangeitbyhishand.If
unable,thenlethimdosobyHistongue.Ifunabletodoeventhat,letHimrejectitinhisheart,
andthatistheleast(act)offaith.
17 17 17 17

Thismeansthatifweareabletodosomethingtostopthesinnerbyanappropriateaction,then
wearerequiredtodoit,unlesssomeoneelsedoesit.Ifweexpectthatusingthehandwilllead
to more or worse sins, then we do not use the hand, as this defeats the purpose. Note that
merelyfeelingembarrassedisnotanexcuseforremainingpassive.

Second,ifweareunabletousethehand,wearerequiredtosaysomethingtostopthesinner.

Finally, if we are unable to do or say something to stop him, we are required to hate it in our
hearts, and if able, leave the place where it is happening. This is the least we must do to avoid
becomingsinfulourselves,andthustheleastactthatisasignoffaith.
18 18 18 18

BeforeexplainingtheattributesofAllhthatmustbelearned,itshouldbeclearthatAllh
exists,andthatHehasattributes.Theyarealleternalanddonotchange.Hisattributesarenot
otherthanHim,noraretheyHimHimself,becauseAllhisOne.
TheAt TheAt TheAt TheAttributesthatA tributesthatA tributesthatA tributesthatAll ll ll llh h h hmustbeattributedwith mustbeattributedwith mustbeattributedwith mustbeattributedwith
Amongtheattributeswhich Amongtheattributeswhich Amongtheattributeswhich Amongtheattributeswhichabsolutelymustbe absolutelymustbe absolutelymustbe absolutelymustbetrueofA trueofA trueofA trueofAll ll ll llhare20asfollows: hare20asfollows: hare20asfollows: hare20asfollows:

1) 1) 1) 1) Existence Existence Existence Existence( (( (al al al al- -- -Wujd Wujd Wujd Wujd/ // /;=;-), ,, ,

2) 2) 2) 2) Non Non Non Non- -- -beginningexistence( beginningexistence( beginningexistence( beginningexistence(al al al al- -- -Qidam Qidam Qidam Qidam/ // /---), ), ), ),

AllhstatedintheQurnthat:

V ;
19


16 16 16 16
ratal-Bayyina,98
17 17 17 17
MuslimNo.49
18 18 18 18
See2/318,Akmal-Qurn,al-Ja,Beirut,Lebanon,DrIhyal-Turthal-Arab.Seealso
1/276,Badial-ani.Aluddnal-Ksn.Beirut,Lebanon:Daral-Kitbal-Arab,1982.
19 19 19 19
ratal-add,03
al-Sansiyya
10

He is al He is al He is al He is al- -- -Awwal. Awwal. Awwal. Awwal. This means that He existed before everything else, and that He was
notprecededbynon-existence.TheProphetMuammadsaid:

- , - - ~ Q - - ;- = '

Allh existed and there was nothing else.


20 20 20 20
Allhs existence then, does not resemble
theexistenceofcreatedthings,becauseitisbeginning-less,amustandisnotaffectedby
anything.

3) 3) 3) 3) Non Non Non Non- -- -endingexistence( endingexistence( endingexistence( endingexistence(al al al al- -- -Baq Baq Baq Baq / // / '--- ), ), ), ),

AllhsaidintheQurn:

4 - = _ - - -
21

Thismaybeinterpretedas, A AA All ll ll llhH hH hH hHimselflasts, imselflasts, imselflasts, imselflasts, thatis,absolutely.Hisexistencedoes


nothavethepossibilityofending.

4) 4) 4) 4) Non Non Non Non- -- -resemblance to all events resemblance to all events resemblance to all events resemblance to all events - -- - all things that have a beginning ( all things that have a beginning ( all things that have a beginning ( all things that have a beginning (al al al al- -- -Muk Muk Muk Mukh hh hlafatu li lafatu li lafatu li lafatu li- -- -l ll l- -- -
aw aw aw aw dith/ dith/ dith/ dith/;=-- --'=--), ), ), ),

AllhsaidintheQurn:

- - - Q - - ,- ~ - - - - ~- ; ~
22

Absolutely nothing resembles Him, and He is All Absolutely nothing resembles Him, and He is All Absolutely nothing resembles Him, and He is All Absolutely nothing resembles Him, and He is All- -- -Hearing, All Hearing, All Hearing, All Hearing, All- -- -Seeing. Seeing. Seeing. Seeing. Allh
created everything, brought everything into existence, therefore He does not resemble
anything.Forexample,Heisnotattributedwithdeath,lightrays,darkness,color,spirit,
stillness, movement, shape, form, parts, divisibility, limits, countability, mode, mass,
locationordirectionbecausetheseattributesneedtobespecifiedbyacreatorandmust
thereforehaveabeginning.

Whatoneshouldkeepinmindisthatwhatallcreatedthingshaveincommon,whether
theyareasubstanceoranattributeofit,isthateverythingaboutthemhasabeginning.
This is because the definition of a created thing is that it is something brought into
existence.

The rule is therefore that whatever you can imagine in your mind, Allh does not
resemble it. It was narrated that the cousin of the Prophet Muammad , and famous
companionIbnAbbssaid,Ponderabouteverything,butdonotponderabouttheSelf
of Allh.
23 23 23 23
He said this because this leads to one drawing resemblances between the
Creator and the created, which is blasphemy. It contradicts the belief in Allhs

20 20 20 20
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Oneness, because it leads to the heretical belief that Allh has an equal. It also
involvesdenyingtheQurnicstatement:AbsolutelynothingresemblesHim. AbsolutelynothingresemblesHim. AbsolutelynothingresemblesHim. AbsolutelynothingresemblesHim.

The great scholar of Islm Ibn Askir said It is neither said: When was He? nor:
WherewasHe?,nor:HowwasHe?Heexistedandtherewasnoplace,andHemade
everythingexistandarrangedtime.

5) 5) 5) 5) Self Self Self Self- -- -existence, meaning having no need of location or specification ( existence, meaning having no need of location or specification ( existence, meaning having no need of location or specification ( existence, meaning having no need of location or specification (al al al al- -- -Qiymu bi Qiymu bi Qiymu bi Qiymu bi- -- -
nafsihi nafsihi nafsihi nafsihi / // /~--- '---), ), ), ),

AllhsaidintheQurn:

- - ; -- -- _ - , - - - ; - - ' -- ' ) - ' - -- - = -


24

Itmaybetranslatedinmeaningas,OPeople,youarethedesolateinabsoluteneedof OPeople,youarethedesolateinabsoluteneedof OPeople,youarethedesolateinabsoluteneedof OPeople,youarethedesolateinabsoluteneedof


A AA All ll ll llh,and A h,and A h,and A h,and All ll ll llh istheOnethatdoesnot needanythingoranyone,andHeistheOne h istheOnethatdoesnot needanythingoranyone,andHeistheOne h istheOnethatdoesnot needanythingoranyone,andHeistheOne h istheOnethatdoesnot needanythingoranyone,andHeistheOne
thatdeservesallpraise. thatdeservesallpraise. thatdeservesallpraise. thatdeservesallpraise.

6) 6) 6) 6) Absolute Oneness, having no second like Absolute Oneness, having no second like Absolute Oneness, having no second like Absolute Oneness, having no second like Him in self, actions, or attributes ( Him in self, actions, or attributes ( Him in self, actions, or attributes ( Him in self, actions, or attributes (al al al al- -- -
Wa Wa Wa Wad d d d niyya niyya niyya niyya/ // /---=;-). ). ). ).

AllhsaidintheQurn:

- = -- ; J -
25

Itmaybetranslatedinmeaningas, Say![ Say![ Say![ Say![OMu OMu OMu OMu ammad] ammad] ammad] ammad]HeisA HeisA HeisA HeisAll ll ll llh,HeisOne. h,HeisOne. h,HeisOne. h,HeisOne.The
wordOnehereisabsoluteinmeaning,asthestatementisabsolute.Inotherwords,it
isimpossiblethatHeshouldhaveanequalinHisself,actionsorattributes,orapartner
orapart.ItisalsoimpossiblethatAllhshouldhavetwoattributesofthesamekind,
e.g.twopowers,ortwoattributesofknowledge.

TheImmAmadibnanbalsaidthat,AllhisOne,notinthesenseofanumber;itis
impossible that He should be divisible or have parts; He is One in every sense of the
meaning,whereaseverythingelseisoneinonesense,butnotinothers.
26 26 26 26

These These These Theseattributesmentioned abovearesix.Thefirstattribute, existence, iscalledanAttribute abovearesix.Thefirstattribute, existence, iscalledanAttribute abovearesix.Thefirstattribute, existence, iscalledanAttribute abovearesix.Thefirstattribute, existence, iscalledanAttribute
of Self, of Self, of Self, of Self, as it merely refers to what exists, without additional meaning. The other five are The other five are The other five are The other five are
attributes of negating imperfections attributes of negating imperfections attributes of negating imperfections attributes of negating imperfections namely having a beginning, the possibility of an end,
resemblancetoanythingthathasabeginning,aneed,orhavinganequalinonesself,actionsor
attributes.


24 24 24 24
ratFir,15
25 25 25 25
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26 26 26 26
P. 1/293, Itiqd al-Imm al-Mubajjal Ibn anbal, Muammad ibn Ab Yal. 2 vols. Beirut,
Lebanon:Daral-MarifahPublishing&Distributing.
al-Sansiyya
12
Then there are another 7 attributes that Then there are another 7 attributes that Then there are another 7 attributes that Then there are another 7 attributes that absolutely must be absolutely must be absolutely must be absolutely must be true of A true of A true of A true of All ll ll llh known as h known as h known as h known as ift al ift al ift al ift al- -- -
man man man man Attributes of Meanings. Attributes of Meanings. Attributes of Meanings. Attributes of Meanings. Linguistically speaking these are adjectives that refer to a
meaningonly,withouttellingyouwhotheattributedis:

7) 7) 7) 7) Power( Power( Power( Power(al al al al- -- -Qudra Qudra Qudra Qudra/ // /---), ), ), ),

AllhsaidintheQurn:

J _ - - -- ,- - - ~
27

Itmaybetranslatedinmeaningas,VerilyA VerilyA VerilyA VerilyAll ll ll llhisabletocreateanything hisabletocreateanything hisabletocreateanything hisabletocreateanything.

8) 8) 8) 8) and Will ( and Will ( and Will ( and Will (al al al al- -- -Ir Ir Ir Irda da da da / // /(), both of which relate to all things that ), both of which relate to all things that ), both of which relate to all things that ), both of which relate to all things that may be may be may be may be,whether they ,whether they ,whether they ,whether they
existsornot, existsornot, existsornot, existsornot,

AllhsaidintheQurn:

' - 4 - -- , - ' - -
28

Meaning:VerilyYourLorddoeswhateverHewills VerilyYourLorddoeswhateverHewills VerilyYourLorddoeswhateverHewills VerilyYourLorddoeswhateverHewills.

The attribute of Power is an eternal attribute by which Allh brings what has the
possibilityofexistenceintoexistence,orannihilatesit,accordingtoHisWill.HisWillis
aneternalattributebywhichHespecifiesthingswithwhatispossible.Allcreatedthings
fall under His Will and Power. He created all actions of creation, such as blasphemy,
belief,obedience,disobedience,sicknessandhealth.

Gods power is related to those things which are possible to the sound intellect, even
thosethingswhicharenotcurrentlyinexistence.Itisnotrelatedtotheimpossible;that
which cannot ever be. The impossible here refers to propositions of something existing
thatinvolvesacontradictioninterms;suchasifsomeonesaidthatAllhisattributed
with attributes of complete perfection and then said that He has a limit. The term
completeperfectionisincompatiblewithhavingalimit,soitcannoteverbethatAllh
has a limit. Note that impossible propositions refer to things that cannot ever be, so
theyarenotreallythings,butmereverbalabsurditiesandcontradictionsofterms.

An example of such a contradiction of terms can also be shown by explaining why it is


blasphemy to say that Allh has a son. The essential meaning of the word son is
somethingbegotten-somethingthatisgeneratedoutofsomethingelse.Inotherwords,
if someone said that Allh has a son, then he is saying that Allh multiplies or
divides,andthiscontradictsthebeliefthatAllhisOne.Itisimpossiblethatsomething
shouldbebothoneandmanyatthesametime.Therefore,itisimpossiblethatAllh
shouldhaveason.


27 27 27 27
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This is true of this blasphemous phrase, even as a figure of speech. This is because the
word son contradicts the concept of ownership; it would be absurd to say that
someoneownshisson.Somethingcantbesomeonessonandpersonalpropertyat
the same time. In other words, to say that Allh has a son is to deny that He has
absolute ownership of absolutely all created things,
29 29 29 29
and thus implies a flaw in His
absoluteownership.

The concept of having a son then, is incompatible with the concept of believing in one
CreatorthathasabsoluteownershipofHiscreation.ThatiswhyMuslimsmustbelieve
that it is impossible that Allh should have a son; it has nothing to do with ability,
becauseitisnonsensicalandillogical.Ifsomeoneasks,CanAllhhaveason?itisasif
theyaresayingCanthenumber3be4?Thecorrectwayofanswering thisthen,isto
say:ItisimpossiblethatAllhshouldhaveason.

Notebasedontheabove,thatitisblasphemytosaythatAllhcanhaveason.This
is because it implies a flaw in Allhs attribute of godhood - being the Creator and
absoluteownerofeverything.

However, it is also blasphemy to say that He is unable to have a son, because saying
this shows disrespect to Allhs power. The correct expression is to say that it is
impossible that Allh should have a son or absurd to claim that Allh could have a
son.HavingasonhasnothingtodowithbeingtheCreator,andthereforeisnotrelated
toAllhsattributeofpower.Thepowertocreateisthepowertobringsomethinginto
existence,andthisdoesnotpertaintothingsthatareimpossible.

Doyounotseethatifyousayaboutsomethingthatithasason,thenyouknowitisnot
the Creator for the reasons mentioned above? Similarly if you say that Allh is the
Creator,thenyouknowthatHedoesnothaveason.Itcannotbethatsomethingisthe
Creatorandhasasonatthesametime,justasitcannotbethatacircleissquare.

