Allaah is al-Qadīr, nothing renders Him incapable – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah: Lesson 03 : Point [4]
Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

4.  ولا شيء يعجزه‏
And nothing renders Him incapable;
 

[Souncloud Audio Link

This is an affirmation of the perfection of His Power and Ability. Allaah the Most High said,

And He (Allaah) has full power over everything
(Sooratul-Maa.idah (5), aayah 120)

And Allaah was and is fully capable of everything
(Sooratul-Kahf (18), aayah 45)

He (Allaah) always was and is All-Knowing, All-Powerful
(Soorah Faatir (35), aayah 44)

And القَدِير (Al-Qadeer) means: the One who is extremely powerful. So His Power, He the Perfect and Most High, is such that there is nothing that can cause Him to be unable. Whenever He wants something He just says to it, “Be” and it is.

So this contains affirmation of the qudrah (قدرة – power and ability) of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, and it contains affirmation that His Power includes and covers everything.

As for the term that some authors use (about Allaah):

“Allaah has full power over whatever he wants,” this wording is an error because Allaah did not restrict His Power to His Will. Rather, He said (about Himself),

(Allaah) has full Power over everything.” So therefore you should say that which Allaah the Perfect and Most High said about Himself. This (a similar statement) only occurs in the saying of Allaah, the Most High,

And He (Allaah) has full Power to gather them (the people) together when He Wishes (SooratushShooraa (42), aayah 29)

Because, the gathering of the creation has a certain time in the future and He is fully able to gather them at that time, meaning, the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth.

He, the Most High said,

And from His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and whatever creatures He has created and spread within them. And He (Allaah) has full Power to gather them together when He Wishes. (SooratushShooraa (42), aayah 29)

End of explanation of point [4][1]

[1] Translator’s side point:

“And there is nothing which causes Allaah to be incapable”: This is a denial but what is meant by it is not a mere denial because denial on its own is not from the belief of the Ahlus-Sunnah; rather, it is the position of the innovators.

As for the people of the Sunnah then their way is the way of the Qur.aan which gives a general denial of certain things for Allaah and gives a detailed affirmation of Attributes for Him. And whenever there is a denial then the denial is there to affirm something which is its perfect opposite. So this denial is there because of affirmation of its perfect opposite i.e. nothing renders Him incapable because of the perfection of His Power and Ability.

Further side point: In his explanation, Ibn Abil-`Izz said regarding tashbeeh: Affirming attributes for Allaah when the creation have the like of those attributes, for example, affirming that Allaah is the All-Knowing when we affirm that the creation has knowledge and affirming that Allaah has Sight when the creation has sight and affirming that Allaah has a Hand when the creation has hands. This fact is what leads the mu`attilah into denying certain attributes because they say that if you affirm for Allaah a Hand then you are declaring Him like the creation and if we affirm for Allaah a Face then amongst the creation we have faces, so if we affirm a Face for Allaah then we will be making Him like the creation. So therefore they deny any Hand for Allaah and deny any Face for Allaah and so on with other attributes as well. They say that in that way they will stay clear of making the Creator like the creation.

At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah AtTahaawiyyah. By Shaykh Saalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah. Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah, in 1426AH

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the Full Audio Series of Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah:
Explanation of Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Visithttps://abdurrahman.org/asma-wa-sifaat-com/

Allaah owns and has mastery over everything, and nothing owns and has mastery over Him – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah: Lesson 52 : Point [190]
Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

190. He owns and has mastery over everything, and nothing owns and has mastery over Him. 

[Souncloud Audio Link]

Blessed is He in Whose Hand is the dominion, and He is Able to do all things. (67:1)

His is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth (57:2)

Say (O Muhammad صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم ): “O Allah! Possessor of the kingdom, You give the kingdom to whom You will, and You take the kingdom from whom You will, and You endue with honour whom You will, and You humiliate whom You will. In Your Hand is the good. Verily, You are Able to do all things. (3:26)

And your Lord creates whatsoever He wills and chooses, no choice have they (in any matter). Glorified be Allah, and exalted above all that they associate as partners (with Him). (28:68)

Verily! Allah does what He wills. (22:18)

At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah AtTahaawiyyah. By Shaykh Saalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah. Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah, in 1426AH

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the Full Audio Series of Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah:
Explanation of Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Book Study Resource : Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah – Imam at-Tahaawi

Allaah becomes angry, and becomes pleased, but not like anyone from the creation – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah: Lesson 52 : Point [193]
Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

193. And Allaah becomes angry, and becomes pleased, but not like anyone from the creation.

[Souncloud Audio Link]

At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah AtTahaawiyyah. By Shaykh Saalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah. Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah, in 1426AH

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the Full Audio Series of Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah:
Explanation of Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Book Study Resource : Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah – Imam at-Tahaawi

Related Linkhttps://abdurrahman.org/asma-wa-sifaat-com/

Allaah – the Most High- responds to supplications and fulfills their needs – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah: Lesson 51 : Point [189]
Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

189. And Allaah – the Most High-responds to supplications and fulfills their needs. 

[Souncloud Audio Link]

At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah AtTahaawiyyah. By Shaykh Saalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah. Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah, in 1426AH

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the Full Audio Series of Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah:
Explanation of Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Book Study Resource : Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah – Imam at-Tahaawi

Related Linkhttps://abdurrahman.org/dua/

The explanation of “Laa hawla wa laa quwwata illaa billaah” – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah: Lesson 49 : Point [182]
Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

182. And this is the explanation of ‘Laa hawla wa laa quwwata illaa billaah’ (There is no change and no power except with Allaah’s aid). We say: there is no manoeuvring for anyone, and no movement for anyone, and no moving away from disobedience to Allaah – except with the aid of Allaah; and there is no power for anyone to establish obedience to Allaah, and to remain firm upon it,except by Allaah’s tawfeeq (His granting successful attainment of that).

[Souncloud Audio Link]

At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah AtTahaawiyyah. By Shaykh Saalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah. Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah, in 1426AH

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the Full Audio Series of Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah:
Explanation of Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Book Study Resource : Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah – Imam at-Tahaawi

Related Linkhttps://abdurrahman.org/dhikr

Allaah did not burden the servants except with what they