Note also that all things in existence, past, present and future, belong to the possible
category of things, and are therefore by Allhs Will and Power. Allh said in the
Qurn:

' ~ - ' - V -- ' ~ -


30

whichs meaning might be translated as, You do not will anything unless A You do not will anything unless A You do not will anything unless A You do not will anything unless All ll ll llh has h has h has h has
willedit. willedit. willedit. willedit.Thisisclear,becauseAllhknowseverything,andnooneismorepowerful
thanHim.Therefore,whateverhappensisbyHisKnowledgeandPower.

WithregardstothefactthatallwhichexistsisbyAllhsWill,itisusefultorecountthe
exchangebetweenal-QAbdulJabbroftheMutazilitesect,andthegreatImmof

29 29 29 29
Allh is the absolute owner of everything, because He brought it all from non-existence to
existence.Ourownershipisnotabsolute,butexistsonlybecauseAllhprescribeditforus.Thisiswhy
wecannotdowhateverwewantwiththethingsweown,suchasdestroyingourownvaluablethingsfor
no reason, or distribute our inheritance inwhateverwaywewish. In otherwords thetrueowner of our
thingsisAllh,andourownownershipisonlyfigurative.
30 30 30 30
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14
theSunnisofthetime,AblMuhaffaral-Isfaryin.Whenthetwomet,AbdulJabbr
said,ExaltedisAllh, whotranscendstheobscene.Whilethisisasoundexpression,
he meant to say that Allh does not create evil, and this is blasphemous. Muslims
mustbelievethatAllhistheOnlyCreator,becauseitisstatedintheQurnthatHe
createdeverything,andthatnoonewillsanythingexceptbyHisWill.

Imamal-Isfarynnoticedhismockery,andresponded,ExaltedisAllh,whonothing
happensinHisdominionbutbyHisWill.TheMutazilitethenmadeanotherattempt
and said, Does our Lord like to be disobeyed? al-Isfaryin quickly replied, Could
He be disobeyed against His Will? Upon that AbdulJabbr tried again to defeat his
adversary and said, If God denied me guidance, then ruled that I be destroyed for it,
has He treated me fairly? al-Isfaryn calmly answered, If He denied you something
that is yours, then He would have been unfair, but if is not rightfully yours, then Allh
does with His creation what He wills. AbdulJabbr fell silent, and could not argue
further,becauseAllhistheOwnerofallcreation.

9) 9) 9) 9) Knowledge ( Knowledge ( Knowledge ( Knowledge (al al al al- -- - Ilm Ilm Ilm Ilm / // / ;--), which pertains to all that ), which pertains to all that ), which pertains to all that ), which pertains to all that absolutely must be absolutely must be absolutely must be absolutely must be, , , , cannot be cannot be cannot be cannot be, or , or , or , or
maybe maybe maybe maybe. .. .Thatis,nothingishiddenfromAllhsknowledge,includingwhatmustbe,what
hasbeen,whatisnow,whatwillbe,whatcouldbeandwhatcannoteverbe.Noquarkor
atommovesexceptbyHisKnowledge,WillandPower.AllhsaidintheQurn:

;- - - ~ J - - --
31

Itmaybetranslatedinmeaningas,VerilyA VerilyA VerilyA VerilyAll ll ll llhknowseverything. hknowseverything. hknowseverything. hknowseverything.

10) 10) 10) 10) Life ( Life ( Life ( Life (al al al al- -- -ay ay ay ayt t t t / // / '-=-), which does not relate to anything, ), which does not relate to anything, ), which does not relate to anything, ), which does not relate to anything, and does not have the
possibility of beginning or end, and does not resemble the life of created things; and is
withoutabodyorsoul.AllhsaidintheQurn:

; - - V - - = - _ - - J ; -
32

Itsmeaningmightbetranslatedas,AndrelyontheOnethatisattributedwitheternal AndrelyontheOnethatisattributedwitheternal AndrelyontheOnethatisattributedwitheternal AndrelyontheOnethatisattributedwitheternal


Lifeanddoesnotdie. Lifeanddoesnotdie. Lifeanddoesnotdie. Lifeanddoesnotdie.

11) 11) 11) 11) Hearing( Hearing( Hearing( Hearing(al al al al- -- -Sam Sam Sam Sam / // /-~-), ), ), ),

12) 12) 12) 12) andSight( andSight( andSight( andSight(al al al al- -- -Baar Baar Baar Baar/ // /,~--),bothofwhic ),bothofwhic ),bothofwhic ),bothofwhichpertaintoallthatexists, hpertaintoallthatexists, hpertaintoallthatexists, hpertaintoallthatexists,
AllhsaidintheQurnthat,

,- ~ - - - - ~- ; ~ - - - Q - -
33

Absolutely nothing resembles Him, and He is All Absolutely nothing resembles Him, and He is All Absolutely nothing resembles Him, and He is All Absolutely nothing resembles Him, and He is All- -- -Hearing, All Hearing, All Hearing, All Hearing, All- -- -Seeing. Seeing. Seeing. Seeing. From this we
understandthatHisHearingandSeeingis notlikeourhearingorseeing.Theyarenot
byaninstrument,suchanearoraneye.Theyarenotdependentonvibrations,distance

31 31 31 31
ratal-Baqarah,231
32 32 32 32
ratal-Furqn,58
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or light; unlike created hearing and seeing. This is because Allh is One, and does not
needanything.Hishearingandseeingisalsonotsequential,becauseAllhdoesnot
change.Seenandheardthingsaresequential,butHishearingandseeingarenot.

13) 13) 13) 13) Speech ( Speech ( Speech ( Speech (al al al al- -- -Kalm Kalm Kalm Kalm / // / >--), without letter or sound, which pertains to whatever His ), without letter or sound, which pertains to whatever His ), without letter or sound, which pertains to whatever His ), without letter or sound, which pertains to whatever His
Knowledgepertainsto. Knowledgepertainsto. Knowledgepertainsto. Knowledgepertainsto.

AllhsaidintheQurn:

' -- - - - _ ~; - -- ; -
34

It may be translated in meaning as, And A And A And A And All ll ll llh spoke to Moses. h spoke to Moses. h spoke to Moses. h spoke to Moses. That is, with His
Speechthatisnotlettersorsounds.

Inthehereafter,MuslimswillhearAllhsSpeech,asMosesdid.TheywillalsoseeHim
without Him being in a direction, place, at a distance or having a form. It was
authenticallynarratedbyImamal-BukhrthattheProphetsaid,

- = = - ' = = V ' - =, - - - - - - - Q-- - - - - - ~ V - = Q- ; - - - '-

AllofyouwillbespokentobyHisLordwithoutanintermediary.Therewillalsobeno
flaw in your sight preventing you from seeing Him (without Him having a shape, or
beinginadirectionorplace.)

Thatis,allwillhearHisspeechwithoutHisspeechbeingletters,sounds,words,orbeing
sequential or starting or stopping. It is eternal and thus does not have any beginning.
This must be true, because Allhs Speech is not created. Each person will understand
whateverAllhhaswilledforhimorhertounderstand.

Likewise, as the Prophet stated, Muslims will see Allh without Him being in a
direction, at a distance, in a place, or having a body, shape or form. Non-Muslims will
nothavethisprivilege.

Inotherwords,thisisnotlikehearingorseeingacreation,becauseAllhsaidinthe
Qurnthat,

~ - - - Q - -
35

meaning:AbsolutelynothingresemblesHim. AbsolutelynothingresemblesHim. AbsolutelynothingresemblesHim. AbsolutelynothingresemblesHim.

Note that His Hearing, Seeing and Speech absolutely must be, and are not something
thatmaybe.ItisthereforenotsaidthatAllhisabletohear,seeorspeak,becausethat
impliesthatHemaybehearing,seeingorspeaking,whichisablasphemousbelief.Thus
wesaythatAllhhears,orAllhsees,orAllhspeaks,butonemustneversay,
Allhcanhear,orcansee,orcanspeak.

34 34 34 34
ratal-Nis,164
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al-Sansiyya
16

The last 7 of the 20 attributes are known as The last 7 of the 20 attributes are known as The last 7 of the 20 attributes are known as The last 7 of the 20 attributes are known as ift manawiy ift manawiy ift manawiy ift manawiyya ya ya ya, or Attributes pertaining to , or Attributes pertaining to , or Attributes pertaining to , or Attributes pertaining to
meanings, meanings, meanings, meanings, Linguistically speaking sift manawiyya refer to adjectives that tell you that the
attributed has a certain attribute. That is, you cannot speak about these attributes without
speaking about the meaning as well as the attributed at the same time. For example, the
expression being powerful, which is an Attribute pertaining to meaning, tells you that the
oneattributedwiththeattributeofpoweriscertainlypowerful.

Having learned the Attributes of Meanings, the Attributes pertaining to meanings seem
obvious. For example, having the attribute of power necessarily means being powerful, but
becauseofitsimportancemanyscholarsstillinsistedonmentioningthem.

Theyareinagreementwiththelastsevenmentionedaboveandare: Theyareinagreementwiththelastsevenmentionedaboveandare: Theyareinagreementwiththelastsevenmentionedaboveandare: Theyareinagreementwiththelastsevenmentionedaboveandare:

14) 14) 14) 14) being being being beingQdir Qdir Qdir Qdir( (( ( -; '- ),orbeingattributedwithPower, ),orbeingattributedwithPower, ),orbeingattributedwithPower, ),orbeingattributedwithPower,
15) 15) 15) 15) being being being beingMurd Murd Murd Murd( (( ( -; --,- ),orbeingattributedwithWill, ),orbeingattributedwithWill, ),orbeingattributedwithWill, ),orbeingattributedwithWill,
16) 16) 16) 16) being being being being lim lim lim lim( (( ( -; ;-'- ),orbeingattributedwithKnowledge, ),orbeingattributedwithKnowledge, ),orbeingattributedwithKnowledge, ),orbeingattributedwithKnowledge,
17) 17) 17) 17) being being being being ayy ayy ayy ayy( (( ( = -;),orbeingattributedwithLife, ),orbeingattributedwithLife, ),orbeingattributedwithLife, ),orbeingattributedwithLife,thatdoesnothavethepossibilityof
beginningorend,anddoesnotresemblethelifeofcreatedthings;andiswithoutabody
orsoul.
18) 18) 18) 18) being being being beingSam Sam Sam Sam ( (( ( -; --~ ),orbeingattributedwithHearing, ),orbeingattributedwithHearing, ),orbeingattributedwithHearing, ),orbeingattributedwithHearing,
19) 19) 19) 19) being being being beingBa Ba Ba Bar r r r( (( ( -; ,-~- ),orbeingattributedwithSeeing, ),orbeingattributedwithSeeing, ),orbeingattributedwithSeeing, ),orbeingattributedwithSeeing,
20) 20) 20) 20) being being being being Mutakallim Mutakallim Mutakallim Mutakallim ( (( ( -; ;---- ), or b ), or b ), or b ), or being attributed with Speech, eing attributed with Speech, eing attributed with Speech, eing attributed with Speech, which is not letters,
soundsorlanguage.

TheattributesthatareimpossibleforA TheattributesthatareimpossibleforA TheattributesthatareimpossibleforA TheattributesthatareimpossibleforAll ll ll llh h h h


tobeattributedwithandthosethatarepossible tobeattributedwithandthosethatarepossible tobeattributedwithandthosethatarepossible tobeattributedwithandthosethatarepossible

Among the attributes that are Among the attributes that are Among the attributes that are Among the attributes that are impossible impossible impossible impossible to be true of A to be true of A to be true of A to be true of All ll ll llh are 20 attributes that h are 20 attributes that h are 20 attributes that h are 20 attributes that are the are the are the are the
oppositesofthe20mentionedabove,including: oppositesofthe20mentionedabove,including: oppositesofthe20mentionedabove,including: oppositesofthe20mentionedabove,including:

1) 1) 1) 1) Non Non Non Non- -- -existence, existence, existence, existence,


2) 2) 2) 2) Beinganevent Beinganevent Beinganevent Beinganevent thatis:havingabeginning, thatis:havingabeginning, thatis:havingabeginning, thatis:havingabeginning,
3) 3) 3) 3) Havinganend,or Havinganend,or Havinganend,or Havinganend,or
4) 4) 4) 4) Similaritytoevents, Similaritytoevents, Similaritytoevents, Similaritytoevents,thatis,allthingsthathaveabeginning, , , ,ortraitsofsuchthings,for ortraitsofsuchthings,for ortraitsofsuchthings,for ortraitsofsuchthings,for
example,bybein example,bybein example,bybein example,bybeing: g: g: g:
abody,orsomethingwithbulk,bybeingsomethingwhichtakesupspace,place abody,orsomethingwithbulk,bybeingsomethingwhichtakesupspace,place abody,orsomethingwithbulk,bybeingsomethingwhichtakesupspace,place abody,orsomethingwithbulk,bybeingsomethingwhichtakesupspace,place
ordirection, ordirection, ordirection, ordirection,
anattributethatrequiresabodyorbulk, anattributethatrequiresabodyorbulk, anattributethatrequiresabodyorbulk, anattributethatrequiresabodyorbulk,
inadirectioninrelationtoabody,orhavingadirectionhimself, inadirectioninrelationtoabody,orhavingadirectionhimself, inadirectioninrelationtoabody,orhavingadirectionhimself, inadirectioninrelationtoabody,orhavingadirectionhimself,
boundbytimeorplace, boundbytimeorplace, boundbytimeorplace, boundbytimeorplace,
describedbyevents, describedbyevents, describedbyevents, describedbyevents,orbysmallnessorbigness,ortobe orbysmallnessorbigness,ortobe orbysmallnessorbigness,ortobe orbysmallnessorbigness,ortobe
driven to take care of the beneficial or to prevent harm in His actions and driven to take care of the beneficial or to prevent harm in His actions and driven to take care of the beneficial or to prevent harm in His actions and driven to take care of the beneficial or to prevent harm in His actions and
rulings, rulings, rulings, rulings, as Allh has no needs to fulfill, and is not influenced by anything,
sinceHedoesnothaveabeginning.
al-Sansiyya
17
This concept of non-resemblance can be summarized by saying that Allh is
not attributed with quantity (e.g. size, weight, volume), quality (e.g. color, taste,
smell) or relativity (e.g. sequence, family, shape, composition, time, place,
position,ordirection.)
5) 5) 5) 5) Itisalsoimpos Itisalsoimpos Itisalsoimpos ItisalsoimpossiblethatA siblethatA siblethatA siblethatAll ll ll llhshouldnotbeself hshouldnotbeself hshouldnotbeself hshouldnotbeself- -- -existent,bybeing: existent,bybeing: existent,bybeing: existent,bybeing:
anattributeofsomething,or anattributeofsomething,or anattributeofsomething,or anattributeofsomething,or
inneedofsomeonetospecifyHisattributes. inneedofsomeonetospecifyHisattributes. inneedofsomeonetospecifyHisattributes. inneedofsomeonetospecifyHisattributes.
6) 6) 6) 6) ItisalsoimpossiblethatA ItisalsoimpossiblethatA ItisalsoimpossiblethatA ItisalsoimpossiblethatAll ll ll llhnotbeOneby: hnotbeOneby: hnotbeOneby: hnotbeOneby:
Hisselfbeingcomposed(ofparts),or Hisselfbeingcomposed(ofparts),or Hisselfbeingcomposed(ofparts),or Hisselfbeingcomposed(ofparts),or
Bytherebeingsomeoneresembling Bytherebeingsomeoneresembling Bytherebeingsomeoneresembling BytherebeingsomeoneresemblingHiminHisselforattributes,or HiminHisselforattributes,or HiminHisselforattributes,or HiminHisselforattributes,or
TherebeingbesidesHimsomethingwithindependentinfluenceonanyevent TherebeingbesidesHimsomethingwithindependentinfluenceonanyevent TherebeingbesidesHimsomethingwithindependentinfluenceonanyevent TherebeingbesidesHimsomethingwithindependentinfluenceonanyeventor
on Him. Only Allh has the power to influence events in reality. This is
illustratedbythemiracleofIbrhm,whostayedinsideahugefirewithoutbeing
harmed.Thereasonwhyisthatfireinrealitydoesnothavethepowertoburnor
makesomethinghot.FireonlyburnsorheatsifAllhhaswilledit;itdoesnot
have an inherent ability to do so. Allh is the Creator of all causes in every
instance. There are no physical laws of nature in reality, for nothing happens
exceptbyHisWillandPower.
7) 7) 7) 7) ItisalsoimpossiblethatA ItisalsoimpossiblethatA ItisalsoimpossiblethatA ItisalsoimpossiblethatAll ll ll llhshouldbeunabletobringintoexistenceanyeventwhich hshouldbeunabletobringintoexistenceanyeventwhich hshouldbeunabletobringintoexistenceanyeventwhich hshouldbeunabletobringintoexistenceanyeventwhich
hasthepossibilityofexistence,or hasthepossibilityofexistence,or hasthepossibilityofexistence,or hasthepossibilityofexistence,or
8) 8) 8) 8) togiveexiste togiveexiste togiveexiste togiveexistencetoanythingwhichHehadnotwilledfor,outofnegligence,inattention, ncetoanythingwhichHehadnotwilledfor,outofnegligence,inattention, ncetoanythingwhichHehadnotwilledfor,outofnegligence,inattention, ncetoanythingwhichHehadnotwilledfor,outofnegligence,inattention,
illness,orbycauseornature. illness,orbycauseornature. illness,orbycauseornature. illness,orbycauseornature.
9) 9) 9) 9) It is also impossible that A It is also impossible that A It is also impossible that A It is also impossible that All ll ll llh should be characterized by ignorance, or lack of h should be characterized by ignorance, or lack of h should be characterized by ignorance, or lack of h should be characterized by ignorance, or lack of
knowledgeofanymatter.ItisfurtherimpossiblethatA knowledgeofanymatter.ItisfurtherimpossiblethatA knowledgeofanymatter.ItisfurtherimpossiblethatA knowledgeofanymatter.ItisfurtherimpossiblethatAll ll ll llhsho hsho hsho hshouldbecharacterizedby: uldbecharacterizedby: uldbecharacterizedby: uldbecharacterizedby:
10) 10) 10) 10) Death, Death, Death, Death,
11) 11) 11) 11) Deafness, Deafness, Deafness, Deafness,
12) 12) 12) 12) Blindness,or Blindness,or Blindness,or Blindness,or
13) 13) 13) 13) Lack of Speech, Lack of Speech, Lack of Speech, Lack of Speech, or that His Speech would consist of letters, sounds, language, or be
somethingsequential.

TheoppositesoftheAttributespertainingtoMeaningsareobviousfromtheabove. TheoppositesoftheAttributespertainingtoMeaningsareobviousfromtheabove. TheoppositesoftheAttributespertainingtoMeaningsareobviousfromtheabove. TheoppositesoftheAttributespertainingtoMeaningsareobviousfromtheabove.

As As As Asforthe forthe forthe forthepossible possible possible possible,thatwhichmaybetrueofA ,thatwhichmaybetrueofA ,thatwhichmaybetrueofA ,thatwhichmaybetrueofAll ll ll llh,itisdoinganythingpossibleornotdoingit. h,itisdoinganythingpossibleornotdoingit. h,itisdoinganythingpossibleornotdoingit. h,itisdoinganythingpossibleornotdoingit.

TheproofsofA TheproofsofA TheproofsofA TheproofsofAll ll ll llhsattributes hsattributes hsattributes hsattributes


Hisattributeofexistence Hisattributeofexistence Hisattributeofexistence Hisattributeofexistence

TheproofthatA TheproofthatA TheproofthatA TheproofthatAll ll ll llhexistsisthefactthatthisworldhasabeginning. hexistsisthefactthatthisworldhasabeginning. hexistsisthefactthatthisworldhasabeginning. hexistsisthefactthatthisworldhasabeginning.Anythingwithabeginning


musthavebeenbroughtintoexistence,anditcouldneitherhavecreateditselfbeforeitexisted,
norhavecomeintoexistencewithoutsomethingbringingitintoexistence.Itfollowsthenthatit
musthaveacreator.

Thejudgmentoftheintellectconcerningboththeexistenceandnon Thejudgmentoftheintellectconcerningboththeexistenceandnon Thejudgmentoftheintellectconcerningboththeexistenceandnon Thejudgmentoftheintellectconcerningboththeexistenceandnon- -- -existence existence existence existenceoftheworldare oftheworldare oftheworldare oftheworldare
equal, equal, equal, equal, as both are merely possible (not true by necessity). The existence of the world thus The existence of the world thus The existence of the world thus The existence of the world thus
clearly indicates that there clearly indicates that there clearly indicates that there clearly indicates that there absolutely must be absolutely must be absolutely must be absolutely must be something (not inherent in it) that has power something (not inherent in it) that has power something (not inherent in it) that has power something (not inherent in it) that has power
allowing it to override its non allowing it to override its non allowing it to override its non allowing it to override its non- -- -existence. Otherwis existence. Otherwis existence. Otherwis existence. Otherwise one would be saying that one possibility e one would be saying that one possibility e one would be saying that one possibility e one would be saying that one possibility
al-Sansiyya
18
overrode the other without a reason, and that is absurd. overrode the other without a reason, and that is absurd. overrode the other without a reason, and that is absurd. overrode the other without a reason, and that is absurd. Consequently, it absolutely must be
truethattheworldhasaCreator,forithascomeintoexistenceafternon-existenceanddidnt
createitself.

It is central to our proof of Allhs existence to prove that the world has a beginning. Let us
definetheworldaseverythingthatexistsotherthanAllh.Theworldisobviouslycomposed
of many components each of which must have a beginning. To see this, consider the fact that
the world is constantly changing, these components move, grow, die, etc. It is our thesis that
everythingthatchangesmusthaveabeginning.Scholarshavementionedseveralproofstothis.

Oneproofistoconsiderthestatement,youneed10stepstoreachthatwall,whichmeansitis
not impossible to reach the wall. As for the statement, you need infinite steps to reach that
wall, it means that reaching the wall is impossible, as it is impossible to finish infinite steps
beforereachingthewall.Similartothisistheonewhoclaimsthattheworldhasnobeginning,
for it would be like saying it takes infinite events to reach the present moment, which is a
contradiction and thus impossible.
36 36 36 36
Hence we know by the worlds adherence to incidental Hence we know by the worlds adherence to incidental Hence we know by the worlds adherence to incidental Hence we know by the worlds adherence to incidental
charac charac charac characteristics ( teristics ( teristics ( teristics ( Ara Ara Ara Ara), such as movement, and stillness and others, that the world itself must ), such as movement, and stillness and others, that the world itself must ), such as movement, and stillness and others, that the world itself must ), such as movement, and stillness and others, that the world itself must
haveabeginning,becausewhatadherestoevents, haveabeginning,becausewhatadherestoevents, haveabeginning,becausewhatadherestoevents, haveabeginning,becausewhatadherestoevents,whatever has a beginning, mustitselfbean mustitselfbean mustitselfbean mustitselfbean
event. The proof that incidental characteristics have a beginning is by observing it event. The proof that incidental characteristics have a beginning is by observing it event. The proof that incidental characteristics have a beginning is by observing it event. The proof that incidental characteristics have a beginning is by observing its adherence s adherence s adherence s adherence
tothestatesofexistenceandnon tothestatesofexistenceandnon tothestatesofexistenceandnon tothestatesofexistenceandnon- -- -existence. existence. existence. existence.Thusitsexistenceismerelyapossibility,andneeds
areasonforitsexistence.

Fromthefactthattheworldhasabeginning,wehaveprovenabovethatitmusthaveacreator,
and His name is Allh in Arabic. If someone asks one, Who created Allh? we say Allh
doesnothaveacreator,anddoesnotneedoneasHehasnobeginning.Ifsomeonethenasks,
howcanyouacceptthatAllhhasnobeginning,whileyoudonotacceptthattheworldhas
nobeginning?Theansweristhatwehaveshownthattheworldhasabeginningbasedonthe
factthatitchanges.Wedonotbelieve,however,thatAllhchanges.Rather,webelieveHeis
One,anddoesntchangeandhasnobeginning.
Hisattributeofn Hisattributeofn Hisattributeofn Hisattributeofnon on on on- -- -beginningexistence beginningexistence beginningexistence beginningexistence

The proof that A The proof that A The proof that A The proof that All ll ll llh does not have a beginning is that if one believed A h does not have a beginning is that if one believed A h does not have a beginning is that if one believed A h does not have a beginning is that if one believed All ll ll llh to have a h to have a h to have a h to have a
beginning,thenonewouldbelieveHimtoneedacreator.Thispropositionwouldeitherleadto beginning,thenonewouldbelieveHimtoneedacreator.Thispropositionwouldeitherleadto beginning,thenonewouldbelieveHimtoneedacreator.Thispropositionwouldeitherleadto beginning,thenonewouldbelieveHimtoneedacreator.Thispropositionwouldeitherleadto
anargumentthatiscircular, anargumentthatiscircular, anargumentthatiscircular, anargumentthatiscircular,sayingthatthe CreatorhasacreatorwhowascreatedbyHim, or or or or
one that entails proposing an infinite progression one that entails proposing an infinite progression one that entails proposing an infinite progression one that entails proposing an infinite progression of creators, both of which are absurd. The
argument of infinite progression of creators is when someone claims that the Creator has a

36 36 36 36
Anotherwaytostatethisproof,istoconsidertwopointsintimefarapartfromoneanother(for
example, Noahs flood and the present time). To anyone claiming the world has no beginning, we say
consider the number (A) of discrete events and changes that happened before Noahs flood and the
number (B) of events and changes that happened before our present time. Which number, A or B is
greater?Anytwonumbersabsolutelymustbeequaloroneabsolutelymustbegreaterthantheother.If
theworldhas a beginning(our thesis), it is clear thatthe second is greaterthanfirst. If one claims the
world is without beginning (the counter thesis), then he cannot say that one is greater than the other,
because both would be infinite counts of the same type. But he also cannot say that they are equal, as
the second set of events includes the first set as well as events that happened after the flood. So he
cannotsaythattheyareequalnorcantheysayoneisgreaterthantheother,soitisimpossiblethatthe
worldwouldhavenobeginningsinceitiscomposedofeventsandchanges.
al-Sansiyya
19
creator,whoagainhasacreator,whoagainhasacreator,andsoon.Thisinfiniteprogressionof
claimed creators would have to finish before the creation of the world, and we have already
shownthistobeimpossible.

Itwouldalsoleadtosayingthatthereismorethanonegod,whichisimpossible,becauseallof
thesewouldneedeachothersagreementtogettheirwill.Thisisweakness,andsomethingwith
weaknessdoesnotdeservetobeworshiped.Moreover,itcouldnothavebroughtsomethingas
awesomeasthecosmosfromnon-existencetoexistence.
Hisattributeofnon Hisattributeofnon Hisattributeofnon Hisattributeofnon- -- -endingexistence endingexistence endingexistence endingexistence

AsfortheproofforA AsfortheproofforA AsfortheproofforA AsfortheproofforAll ll ll llhsnon hsnon hsnon hsnon- -- -endingexistence,itisbasedonthefactthatifHewasnotnon endingexistence,itisbasedonthefactthatifHewasnotnon endingexistence,itisbasedonthefactthatifHewasnotnon endingexistence,itisbasedonthefactthatifHewasnotnon- -- -
ending then he would have an ending. ending then he would have an ending. ending then he would have an ending. ending then he would have an ending. There is no third option. This would be equivalent to This would be equivalent to This would be equivalent to This would be equivalent to
claiming that A claiming that A claiming that A claiming that All ll ll llh was merely h was merely h was merely h was merely possible in existence possible in existence possible in existence possible in existence, not absolutely must be existing. . . . But But But But
anything that has possible existence must have a beginning, and we have already proved that anything that has possible existence must have a beginning, and we have already proved that anything that has possible existence must have a beginning, and we have already proved that anything that has possible existence must have a beginning, and we have already proved that
A AA All ll ll llh is without beginning. h is without beginning. h is without beginning. h is without beginning. Alternatively, something that can cease to exist can change, and
anythingthatchangesmusthaveabeginning,andwevealreadyproventhistobeimpossiblefor
Allh.
Hisattributeofnon Hisattributeofnon Hisattributeofnon Hisattributeofnon- -- -resemblancetocreation resemblancetocreation resemblancetocreation resemblancetocreation

AsforA AsforA AsforA AsforAll ll ll llhsnon hsnon hsnon hsnon- -- -resemblancetoevents,ifHeresembledeventsinanyway,thenHewould resemblancetoevents,ifHeresembledeventsinanyway,thenHewould resemblancetoevents,ifHeresembledeventsinanyway,thenHewould resemblancetoevents,ifHeresembledeventsinanyway,thenHewould
also be an event and that is impossible, since He must be without a beginning or also be an event and that is impossible, since He must be without a beginning or also be an event and that is impossible, since He must be without a beginning or also be an event and that is impossible, since He must be without a beginning or an end, as an end, as an end, as an end, as
shown earlier. shown earlier. shown earlier. shown earlier. What all events have in common is a beginning, and since Allh has no
beginning,Hedoesnotresemblecreatedthingsinanyway.
Hisattributeofself Hisattributeofself Hisattributeofself Hisattributeofself- -- -existence existence existence existence

As for A As for A As for A As for All ll ll llhs self hs self hs self hs self- -- -existence existence existence existence, ,, , it means that Allh has no need of anything else in order to
exist,neithersomethingtobeinnorsomeonetogiveHimspecification.Thisisunlikeattributes
ofcreationwhichneedsomethingtobein,such aswhiteness, pain,ormotion;theyallrequire
anobjectinwhichtoexist.Allhhoweverisnotanattribute(henceitwouldbeblasphemous
to refer to Allh as al-quwwat al-khliqa, the creating force). All this is understood from
self-existence.

TheproofofA TheproofofA TheproofofA TheproofofAll ll ll llhsself hsself hsself hsself- -- -existenceisthatifHeneededsomethingtobein,t existenceisthatifHeneededsomethingtobein,t existenceisthatifHeneededsomethingtobein,t existenceisthatifHeneededsomethingtobein,thenHewouldbean henHewouldbean henHewouldbean henHewouldbean
attribute. attribute. attribute. attribute. This is because attributes need something to be in. That is, attributes need the thing
thattheyareanattributeof.

Moreover, an Moreover, an Moreover, an Moreover, an Attribute of Meaning, Attribute of Meaning, Attribute of Meaning, Attribute of Meaning, such as power or knowledge, is not attributed with is not attributed with is not attributed with is not attributed with
Attributes of Mean Attributes of Mean Attributes of Mean Attributes of Meanings or Attributes pertaining to Meanings, ings or Attributes pertaining to Meanings, ings or Attributes pertaining to Meanings, ings or Attributes pertaining to Meanings, such as being powerful or
beingknowledgeable,andA andA andA andAll ll ll llhmustbeattributedwithAttributesofMeanings. hmustbeattributedwithAttributesofMeanings. hmustbeattributedwithAttributesofMeanings. hmustbeattributedwithAttributesofMeanings.Heisnotan
attribute, because attributes of meanings, such as knowledge, power, or will, cannot be
attributed with attributes of meanings. For example, you cannot say that power has will or
knowledge,orthatpowerisknowledgeable.ItisthereforeimpossiblethatAllhshouldbean
attribute,sinceHeisnecessarilyattributedwithpower,willandknowledge.

The reason why it impossible for attributes of meaning to be attributed with attributes of
meanings, is that if you say that knowledge is an attribute of another knowledge, then you are
al-Sansiyya
20
sayingthatthelattercanbetheattributeofyetanotherknowledgeandsoon.Inotherwords,it
leads necessarily to saying that infinite progression coming to an end is possible. Since infinite
progression coming to an end is not possible, we know that attributes of meaning cannot be
attributedwithattributesofmeaning.

Moreover, if He needed someone to Moreover, if He needed someone to Moreover, if He needed someone to Moreover, if He needed someone to give Him specification give Him specification give Him specification give Him specification, then he would have a beginning. , then he would have a beginning. , then he would have a beginning. , then he would have a beginning.
After all, the specification has to happen at some point in time, and cannot be without a
beginning.ItisimpossiblethatHeshouldhaveabeginning,asshownearlier. ItisimpossiblethatHeshouldhaveabeginning,asshownearlier. ItisimpossiblethatHeshouldhaveabeginning,asshownearlier. ItisimpossiblethatHeshouldhaveabeginning,asshownearlier.

The proofofA The proofofA The proofofA The proofofAll ll ll llhs self hs self hs self hs self- -- -existenceisthatanyattributeofcreationmusthaveabe existenceisthatanyattributeofcreationmusthaveabe existenceisthatanyattributeofcreationmusthaveabe existenceisthatanyattributeofcreationmusthaveabeginning,but ginning,but ginning,but ginning,but
A AA All ll ll llhhasnobeginningsoHecannotbeanattributeofcreation. hhasnobeginningsoHecannotbeanattributeofcreation. hhasnobeginningsoHecannotbeanattributeofcreation. hhasnobeginningsoHecannotbeanattributeofcreation.WebelievethatAllhexists
and has attributes; He is not His attributes, nor is He other than His attributes, nor are His
attributespartofHim. Allhsself-existencealsoentailsthatHedoesnotneed someone who
gives specification (i.e. gives characteristics), for that would mean that Allh changed when
specified,whichisimpossible.
HisattributeofOneness HisattributeofOneness HisattributeofOneness HisattributeofOneness

Asforthe proofofA Asforthe proofofA Asforthe proofofA Asforthe proofofAll ll ll llhsOneness:if HewasnotOne hsOneness:if HewasnotOne hsOneness:if HewasnotOne hsOneness:if HewasnotOne,thennothingoftheworldcould exist ,thennothingoftheworldcould exist ,thennothingoftheworldcould exist ,thennothingoftheworldcould exist
becauseHewouldbeweak. becauseHewouldbeweak. becauseHewouldbeweak. becauseHewouldbeweak.Ifoneclaimedthatmorethanonecreatorexisted,itwouldmean
both were in need of one another. For if one of them willed something to be, and the other
willedforitnottobe,whosewillwouldbefulfilled?Ifonlyoneoftheirwillsisfulfilled,itwould
meantheotherisnotatruecreator.Theonlywayforboththeirwillstobefulfilledisforthem
toagreeastowhatistobe,inwhichcase,theyarebothinneedofeachothersagreement.This
would mean that neither is truly the Creator, who weve proven above to be not in need of
anything.
HisattributesofPower,Will,KnowledgeandLife HisattributesofPower,Will,KnowledgeandLife HisattributesofPower,Will,KnowledgeandLife HisattributesofPower,Will,KnowledgeandLife

As for A As for A As for A As for All ll ll llhs Power, Will, Knowledge, and Life, it is clear that if it were not for hs Power, Will, Knowledge, and Life, it is clear that if it were not for hs Power, Will, Knowledge, and Life, it is clear that if it were not for hs Power, Will, Knowledge, and Life, it is clear that if it were not for these these these these
attributes,nothingintheuniversewouldhavecomeintoexistence. attributes,nothingintheuniversewouldhavecomeintoexistence. attributes,nothingintheuniversewouldhavecomeintoexistence. attributes,nothingintheuniversewouldhavecomeintoexistence.
HisattributesofHearing,SightandSpeech HisattributesofHearing,SightandSpeech HisattributesofHearing,SightandSpeech HisattributesofHearing,SightandSpeech

AsforA AsforA AsforA AsforAll ll ll llhsHearing,SightandSpeech,webelieveinthembecausetheyareclearlystatedin hsHearing,SightandSpeech,webelieveinthembecausetheyareclearlystatedin hsHearing,SightandSpeech,webelieveinthembecausetheyareclearlystatedin hsHearing,SightandSpeech,webelieveinthembecausetheyareclearlystatedin


theQurn, theQurn, theQurn, theQurn,ad ad ad adths ths ths ths,andthereis ,andthereis ,andthereis ,andthereisijm ijm ijm ijm (scholarlyconsensus)onthat.Inaddition,ifHewasnot (scholarlyconsensus)onthat.Inaddition,ifHewasnot (scholarlyconsensus)onthat.Inaddition,ifHewasnot (scholarlyconsensus)onthat.Inaddition,ifHewasnot
attributed with them, then He would have been attributed with their opposites, which is a attributed with them, then He would have been attributed with their opposites, which is a attributed with them, then He would have been attributed with their opposites, which is a attributed with them, then He would have been attributed with their opposites, which is a
weakness, and this is impossible. weakness, and this is impossible. weakness, and this is impossible. weakness, and this is impossible. For example, the one who does not hear is deaf, which is an
attribute of imperfection and neediness, which is impossible for Allh . The other two
attributesaresimilarlyprovedtobenecessary.

Here it is important to note that all the above attributes, which we have described using the
samewordswhichareusedtodescribeattributesofcreation,havenothingincommonwiththe
attributes of creation. Again, the words are the same, but the meanings are totally different.
Also regarding our attributes, we may say we can hear, for example, but we may only say
Allhhears,fortheoppositeisimpossible.Moreover,ourspeech,forexample,isnothinglike
Allhs Speech, as our speech has a beginning and an end and is composed of parts such as
letters,words,andsentencesinsequence.

al-Sansiyya
21
Ourspeechisanability,andapossibility,whereasAllhsattributeofSpeechisanattributeof
perfection and necessity. Therefore it is not allowed to say that Allh can speak, but one must
sayinsteadthatAllhisattributedwithSpeech,andthatithasneitherbeginning,norend,nor
is it composed of parts, nor does it have sequence, and has nothing in common with our
attributeofspeech.

AllhsSpeechisnotsound,asourspeechis,butitispossiblethatAllhremoveourinabilityto
hear His Speech so we would hear it and understand from it what He has willed for us to
understand.Beyondthis,wearenotrequiredto,andiffactcannot,knowAllhsattributes.

ItisimportanttonoteherethatitwouldbeprohibitedtoclaimanyattributeforAllhwhich
isnotmentioned inthe Qurn,adth,oragreeduponbyijm(scholarlyconsensus).Butall
the above words, or their meanings, are mentioned in the above three sources, so they are
permissible to use, as long as we do not confuse them with human attributes with the same
names.

Non-ArabicexpressionscanbeusedtorefertoattributesofAllh,butonlyaftermakingsure
thatthemeaningisequivalenttothepermittedArabicexpression.Thisisnot,however,enough
alone.Onemustalsomakesurethatthereisnoconnotationofimpolitenessinusingtheword
for Allh , and that it is not confusing or misleading so that someone might think it means
something that does not befit Allh . In addition, it must carry the sense of awe and
glorification.

Having said that, it should be known that there are two views on what is allowed to say about
Allhandwhatisnot.Thefirstisthatifthewordusedhasameaningthatisknownbyreason
to be true of Allh , then it is allowed to use it. This is the saying of the great Imam al-
Bqilln,
37 37 37 37
theleaderoftheSunniMuslimsinhistime.

The second is that this is only in the case of attributes, but not in names; names can only be
stated as narrated in the Qurn, highly authenticated Prophetic statements, or as agreed by
scholarlyconsensus.Whensuchanarrationexistsitmeansithaspermissionforutterance.This

37 37 37 37
Muammadibnal-ayyibibnMuammadibnJafar,AbBakral-Bqilln,al-Qal-Bqilln
(338 h. - 403 h.) was the head of the Ashars of his time. He wrote many books, some of which are in
print. (Source: al-Alm). al-Dhahab in his Trkh al-Islm V. 28, P. 89 relates that al-Bqilln was
oncesentbytheMuslimrulertodebatetheChristianscribesoftheRomanEmperor.Whenhearrived
totheemperorshalltheyhadmadetheentrancetotheemperorverylow,totheextentthatonehadto
bowdowninordertoenter.Al-Bqillnrealizedthatitwasatricktomakehimbowtotheemperor,so
heturnedandenteredback-endfirst.Oncethere,heturnedtooneofthemonksandsaid,Howarethe
wife and kids? Astonished, the emperor replied, Do you not know that the monk elevates himself
from having awife or kids? Al-Bqilln closed his trap by quickly replying: You consider him above
this, butyou do not considerAllh to be clear of and above having afemalecompanion and child?
Hewasalsomockinglyasked,Whathappenedtoisha?Theywerereferringtothetimethatshe,the
Prophetswife,wasaccusedbythehypocritesofhavingbeenunfaithful.Theywantedtomakehimlose
his temper by their insinuations. Al-Bqilln answered: As what happened to Maryam. (They were
bothaccusedofadultery),thentheywerebothdeclaredinnocentbyAllh,andMaryambroughtababy,
whileisha did not.They couldfindnoresponse to this, because he had shown them that permitting
theslanderofishawouldimplypermittinguglyandhereticalslanderofMaryamevenmore.
al-Sansiyya
22
is the saying of most leaders of the Sunnis, including al-Ghazl
38 38 38 38
and al-Fakhr al-Rz
39 39 39 39
. They
saiditisonlybecauseofscholarlyconsensusweknowthatitisallowedtotranslatethenameof
Allh to languages such as Persian and Turkish.
40 40 40 40
Other Arabic names of Allh cannot be
translated,becausethereisnoconsensus.

Bothschoolsagreedthatusinganotherutterancethanthosenarrated,mustnotbemisleading,
andmustgiveasenseofglorification.Al-Fakhral-Rzsaidthattherearethreetypesofwords
that indicate attributes: First, those that indicate without question what is true of Allh ,
either by themselves only, in certain contexts only, or absolutely. Second, those that indicate
without question what is not true of Allh . Third, those that indicate an attribute true of
Allh,buthaveanothermeaningthatisnot.

If an utterance in the second category is narrated in the Qurn or highly authentic adths,
apparently referring to Allh , then it is not allowed to utter it except exactly as narrated;
identicalutterance,andidenticalcontext.Itisnotallowedtouseaderivedformofthenarrated
utterance.Moreover,itisforbiddentounderstandutterancesofthiskindliterally.Theyshould
be understood as figures of speech meaning something other than their literal meaning.
Examples are words like nazala, whichs literal meaning is to descend, or j whichs literal
meaning is to come, or ra, whichs literal meaning is form. To understand these literally
whenreferringtoAllhHimselfisblasphemywithoutquestion,becausemovementandform
needplaceandspecification,andAllhdoesnotneedanything.

Ifanutteranceofthethirdcategoryisnarrated,thenitisonlyallowedtouseitasnarrated.One
cannot use derivatives of it. For example, in the Qurn it is mentioned that Allh does
something called yastahzi to the hypocrites. The word yastahzi means literally to
deceive/dupe, but it has another meaning meant here, which is that the hypocrites will be

38 38 38 38
Ab mid al-Ghazl (450-505 Hijr) was nicknamed ujjat al-Islm for his brilliant
scholarship, particularly in defending the Islamic Belief against deviations. He was initially one of the
students of Imm al-aramayn al-Juwayn, but quickly raised in the ranks of scholarship. He gained a
reputationasabrilliantscholarandstartedauthoredbooksalreadyinal-Juwaynstime.Hestayedwith
his teacher until he died.After that he traveled to Baghdad and was made in charge of the prestigious
Nihmiyya school by its founder, the minister Nithm al-Mulk, who was practically the ruler at the
time. He had built this school from the greatest scholar of the time Ab Isq al-Shrz. Later al-
Ghazl left all of that behind to live an ascetic lifestyle and became one of the greatest scholars of
Sufismafteralreadyhavingachievedthatinthesciencesofbeliefandjurisprudence.(al-Zirikl7/22;al-
afad1/211-213).
39 39 39 39
Fakhruddn al-Rz (544-606 Hijri calendar) is by many regarded as the greatest scholar of his
time,andthesixthrenewerofthereligion,forthebeginningoftheseventhcenturyaftertheHijrah.He
is the Imm of the scholars of the belief sciences. He devastated the deviant sects with his arguments.
Theanthropomorphistsmadeittheirhabittoleavenotesforhimcontainingvariousinsults.Onetimea
notesaidthathiswifewasanadulteress.Hereadthenotetothecrowdandthensaid(insummary),all
ofthisispossible,butatleastIdonotbelievethatAllhisinaplace,whichisimpossible.(al-Zirikl
6/313;Tjuddnal-Subk8/81-82;al-afad4/176).
40 40 40 40
Perhaps based on this one could argue that this consensus also applies to translating Allhs
name to God inEnglish. In any case, necessity calls forgoing by al-Bqillnsview on this particular
name.
al-Sansiyya
23
recompensed for their deception. Despite this, it is not allowed to use the word mustahzi,
literally:deceiveraboutAllh.
41 41 41 41

Inconclusion,thebasisforknowingwhatisallowedtosayaboutAllh,istherevealedtexts,
i.e. Qurn, highly authenticated adths, or scholarly consensus. This can only be learned
throughtrustworthyscholarswhoareexactingandcarefulabouttheirstudentsbeliefs.
WhatmaybetrueofA WhatmaybetrueofA WhatmaybetrueofA WhatmaybetrueofAll ll ll llh h h h

Doing anything possible, or not doing it, is possible for A Doing anything possible, or not doing it, is possible for A Doing anything possible, or not doing it, is possible for A Doing anything possible, or not doing it, is possible for All ll ll llh; the proof is that otherwise, the h; the proof is that otherwise, the h; the proof is that otherwise, the h; the proof is that otherwise, the
possiblewouldeitherbe possiblewouldeitherbe possiblewouldeitherbe possiblewouldeitherbeabsolutelynecessary absolutelynecessary absolutelynecessary absolutelynecessaryor or or orimpossible impossible impossible impossible,andthisisacontradiction. ,andthisisacontradiction. ,andthisisacontradiction. ,andthisisacontradiction.Thatis,
claiming otherwise would involve saying that this event is a must, and that is a contradiction,
because an event can only be a possibility. Furthermore, for Allh to be obliged to do
somethingornottodoitwouldbeaflaw,andthisisimpossibleforAllh.

Allh is the Creator and thus the true owner of everything. Therefore, it is impossible that He
should be unjust. Injustice can only be when someone does something to someone elses
propertywithoutaright.SinceAllhisthetrueownerofeverything,theconceptofinjustice
doesnotapplytoHimatall.AllhsaidintheQurn:

; - ' ~ - ; J - - ' - - ' ~ - V


42

Meaning:HeisnotaskedaboutwhatHedoestocreationintermsofguidingandmisguiding, HeisnotaskedaboutwhatHedoestocreationintermsofguidingandmisguiding, HeisnotaskedaboutwhatHedoestocreationintermsofguidingandmisguiding, HeisnotaskedaboutwhatHedoestocreationintermsofguidingandmisguiding,


orhonoringandhumiliat orhonoringandhumiliat orhonoringandhumiliat orhonoringandhumiliating,butthecreationisasked. ing,butthecreationisasked. ing,butthecreationisasked. ing,butthecreationisasked.

In other words, one is unjust when he disobeys the orders he must obey. In other words, the
ordersofhisCreator.SinceAllhdoesnothaveaCreator,therearenoordersthatHemust
obey.HenceitisimpossibleforHimtobeunjust.

TheMessengersofA TheMessengersofA TheMessengersofA TheMessengersofAll ll ll llhandtheirattributes handtheirattributes handtheirattributes handtheirattributes


Definitionof Definitionof Definitionof DefinitionofProphet Prophet Prophet Prophetand and and andMessenger Messenger Messenger Messenger

As for the M As for the M As for the M As for the Messengers, essengers, essengers, essengers, they are intelligent, free, male humans, that had a revelation of a
teachingofreligion.

SomeofthemhaveHeavenlybooksrevealedtothem,butitisnotnecessarythattheybegivena
book.

TheyarechosenbyAllhandprotectedfrom birthfromcharacteristicsorbehaviorthatdo
notbefittheirrank,suchasblasphemy,sins,meanness,foolishnessorthelike.Itisnotpossible
forsomeonetoworkhimselfuptotherankofProphethood;Prophetsarechosenfrombirth.


41 41 41 41
For all these details, see P. 33-36, Shar Asm Allh al-usn, al-Fakhr al-Rz, al-Maktabat
al-Azhariyyalil-Turth,Egypt,2000.
42 42 42 42
al-Anbiy,23
al-Sansiyya
24
NotethateverythingthatisbeingsaidaboutMessengersalsoapplytoProphets.Thisisbecause
the only practical difference between a Messenger and a Prophet is that the latter follows the
lawsoftheMessengerpriortohim,anddoesnotbringnewlaws.
Attributesthat Attributesthat Attributesthat AttributesthatMessenger Messenger Messenger Messengersmusthave smusthave smusthave smusthave

All M All M All M All Messengers must possess truthfulness, trustworthiness, and must have delivered their essengers must possess truthfulness, trustworthiness, and must have delivered their essengers must possess truthfulness, trustworthiness, and must have delivered their essengers must possess truthfulness, trustworthiness, and must have delivered their
messages entirely. messages entirely. messages entirely. messages entirely. Allh is Wise, and gives the rank of being a Messenger only to those
worthy of it. Accordingly, it is impossible for Messengers to be liars, treacherous, or fail to
deliveranypartofamessagethattheyhavebeenrequiredtodeliver.
Attributesthatareimpossiblefor Attributesthatareimpossiblefor Attributesthatareimpossiblefor AttributesthatareimpossibleforM MM Messenger essenger essenger essengerstohave stohave stohave stohave

Itisimpossiblethattheyshouldbeattributedwiththeoppositesoftheseattributesby: Itisimpossiblethattheyshouldbeattributedwiththeoppositesoftheseattributesby: Itisimpossiblethattheyshouldbeattributedwiththeoppositesoftheseattributesby: Itisimpossiblethattheyshouldbeattributedwiththeoppositesoftheseattributesby:

1. tellinglies. tellinglies. tellinglies. tellinglies.Thisisbecauseifitwaspossibleforthemtolie,thenwhattheysaywouldbe


subjecttodoubt.
2. orcommittingtreacherybydoing orcommittingtreacherybydoing orcommittingtreacherybydoing orcommittingtreacherybydoingwhattheirmessageforbidsordislikes, whattheirmessageforbidsordislikes, whattheirmessageforbidsordislikes, whattheirmessageforbidsordislikes,orfailingtoact
onwhattheirmessagecommands.TheProphetsaid,

--- -'-=- ,-- -= J _-- Q-;-- -=-


43

which may be translated as, The complete believer may have any characteristic in his
natureexcepttreacheryandlying.

Note that dislikes in the religion are not sins, because they have no punishment in the
hereafter, but they are rewardable to avoid. The Prophets do not commit them, except
thattheymaydothemtoshowthatitisnotasin.Thisactfromthemforsuchapurpose
isnotinitselfdisliked,becausethisisanexcusewhichmakestheactfreeofanydislike.

ProphetsdonotcommitsinsbeforeoraftertheirProphethood,butareprotectedfrom
that.Allhordered:

- - -; - - - - ) - ; -
44

which means, follow him, so that you may be guided. follow him, so that you may be guided. follow him, so that you may be guided. follow him, so that you may be guided. These are absolute statements
affirmingthattheProphetisofgreatmoralcharacter,withoutexception,andthathe
shouldbefollowedabsolutely.

AsforProphetAdamseatingfromthetreeinParadisebeforedescendingtoearth,this
was for eating from the tree he had been told not to eat from, but it was in a state of
forgetfulness. It was moreover followed by immediate regret and repentance before
anyonecouldfollowtheact.Thusthereisnotreacheryhere.

43 43 43 43
This adth was narrated by al-Bazr, Ab Yal, but also by others with similar wording. Its
chain of narration is authentic. Source: V.6/P. 463, al-Munw,Abdul Raf. Fay al-Qadr, Egypt: al-
Maktabatal-Tijriyyaal-Kubr,1980.
44 44 44 44
ratal-Arf,158
al-Sansiyya
25

Thewisdominthisstoryisthatitservesasagravewarningagainstdoinganykindofsin,
nomatterhowsmall,forlookattheconsequencesofthisminordivergencefromwhatis
bestonly.

Theseriousconsequenceofthisminoract,namelybeingtakenoutofParadisetoEarth,
also shows the awesome rank of Adam. This is because it is the one of high status that
usually suffers for minor breaches. In light of that a further wisdom in this historical
incidence is that there is no escape from what Allh has predestined. Even Adams
intelligenceandoverwhelmingfearoftheCreatorwillnotstopwhatAllhhaswilled
tobe.Thisteachesusnottobeproudofourgooddeeds,andtorememberthatouracts
arebytheWillofAllhonly.

NoteinparticularthatProphetsnevercommitblasphemy;theyalwaysbelievethatthere
is only one god. They always believe in the Creator, they are born with this belief and
nevercontradictit.ThisisbytheconsensusofallMuslims.

One of its narrational proofs is that it was never narrated that a Prophet was ever
blamed by his people for leaving the idolatry of their forefathers. This is a clear proof
thattheyhadneverdoneitinthefirstplace,fortheenemiesoftheProphetsneverleft
any opportunity to blame. For example, when Prophet Muammad was ordered to
changetheprayerdirectiontoMeccainsteadofJerusalem,hisopponentswerequickto
make an issue of it. In addition, not believing firmly in the Oneness of the Creator is
knownbyreasonassomethingblameworthy,abigflawinonesmoralcharacter,andis
thereforenotsuitableforthehighrankofProphethood.

3. orkeepingtothemselvesamessagetheyhavebeenorderedtodelivertocreation. orkeepingtothemselvesamessagetheyhavebeenorderedtodelivertocreation. orkeepingtothemselvesamessagetheyhavebeenorderedtodelivertocreation. orkeepingtothemselvesamessagetheyhavebeenorderedtodelivertocreation.They


neverdothis,neitheronpurpose,norbyforgetting.
Attributesthat Attributesthat Attributesthat AttributesthatMessenger Messenger Messenger Messengerscouldhave scouldhave scouldhave scouldhave

It is possible for the It is possible for the It is possible for the It is possible for the Messenger Messenger Messenger Messengers to have any human condition which does not imply flaw in s to have any human condition which does not imply flaw in s to have any human condition which does not imply flaw in s to have any human condition which does not imply flaw in
theirrank,suchasgettingmarriedorfallingill. theirrank,suchasgettingmarriedorfallingill. theirrank,suchasgettingmarriedorfallingill. theirrank,suchasgettingmarriedorfallingill.Examplesarediseasesthatarenotrepulsiveto
other people, such as a headache or fever. Likewise, it is not impossible that they should be
fought,spokenillof,orevenkilled.

Itisimpossibleforthemtogetrepulsivediseases,suchasleprosyorwormscrawlingoutoftheir
skin,becausetheyaresenttoattractandteachpeople.Similarlyitisimpossibleforthemtobe
stupidorslowminded.

Notethatthefirsthumanbeing,Adam,wascreatedfromsoil,andnotfromamonkey.Hewas
alsonotashortprimitivecreature,buttallandbeautiful.TheProphetsaid:

' - ; - ~ -; = ' = _ - =

whichmaybetranslatedas,AllhcreatedAdam60forearmlengthstall.Thenhesaid:

- = - J =- - Q- J - - ' ; ~ _--
al-Sansiyya
26

whichmaybetranslatedas,SoallthosethatenterParadisehavetheappearanceofAdam..
45 45 45 45

Inotherwords,theyhaveAdamsincrediblebeautyandheight.

Adam,likeallProphetswasofgreatmoralcharacter,andwasnotrunningaroundnakedlikean
animal,astheDarwinistswouldhaveyoubelieve.AllhsaidabouttheProphetMuammad
,

;- = - _ - = _ - - 4 -
46

which means, Andverily youareofgreat moral character. Andverily youareofgreat moral character. Andverily youareofgreat moral character. Andverily youareofgreat moral character. Other Prophets are not excepted
fromthis,fortheProphetMuammadsaid,

- - V Q - - Q- - , - = - V ' -

Do not prefer me over other Prophets,


47 47 47 47
that is, in a derogatory manner. It does not mean
thatthereisnodifferencebetweentheProphetsinrank.AllhsaidintheQurn:

- _ - - ; ) ~ - ' - - ~ - J ~ ,- 4 - -
48

whichmeansthatHe,raisedsomeofthe raisedsomeofthe raisedsomeofthe raisedsomeoftheMessenger Messenger Messenger Messengersindegreesofstatusoverothers. sindegreesofstatusoverothers. sindegreesofstatusoverothers. sindegreesofstatusoverothers.

Proofthat Proofthat Proofthat ProofthatMessenger Messenger Messenger Messengersabsolutelyneverlie sabsolutelyneverlie sabsolutelyneverlie sabsolutelyneverlie

The proof that their truthfulness is a necessity is that lies would be a contradiction to the The proof that their truthfulness is a necessity is that lies would be a contradiction to the The proof that their truthfulness is a necessity is that lies would be a contradiction to the The proof that their truthfulness is a necessity is that lies would be a contradiction to the
Prophet Prophet Prophet Propheticmiraclesofthe icmiraclesofthe icmiraclesofthe icmiraclesoftheMessenger Messenger Messenger Messengers,which s,which s,which s,whicharelikemessagesfromA arelikemessagesfromA arelikemessagesfromA arelikemessagesfromAll ll ll llhthattheyaretruthful hthattheyaretruthful hthattheyaretruthful hthattheyaretruthful
inallthattheyconvey. inallthattheyconvey. inallthattheyconvey. inallthattheyconvey.EachMessengerisknowntohavehadatleastonemiracle,andthisisthe
proofoftheirtruthfulness.

Miraclesandotherextraordinaryevents Miraclesandotherextraordinaryevents Miraclesandotherextraordinaryevents Miraclesandotherextraordinaryevents

APropheticMiracle,ormujizainArabic,isanextraordinaryeventsthatisjoinedwithaclaim
ofProphethood.Itcannotbeimitatedbyanopponentorchallenger.

Therearealsoothertypesofextraordinaryevents,theyare:

1. A preparatory wonder, or irh in Arabic, is an extraordinary event that happens prior


to the claim of Prophethood. For example, a cloud used to follow the Prophet
Muammad and give him shadow prior to his first revelation.


45 45 45 45
BukhrNo.3148
46 46 46 46
ratal-Qalam,4
47 47 47 47
BukhrNo.4362
48 48 48 48
ratal-Baqarah,253
al-Sansiyya
27
2. AWalswonder,orkarmainArabic,isanextraordinaryeventthathappenstoavery
pious follower of a Prophet , called a Wal. A Wal is someone who has worked very
hard on doing good deeds and avoiding bad deeds. He is protected from ever
committing blasphemy. He may commit sins, but repents immediately if this should
happen.ItisnotjoinedwiththeclaimofProphethood,anddoesnotestablishit.Rather,
it is a sign of the Wals sincere following of his Prophet. It is a continuation of the
miraclesoftheProphethefollows.

AnexampleisthatUmar,duringhistimeasKhalfah(rulerofallMuslims)shoutedto
the Muslim army in Persia, The mountain! The mountain! The army heard his
warning,thoughUmarwasinMedinaonthewestcoastoftheArabianPeninsula.

When Khlid ibn al-Wald came to rah in Iraq he was warned about being served
poison by the Persians. He ordered them to bring it to him, said bismillh, drank it,
butnothinghappenedtohim.

ItisimportanttonotethataWalshowingkarmahsisnotnecessarilyofahigherrank
thantheonethatdoesnot.Thisisbecausekarmahsservetostrengthenpeoplesfaith,
and that is why the karmahs of the companions were relatively few. Note also that an
extraordinaryeventatthehandsofapersondoesnotproveheisaWal,becausethere
are other possible explanations as follows:

3. Assistance, or mana in Arabic, is an extraordinary event that happens to a regular


person which gets him out of a difficult situation. Sometimes this can be a karma ofa
Wal that this person is associated with.

4. A lure, or istidrj in Arabic, is an extraordinary event that happens to a blasphemous


andsinfulperson.Itmaybeaccordingtohiswish.Forexample,theAnti-Christal-Dajjl
willsplitapersoninhalfandthenbringhimbacktogetheralive.Inaddition,thepeople
thatfollowhimwillliveineasewhilethosethatdonotwillhavehardtimes.Notethathe
willclaimtobeagod,andisnotabletoclaimProphethood.Thisisallatestofpeoples
faith. Sometimes istidrj happens to a blasphemous and sinful person against his wish.
Forexample,whenMusaylamahclaimedProphethood,apersoncametohimwithabad
eyeandwhenhetouchedittheothereyewentbadalso.
49 49 49 49

Theproofthatthe Theproofthatthe Theproofthatthe TheproofthattheMessenger Messenger Messenger Messengersdonotsin sdonotsin sdonotsin sdonotsin

The proofthat the The proofthat the The proofthat the The proofthat the Messenger Messenger Messenger Messengersare trustworthy,is that if the sare trustworthy,is that if the sare trustworthy,is that if the sare trustworthy,is that if the Messenge Messenge Messenge Messenger rr rscommittedtreachery scommittedtreachery scommittedtreachery scommittedtreachery
by committing a sin or something disliked, then that sinful or disliked act would become by committing a sin or something disliked, then that sinful or disliked act would become by committing a sin or something disliked, then that sinful or disliked act would become by committing a sin or something disliked, then that sinful or disliked act would become
obedience.Thisistrue,becauseA obedience.Thisistrue,becauseA obedience.Thisistrue,becauseA obedience.Thisistrue,becauseAll ll ll llhhascommandedustofollowtheminallthattheysayand hhascommandedustofollowtheminallthattheysayand hhascommandedustofollowtheminallthattheysayand hhascommandedustofollowtheminallthattheysayand
do,andA do,andA do,andA do,andAll ll ll llhdoesnotordersinfulordisliked hdoesnotordersinfulordisliked hdoesnotordersinfulordisliked hdoesnotordersinfulordislikedacts.Thesameproofholdsforthenecessityof acts.Thesameproofholdsforthenecessityof acts.Thesameproofholdsforthenecessityof acts.Thesameproofholdsforthenecessityof
them being attributed with conveying their messages entirely, them being attributed with conveying their messages entirely, them being attributed with conveying their messages entirely, them being attributed with conveying their messages entirely, since not obeying the order to
conveywouldbeasin.


49 49 49 49
SeeV.2P.203.Saduddnal-Taftzn.Sharal-MaqidfIlmal-Kalm.2vols.Pakistan:Dr
al-Mrifal-Numniyya,1401.
al-Sansiyya
28
Theproofthatthe Theproofthatthe Theproofthatthe TheproofthattheMessenger Messenger Messenger Messengersareexposedtohumanconditionsthatdonotimplyflaw sareexposedtohumanconditionsthatdonotimplyflaw sareexposedtohumanconditionsthatdonotimplyflaw sareexposedtohumanconditionsthatdonotimplyflaw
int int int intheirrank heirrank heirrank heirrank

Theproofofthepossibilityofhumanconditionsforthe Theproofofthepossibilityofhumanconditionsforthe Theproofofthepossibilityofhumanconditionsforthe TheproofofthepossibilityofhumanconditionsfortheMessenger Messenger Messenger Messengers,whichdonotimplyflawin s,whichdonotimplyflawin s,whichdonotimplyflawin s,whichdonotimplyflawin
their high rank, is that such conditions have been witnessed. The wisdom of these conditions their high rank, is that such conditions have been witnessed. The wisdom of these conditions their high rank, is that such conditions have been witnessed. The wisdom of these conditions their high rank, is that such conditions have been witnessed. The wisdom of these conditions
may be understood to be the raising of the may be understood to be the raising of the may be understood to be the raising of the may be understood to be the raising of the Messenger Messenger Messenger Messengers s s s ranks. ranks. ranks. ranks.That is, through their patience
during tribulations. Or it may be for the demonstration of sacred law, Or it may be for the demonstration of sacred law, Or it may be for the demonstration of sacred law, Or it may be for the demonstration of sacred law, by witnessing how they
actedundervariousconditions.Oritmaybetoshowtheinsignificanceofthisworldbyshowing Oritmaybetoshowtheinsignificanceofthisworldbyshowing Oritmaybetoshowtheinsignificanceofthisworldbyshowing Oritmaybetoshowtheinsignificanceofthisworldbyshowing
itisnottheabodeofrew itisnottheabodeofrew itisnottheabodeofrew itisnottheabodeofreward, ard, ard, ard,forotherwisetheMessengerswouldbethemostrewarded-inthis
world-duetotheirhighrank.

RelatingtoeverythingmentionedinthecreedalstatementofIslm RelatingtoeverythingmentionedinthecreedalstatementofIslm RelatingtoeverythingmentionedinthecreedalstatementofIslm RelatingtoeverythingmentionedinthecreedalstatementofIslm


ThemeaningofthereisnogodbutA ThemeaningofthereisnogodbutA ThemeaningofthereisnogodbutA ThemeaningofthereisnogodbutAll ll ll llh h h h

All of the above is summarized in L ilh All of the above is summarized in L ilh All of the above is summarized in L ilh All of the above is summarized in L ilha ill a ill a ill a ill- -- -A AA All ll ll llh, Mu h, Mu h, Mu h, Mu ammadu ammadu ammadu ammadu- -- -r rr r- -- -R RR Rasl asl asl asl- -- -Ullh, literally: Ullh, literally: Ullh, literally: Ullh, literally:
thereisnoGodbutA thereisnoGodbutA thereisnoGodbutA thereisnoGodbutAll ll ll llh,Mu h,Mu h,Mu h,Muammadisthe ammadisthe ammadisthe ammadistheMessenger Messenger Messenger MessengerofA ofA ofA ofAll ll ll llh. h. h. h.

This is because because because because the word, ilh in Arabic, translated as god in English, comes from the word
U UU Ulhiyya lhiyya lhiyya lhiyyainArabic,orgodhood,whichmeans, means, means, means,beingtheOnewhoneedsnothingelseandall beingtheOnewhoneedsnothingelseandall beingtheOnewhoneedsnothingelseandall beingtheOnewhoneedsnothingelseandall
else needsHim. So else needsHim. So else needsHim. So else needsHim. SoLilhaill Lilhaill Lilhaill Lilhaill- -- -A AA All ll ll llh h h hmeans,theonlyonethatneedsnothing elseandall means,theonlyonethatneedsnothing elseandall means,theonlyonethatneedsnothing elseandall means,theonlyonethatneedsnothing elseandall
elseneedsHimisA elseneedsHimisA elseneedsHimisA elseneedsHimisAll ll ll llh. h. h. h.
50 50 50 50


50 50 50 50
Theobviousconsequenceofthisdefinitionisthatnooneandnothingdeservestobeworshiped
except Allh . This is another way of defining the meaning of L ilha ill Allh. Consequently it is
importanttoclarifythemeaningofthewordibdainArabic,whichisthewordtranslatedasworship
in English. Ibda is defined as obedience with humbleness, in the scholarly dictionaries al-Mib
al-Munr,al-NihyahfGharbal-adth,andal-Qmsal-Mu.Thereisnoquestion,however,
thatmerelybeinghumblyobedienttosomeoneisnotequivalenttoworship.Toreachtothemeaningof
actualworship,wewould have to say: the most extreme humility that is only deserved by the one that
hasthegreateststatus.Thisisthedefinitionstatedbyal-AbahninhisfamousdictionaryMufradt
al-Qurn.

Whatisthisextremehumilitythatisthemeaningofworship?Itisnotmerelythemostextreme
physical act of humility, which is to prostrate. This is true, because the Qurn states that the angels
prostrated to Adam, and that the brothers of Prophet Ysuf prostrated to him. Clearly this act of
humilitythatconstitutesworshipthen,needsanactoftheheart.

Whatisthisactoftheheart?Itcanonlybetobelievethattheonehumbledtohasanattributeof
godhood, a divine attribute, such as the power to independently influence events. This is the most
humblefeelingtheheartcanhave,andultimatehumilitycannotbeachievedwithoutthis.

Based on this preface we can define worship as: the most extreme humility with the belief that
theonehumbledtohasanattributeofgodhood.

Itisessentialtodistinguishbetweentheworship(ibdah)ofsomethingandtakingsomethingas
a means (wasla) to an end. The person who worships other than Allh to gain His acceptance is
indeed a blasphemer, but the one that takes prescribed means to gain His acceptance has done
al-Sansiyya
29

WhatitmeansthatAllh WhatitmeansthatAllh WhatitmeansthatAllh WhatitmeansthatAllhdoesnotneedanything doesnotneedanything doesnotneedanything doesnotneedanything

The fact that A The fact that A The fact that A The fact that All ll ll llh does not need h does not need h does not need h does not need anything, necessitates that He anything, necessitates that He anything, necessitates that He anything, necessitates that He absolutely must be absolutely must be absolutely must be absolutely must be existing, existing, existing, existing,
withoutabeginning,withoutanend,withoutresemblancetoanyevents,withoutanyneeds,and withoutabeginning,withoutanend,withoutresemblancetoanyevents,withoutanyneeds,and withoutabeginning,withoutanend,withoutresemblancetoanyevents,withoutanyneeds,and withoutabeginning,withoutanend,withoutresemblancetoanyevents,withoutanyneeds,and
without any flaws. It further means that He without any flaws. It further means that He without any flaws. It further means that He without any flaws. It further means that He absolutely must be absolutely must be absolutely must be absolutely must be All All All All- -- -Hearing, All Hearing, All Hearing, All Hearing, All- -- -Seeing, and Seeing, and Seeing, and Seeing, and
attribute attribute attribute attributed withSpeech, d withSpeech, d withSpeech, d withSpeech, that is neither letters, nor sounds. This is becauseHewouldotherwise becauseHewouldotherwise becauseHewouldotherwise becauseHewouldotherwise
be in need of something to bring Him into existence, or to exist in, or to remove an be in need of something to bring Him into existence, or to exist in, or to remove an be in need of something to bring Him into existence, or to exist in, or to remove an be in need of something to bring Him into existence, or to exist in, or to remove an
imperfection. imperfection. imperfection. imperfection.Thesearethefirst sixattributesexplainedinthisarticle,aswellasthe11
th
,12
th
,
13
th
,18
th
,19
th
and20
th
.

It also follows from the statement that A It also follows from the statement that A It also follows from the statement that A It also follows from the statement that All ll ll llh does not have needs, that He is clear of being h does not have needs, that He is clear of being h does not have needs, that He is clear of being h does not have needs, that He is clear of being
driven to take care of the beneficial or to prevent the harmful in His actions and rulings, driven to take care of the beneficial or to prevent the harmful in His actions and rulings, driven to take care of the beneficial or to prevent the harmful in His actions and rulings, driven to take care of the beneficial or to prevent the harmful in His actions and rulings, as
Allh has no needs to fulfill, and is not influenced by anything, since He does not have a
beginning. This is because having drives means needing whatever it takes to reach ones aim. This is because having drives means needing whatever it takes to reach ones aim. This is because having drives means needing whatever it takes to reach ones aim. This is because having drives means needing whatever it takes to reach ones aim.
Thatcannotbe,sinceHedoesnotneedanything. Thatcannotbe,sinceHedoesnotneedanything. Thatcannotbe,sinceHedoesnotneedanything. Thatcannotbe,sinceHedoesnotneedanything.

Moreover,itentailsthatdoing Moreover,itentailsthatdoing Moreover,itentailsthatdoing Moreover,itentailsthatdoinganything anything anything anythingthatbelongstothepossible possible possible possiblecategoryofthingsis is is ismerely merely merely merely
possibleforA possibleforA possibleforA possibleforAll ll ll llh,asHeisneitherobligedtodoanythingnortoleaveitout. h,asHeisneitherobligedtodoanythingnortoleaveitout. h,asHeisneitherobligedtodoanythingnortoleaveitout. h,asHeisneitherobligedtodoanythingnortoleaveitout.Thisisbecauseif becauseif becauseif becauseif
anyofthatwasamustforHimbyreason,suchase.g.givingreward,thenHewouldneedtodo anyofthatwasamustforHimbyreason,suchase.g.givingreward,thenHewouldneedtodo anyofthatwasamustforHimbyreason,suchase.g.givingreward,thenHewouldneedtodo anyofthatwasamustforHimbyreason,suchase.g.givingreward,thenHewouldneedtodo
some some some somethingtoachieveit thingtoachieveit thingtoachieveit thingtoachieveitandclearHimselfoftheimperfectionofdoingtheopposite.Thatiswhy Thatiswhy Thatiswhy Thatiswhy
nothingisamustwithregardstoHimexceptcompleteperfection nothingisamustwithregardstoHimexceptcompleteperfection nothingisamustwithregardstoHimexceptcompleteperfection nothingisamustwithregardstoHimexceptcompleteperfectionandbeingclearofanyflaws
orlimits.Thisisclear,becauseHedoesnotneedanything. Thisisclear,becauseHedoesnotneedanything. Thisisclear,becauseHedoesnotneedanything. Thisisclear,becauseHedoesnotneedanything.
Whatit Whatit Whatit WhatitmeansthateverythingelseneedsA meansthateverythingelseneedsA meansthateverythingelseneedsA meansthateverythingelseneedsAll ll ll llh h h h

AsforthemeaningthateverythingelseneedsA AsforthemeaningthateverythingelseneedsA AsforthemeaningthateverythingelseneedsA AsforthemeaningthateverythingelseneedsAll ll ll llh, h, h, h,alsocontainedinLilhaill-Allh,this this this this


necessitates necessitates necessitates necessitates that A that A that A that All ll ll llh has the attributes of Eternal Life, Power, Will and Knowledge. h has the attributes of Eternal Life, Power, Will and Knowledge. h has the attributes of Eternal Life, Power, Will and Knowledge. h has the attributes of Eternal Life, Power, Will and Knowledge. This is
clear, because other because other because other because otherwise nothing with a beginning could exist, and thus nothing would need wise nothing with a beginning could exist, and thus nothing would need wise nothing with a beginning could exist, and thus nothing would need wise nothing with a beginning could exist, and thus nothing would need

something prescribed: Allh said in the Qurn (al-Midah, 35):

-- ~ ; - - - ; - - -- ; - - ; - - ' Q- - - ' ) - ' -



Interpretation:OYouWhoBelieve,fearA OYouWhoBelieve,fearA OYouWhoBelieve,fearA OYouWhoBelieve,fearAllh,andseekmeans(wa llh,andseekmeans(wa llh,andseekmeans(wa llh,andseekmeans(wasla sla sla sla)togainHisacceptance )togainHisacceptance )togainHisacceptance )togainHisacceptance.

The means (wasla) mentioned in theyah must be something that complieswith the teaching
ofIslm,thatis,withtheQurn,adthsnarrated,andconfirmedijmconsensusoftopscholarsofa
previous generation. One such means is to supplicate to Allh by the Prophet Muammad , called
tawassul in Arabic. This is by scholarly ijm consensus, and its denial was invented by some people
some700yearsaftertheHijrah.

To understand the meaning of tawassul, consider a person who has angered his bigger brother
and asks himtoforgive him saying: forgive me,notbecause of me, but because of mother.This does
not mean that he is worshiping his mother, but that he is mentioning their mother as a reason for his
brothersforgiveness.Heisremindinghimthattheirmotherlovedbothofthemandwouldbepleasedif
they remained on friendly terms. He is using his mother as a means (wasla) for getting his brothers
forgiveness.Nooneintheirrightmindwouldclaimthatthispersonhasworshipedhismother.
al-Sansiyya
30
Him.This Him.This Him.This Him.Thiscannotbe cannotbe cannotbe cannotbe,sinceeverythingdoesneedHim. ,sinceeverythingdoesneedHim. ,sinceeverythingdoesneedHim. ,sinceeverythingdoesneedHim.Forexample,sayingthatallthingsarein
need of Allh , but not attributing Allh with Power to create those things which are in
need of Him would be a contradiction. Similarly, Allh must have the attribute of Life for
theonewithoutlifecannotgivelife,butHisLifeisnothinglikeoursandisnotassociatedwitha
body,asoul,orthepossibilityofdeath.

In addition, In addition, In addition, In addition, it it it it necessitates necessitates necessitates necessitates that He is One, for if He had a second, then nothing would need that He is One, for if He had a second, then nothing would need that He is One, for if He had a second, then nothing would need that He is One, for if He had a second, then nothing would need
Him,sincetheywouldbothbeweak.That Him,sincetheywouldbothbeweak.That Him,sincetheywouldbothbeweak.That Him,sincetheywouldbothbeweak.Thatcannotbe cannotbe cannotbe cannotbe,sinceeverythingneedsHim. ,sinceeverythingneedsHim. ,sinceeverythingneedsHim. ,sinceeverythingneedsHim.

Moreover, we conclude from it that everything else has a beginning, for if something had no Moreover, we conclude from it that everything else has a beginning, for if something had no Moreover, we conclude from it that everything else has a beginning, for if something had no Moreover, we conclude from it that everything else has a beginning, for if something had no
beg beg beg beginning,itwouldhavenoneedforA inning,itwouldhavenoneedforA inning,itwouldhavenoneedforA inning,itwouldhavenoneedforAll ll ll llh.Thiscannotbe,sinceHeistheOnethateverything h.Thiscannotbe,sinceHeistheOnethateverything h.Thiscannotbe,sinceHeistheOnethateverything h.Thiscannotbe,sinceHeistheOnethateverything
necessarily necessarily necessarily necessarilyneeds. needs. needs. needs.

We also know from it that nothing We also know from it that nothing We also know from it that nothing We also know from it that nothing other than Allh creates or has any real influence on creates or has any real influence on creates or has any real influence on creates or has any real influence on
anythingatall,otherwisethatinfluencewouldnotn anythingatall,otherwisethatinfluencewouldnotn anythingatall,otherwisethatinfluencewouldnotn anythingatall,otherwisethatinfluencewouldnotneedA eedA eedA eedAll ll ll llh h h hforittohappen.

Thiscannotbe since He istheonethat everythingotherthanHim needs in generalandinall Thiscannotbe since He istheonethat everythingotherthanHim needs in generalandinall Thiscannotbe since He istheonethat everythingotherthanHim needs in generalandinall Thiscannotbe since He istheonethat everythingotherthanHim needs in generalandinall
situations situations situations situationsabsolutely.Infactnothingelsehastheabilitytocreateorinfluenceanything,norisit
possible for it to be given that ability. Nonetheless, it is permissible to say for example, fire
burns.Butitisnotmeantliterally,asfiredoesnotcreatetheeffectofburning,ratherAllh
creates both the fire and the effect of burning which is conventionally attributed to the fire.
Knowingthisisthestrongestmeansfortawakkul,orrelianceonAllh.

This is if you figure that some existing thing influences by its inherent nature. If you figure This is if you figure that some existing thing influences by its inherent nature. If you figure This is if you figure that some existing thing influences by its inherent nature. If you figure This is if you figure that some existing thing influences by its inherent nature. If you figure
insteadthatsomethinghasinfluencebyapowercreatedinitbyA insteadthatsomethinghasinfluencebyapowercreatedinitbyA insteadthatsomethinghasinfluencebyapowercreatedinitbyA insteadthatsomethinghasinfluencebyapowercreatedinitbyAll ll ll llh,as h,as h,as h,asmanyignorantpeople manyignorantpeople manyignorantpeople manyignorantpeople
claim,then claim,then claim,then claim,thenbewarethatthisisimpossibleaswell. thisisimpossibleaswell. thisisimpossibleaswell. thisisimpossibleaswell.ThisisbecauseHewouldinthiscaseneedan becauseHewouldinthiscaseneedan becauseHewouldinthiscaseneedan becauseHewouldinthiscaseneedan
intermediary to create some actions. This is intermediary to create some actions. This is intermediary to create some actions. This is intermediary to create some actions. This is judged by sound reason as a a fallacious claim a fallacious claim a fallacious claim a fallacious claim
based on what you know about Him being neces based on what you know about Him being neces based on what you know about Him being neces based on what you know about Him being necessarily without need for something other than sarily without need for something other than sarily without need for something other than sarily without need for something other than
Him. Him. Him. Him.

AtthispointithasbecomecleartoyouthatthesayingthereisnogodbutA AtthispointithasbecomecleartoyouthatthesayingthereisnogodbutA AtthispointithasbecomecleartoyouthatthesayingthereisnogodbutA AtthispointithasbecomecleartoyouthatthesayingthereisnogodbutAll ll ll llhincludesthe hincludesthe hincludesthe hincludesthe


threecategoriesthatallaccountablepeopleareobligatedtoknowasbeingtrueofA threecategoriesthatallaccountablepeopleareobligatedtoknowasbeingtrueofA threecategoriesthatallaccountablepeopleareobligatedtoknowasbeingtrueofA threecategoriesthatallaccountablepeopleareobligatedtoknowasbeingtrueofAll ll ll llh.That h.That h.That h.That
is,whatmu is,whatmu is,whatmu is,whatmustbetrueofHim,whatcannotbetrueofHim,andwhatispossiblytrueofHim. stbetrueofHim,whatcannotbetrueofHim,andwhatispossiblytrueofHim. stbetrueofHim,whatcannotbetrueofHim,andwhatispossiblytrueofHim. stbetrueofHim,whatcannotbetrueofHim,andwhatispossiblytrueofHim.
Theidentityofthe Theidentityofthe Theidentityofthe TheidentityoftheProphet Prophet Prophet ProphetMu Mu Mu Muammad ammad ammad ammad

Asforthedeclaration Asforthedeclaration Asforthedeclaration AsforthedeclarationMu Mu Mu Mu ammadu ammadu ammadu ammadu- -- -r rr r- -- -R RR Rasl asl asl asl- -- -Ullh Ullh Ullh Ullh,Mu ,Mu ,Mu ,Muammad ammad ammad ammadisthe isthe isthe istheMessenger Messenger Messenger MessengerofA ofA ofA ofAll ll ll llh. h. h. h.
Our beloved Prophet Muammad is the son of Abdullh, who was the son of Abdul
Muttalib, who was the son of Hshim, who was the son of Abdul Manf of the noblest Arab
tribe,Quraysh.HewasborninMecca.HeimmigratedtoMedina.HediedinMedina,isburied
thereandhisgravethereiswellknown.AllhgaveourbelovedProphetMuammadmiracles,
which were as great as or greater than the miracles he gave to other Prophets. His greatest
miracleistheQurn.
Believingin Believingin Believingin BelievinginProphet Prophet Prophet ProphetMu Mu Mu Mu ammad ammad ammad ammad entailsbelievinginallProphet entailsbelievinginallProphet entailsbelievinginallProphet entailsbelievinginallProphets ss s

This includes belief in This includes belief in This includes belief in This includes belief in all all all all Prophet Prophet Prophet Prophets, the Angels, all heavenly scriptures, and the Last Day. s, the Angels, all heavenly scriptures, and the Last Day. s, the Angels, all heavenly scriptures, and the Last Day. s, the Angels, all heavenly scriptures, and the Last Day. al-
Sans hints here to a few of the narrational beliefs that come with the belief in the Prophet
al-Sansiyya
31
Muammad,sincetheyarepartofhisteachings.Thesearebeliefsestablishedbynarrationof
revealedknowledge,fromtheQurnandadths,andcannotbeknownbyreasonalone.

Thisisbecausehe Thisisbecausehe Thisisbecausehe Thisisbecausehe- -- -mayA mayA mayA mayAll ll ll llhraisehisrank hraisehisrank hraisehisrank hraisehisrank
51 51 51 51
- -- -cametoconfirmthetruthfulnessofallofthat. cametoconfirmthetruthfulnessofallofthat. cametoconfirmthetruthfulnessofallofthat. cametoconfirmthetruthfulnessofallofthat.
All All All AllProphet Prophet Prophet Prophetsand sand sand sandMessenger Messenger Messenger Messengers ss saretrustworthy aretrustworthy aretrustworthy aretrustworthy

Italsofollowsfr Italsofollowsfr Italsofollowsfr Italsofollowsfromthisdeclarationthatitmustbethatallthe omthisdeclarationthatitmustbethatallthe omthisdeclarationthatitmustbethatallthe omthisdeclarationthatitmustbethatallthe Messenger Messenger Messenger Messengers ss sandProphets- -- -may may may may
A AA All ll ll llhraisetheirrankandprotecttheirfollowersfromallthattheywoulddislikeforthem hraisetheirrankandprotecttheirfollowersfromallthattheywoulddislikeforthem hraisetheirrankandprotecttheirfollowersfromallthattheywoulddislikeforthem hraisetheirrankandprotecttheirfollowersfromallthattheywoulddislikeforthem- -- -are are are are
attributedwithtruthfulness,andthatitisimpossiblethattheyshouldlie.O attributedwithtruthfulness,andthatitisimpossiblethattheyshouldlie.O attributedwithtruthfulness,andthatitisimpossiblethattheyshouldlie.O attributedwithtruthfulness,andthatitisimpossiblethattheyshouldlie.Otherwisetheywould therwisetheywould therwisetheywould therwisetheywould
notbetrustworthy notbetrustworthy notbetrustworthy notbetrustworthyMessenger Messenger Messenger MessengersoftheOneWhoisOurLordandknowsallthingshidden,Heis softheOneWhoisOurLordandknowsallthingshidden,Heis softheOneWhoisOurLordandknowsallthingshidden,Heis softheOneWhoisOurLordandknowsallthingshidden,Heis
All All All All- -- -MightyandGreat. MightyandGreat. MightyandGreat. MightyandGreat.
Prophet Prophet Prophet Prophetsand sand sand sandMessenger Messenger Messenger Messengersneversin sneversin sneversin sneversin

It follows further that it is impossible that they should do anything prohibited at all It follows further that it is impossible that they should do anything prohibited at all It follows further that it is impossible that they should do anything prohibited at all It follows further that it is impossible that they should do anything prohibited at all, because , because , because , because
they were sent to teach people by their words, actions and inaction, and this necessitates that they were sent to teach people by their words, actions and inaction, and this necessitates that they were sent to teach people by their words, actions and inaction, and this necessitates that they were sent to teach people by their words, actions and inaction, and this necessitates that
noneofthesebreachwiththeordersoftheoneWhoisourLordwhoisAll noneofthesebreachwiththeordersoftheoneWhoisourLordwhoisAll noneofthesebreachwiththeordersoftheoneWhoisourLordwhoisAll noneofthesebreachwiththeordersoftheoneWhoisourLordwhoisAll- -- -Mighty,whochose Mighty,whochose Mighty,whochose Mighty,whochose
themaboveallHiscreationandentrustedthemthesecret themaboveallHiscreationandentrustedthemthesecret themaboveallHiscreationandentrustedthemthesecret themaboveallHiscreationandentrustedthemthesecretofrevelation. ofrevelation. ofrevelation. ofrevelation.
Prophet Prophet Prophet Prophets and s and s and s and Messenger Messenger Messenger Messengers ss s are exposed to human conditions that do not imply flaw in are exposed to human conditions that do not imply flaw in are exposed to human conditions that do not imply flaw in are exposed to human conditions that do not imply flaw in
theirrank theirrank theirrank theirrank

Moreover, it follows from this declaration that it is possible that they be subject to human Moreover, it follows from this declaration that it is possible that they be subject to human Moreover, it follows from this declaration that it is possible that they be subject to human Moreover, it follows from this declaration that it is possible that they be subject to human
conditions, because this does not affect their messag conditions, because this does not affect their messag conditions, because this does not affect their messag conditions, because this does not affect their message, or their great status to A e, or their great status to A e, or their great status to A e, or their great status to All ll ll llh. Rather, h. Rather, h. Rather, h. Rather,
this is something that increases it, this is something that increases it, this is something that increases it, this is something that increases it, by letting them face difficulties as it befits a perfect
worshiper.

It has now been made clear to you that the two It has now been made clear to you that the two It has now been made clear to you that the two It has now been made clear to you that the two- -- -part declaration of the faith, despite its few part declaration of the faith, despite its few part declaration of the faith, despite its few part declaration of the faith, despite its few
letters,cont letters,cont letters,cont letters,containsallthatisobligatoryforanaccountablepersontoknowintermsofthebeliefs ainsallthatisobligatoryforanaccountablepersontoknowintermsofthebeliefs ainsallthatisobligatoryforanaccountablepersontoknowintermsofthebeliefs ainsallthatisobligatoryforanaccountablepersontoknowintermsofthebeliefs
oftruefaithinA oftruefaithinA oftruefaithinA oftruefaithinAll ll ll llhandHis handHis handHis handHisMessenger Messenger Messenger Messengers. s. s. s.

Theimportanceofremembrancebythecreedalstatement Theimportanceofremembrancebythecreedalstatement Theimportanceofremembrancebythecreedalstatement Theimportanceofremembrancebythecreedalstatement

Perhapsitisbecauseitisbriefandincludesallthatwehavementio Perhapsitisbecauseitisbriefandincludesallthatwehavementio Perhapsitisbecauseitisbriefandincludesallthatwehavementio Perhapsitisbecauseitisbriefandincludesallthatwehavementionedabove,thatthesacred nedabove,thatthesacred nedabove,thatthesacred nedabove,thatthesacred


law of Islm made it as an expression for what is of Islm in the heart. It does not accept the law of Islm made it as an expression for what is of Islm in the heart. It does not accept the law of Islm made it as an expression for what is of Islm in the heart. It does not accept the law of Islm made it as an expression for what is of Islm in the heart. It does not accept the
faithofanyonewithoutit. faithofanyonewithoutit. faithofanyonewithoutit. faithofanyonewithoutit.

Thus it befits the rational person to make much remembrance of this noble phrase, while Thus it befits the rational person to make much remembrance of this noble phrase, while Thus it befits the rational person to make much remembrance of this noble phrase, while Thus it befits the rational person to make much remembrance of this noble phrase, while
keepinginmind keepinginmind keepinginmind keepinginmindallofitsmeanings;thebeliefsoftruefaith.Thisuntiltheybecomepartofhis allofitsmeanings;thebeliefsoftruefaith.Thisuntiltheybecomepartofhis allofitsmeanings;thebeliefsoftruefaith.Thisuntiltheybecomepartofhis allofitsmeanings;thebeliefsoftruefaith.Thisuntiltheybecomepartofhis
flesh and blood, for verily he will see from it secrets and wonders, if A flesh and blood, for verily he will see from it secrets and wonders, if A flesh and blood, for verily he will see from it secrets and wonders, if A flesh and blood, for verily he will see from it secrets and wonders, if All ll ll llh has willed it, in h has willed it, in h has willed it, in h has willed it, in
overwhelmingamounts. overwhelmingamounts. overwhelmingamounts. overwhelmingamounts.

51 51 51 51
This is the meaning of the expression alla-llhu alayhi wa-sallam, as stated by al-Qushayr (P.
60, V. 2. al-Q Iy. al-Shif. 2 vols. Beirut, Lebanon: Dr al-Fikr, 1988. ) This is a more precise
translationthansayingpeacebeuponhimorthelike,becausehealreadyhascompletepeace.
al-Sansiyya
32
Conclusion Conclusion Conclusion Conclusion

Success is by the will of A Success is by the will of A Success is by the will of A Success is by the will of All ll ll llh only, there h only, there h only, there h only, there is no other true lord, and no other deserving of is no other true lord, and no other deserving of is no other true lord, and no other deserving of is no other true lord, and no other deserving of
worship. We ask Him, who is clear of and above non worship. We ask Him, who is clear of and above non worship. We ask Him, who is clear of and above non worship. We ask Him, who is clear of and above non- -- -befitting attributes, to make us and our befitting attributes, to make us and our befitting attributes, to make us and our befitting attributes, to make us and our
belovedonesutterandknowthedeclarationoffaithatdeath. belovedonesutterandknowthedeclarationoffaithatdeath. belovedonesutterandknowthedeclarationoffaithatdeath. belovedonesutterandknowthedeclarationoffaithatdeath.

MayA MayA MayA MayAll ll ll llhraisetherankofourmasterMu hraisetherankofourmasterMu hraisetherankofourmasterMu hraisetherankofourmasterMuammad, ammad, ammad, ammad,everytimesomeonemakesremembrance everytimesomeonemakesremembrance everytimesomeonemakesremembrance everytimesomeonemakesremembrance
ofhim,orthenegligentneglectit.MayA ofhim,orthenegligentneglectit.MayA ofhim,orthenegligentneglectit.MayA ofhim,orthenegligentneglectit.MayAll ll ll llh,whoisabovenon h,whoisabovenon h,whoisabovenon h,whoisabovenon- -- -befittingattributes,rewardall befittingattributes,rewardall befittingattributes,rewardall befittingattributes,rewardall
the companions of the Messenger of A the companions of the Messenger of A the companions of the Messenger of A the companions of the Messenger of All ll ll llh, as well as those that follow them in doing good, h, as well as those that follow them in doing good, h, as well as those that follow them in doing good, h, as well as those that follow them in doing good,
until the Day of Judgment. May until the Day of Judgment. May until the Day of Judgment. May until the Day of Judgment. May A AA All ll ll llh give peace to the nations of the h give peace to the nations of the h give peace to the nations of the h give peace to the nations of the Messenger Messenger Messenger Messengers from what s from what s from what s from what
they feared for them. All praise to A they feared for them. All praise to A they feared for them. All praise to A they feared for them. All praise to All ll ll llh, who is the Lord of the Worlds. h, who is the Lord of the Worlds. h, who is the Lord of the Worlds. h, who is the Lord of the Worlds.

TranslatorsAfterword:theProofsoftheMindinIslm TranslatorsAfterword:theProofsoftheMindinIslm TranslatorsAfterword:theProofsoftheMindinIslm TranslatorsAfterword:theProofsoftheMindinIslm

Through the study of al-Sansiyya it is clear that the Islamic belief in God is correct without
question, and that the beliefs of atheism, agnosticism or other religions are invalid and false.
Beware that some Muslim pretending philosophers falsely claim that the proofs of Kalm
science for Allhs existence are not self-evident but based on premises that could be
questioned. This position does not reflect the Sunni belief at all, but is the deviant view of the
philosophers of the school of equivalence of proofs regarding the Sunni belief sciences. This
sect claims that since debates are sometimes won by one side and at other times by another,
there cannot be any certainty on the matter. One may ask them: if someone wins a debate
claimingthattheearthisflat,thismeansthattheearthcouldbeflat?

ThisclaimoftheirsisnothingbutanattempttoreduceIslamtothelevelofotherreligions,for
if the Belief in God cannot be proved beyond doubt by logical proofs, then what basis is there
for certainty in faith? After all, the basis of the faith is this belief. This denial of certainty by
proofsisalsoaplaincontradictionoftheQurn,forAllhblamesthosewhodonotusetheir
minds.InmorethantenplacesintheQurn:

; - - - > -

Meaning: Do you not use your minds? Do you not use your minds? Do you not use your minds? Do you not use your minds? In fact, similar phrases encouraging the use of the
mindarearound40orsointheQurn.

Al-AfahninhisbookMufradtal-QurnorTheVocabularyoftheQurndefinedthe
Arabical-aql,themind,as:thereadypowertoacceptknowledge.Forthisreason,itissaid
aboutknowledgethatthehumanbeinggainsfromthispower:Aqlaswell.Forthisreasonthe
Prince of the Believers said: the mind is two: imprinted and heard. The heard one does not
benefitifthereisnoimprint,justasthelightofthesunhasnobenefitiftheeyesperceptionof
lightisnotthere.

TheIslamicfaithteachesthattheproofofAllhsexistenceleavesnodoubt,becauseAllh
praisesthemind,andtellsthatHisMessengerstoldblasphemouspeople:

~ ~ -' - 4 ~ -- - ; ) -

al-Sansiyya
33
Meaning: IsthereanydoubtaboutA IsthereanydoubtaboutA IsthereanydoubtaboutA IsthereanydoubtaboutAll ll ll llh? h? h? h?ThisyahshowsthatcertainknowledgeofAllh
isindeedselfevident,i.e.achievablebythemindalone.

In fact, one of the proofs presented in the commentary on the Sansiyya above has only two
premises: first, that we exist, and second, that before we existed there was a series of events
leadinguptothatexistence.Ifthatisnotselfevident,thenIdonotknowwhatis.

Rather,therealreasonwhytheproofsoftheIslamicbeliefsciencesarenotalwayseffectivein
convincingpeopleofthetruthisafaultinthepeople,notintheproofsortheirpremises.
Al-Ghazl described this situation eloquently in al-Iqtid F-l-Itiqd in the second
preliminary chapter explaining who the Kalm Science is important for. He defined groups of
peopleintermsoftheirneedforKalmscience,andforthesecondgroupal-Ghazlsaid:

The second group of people: a section that inclines away from the true belief, such as the
blasphemers and deviant innovators. The averse and vulgar are among these; those of weak
minds that are stuck in blind imitation and are argumentative based on falsehood from the
beginning of their lives until old age. Nothing works on this group except the whip and the
sword. Most of the non-Muslims became Muslims under the shadow of the sword, because
AllhdoesbytheswordandthespearwhatHedoesnotdobyproofsandwords.Fromthis,if
youreadhistory,youwillnotreadaboutanybattlebetweenMuslimsandblasphemerswithout
therebeingsomeofthemthatbecomeMuslims,andyouwillnotfindadebatethatdidnotjust
increase insistence and stubbornness. Do not think that this that we have mentioned reduces
the status of the mind and its proofs. Rather, the enlightenment of the mind is a grace that
Allh does not grant anyone except a few of those who obey Him. The overwhelming state of
creation is shortcoming and negligence, however, and due to their shortcoming, they do not
sensetheproofsofthemind,justasthesightofbatsdoesnotsensethelightofthesun.
52 52 52 52

It is thereby known that the Muslim pretending philosophers of the school of equivalence of
proofsareamongthosethattothegroupthatal-Ghazllabeledasthosewhoareinthestate
of shortcoming and negligence. We ask Allh to protect us from their evil and a bad fate.
mn.

AbouttheAuthor AbouttheAuthor AbouttheAuthor AbouttheAuthor

ShaykhAbdamal-NarjconvertedfromChristianitytoIslmwhilelivinginChina.Hehas
sincestudiedandreceivedIjzahsinvariousworksofanaffiqhandAshariaqdahfromthe
mashyekhofDamascusandKuwait,including:al-ShaykhMuhammadThiral-Afghn(Abl
asan), al-Shaykh Mustaf Chebaro (a student of Mawln al-Shaykh Abdul Razzq al-
alab), al-Shaykh Imd Nahlw, al-Shaykh Amad al-Shm (Shihbuddn Ab Amr), al-
ShaykhAmadHajal-KurdandShaykhMuhammadJumuah(oneoftheprominentstudents
ofMawlnal-ShaykhAbdulRazzqal-Halab).

52 52 52 52
al-IqtidFi-l-Itiqd,al-Ghazl

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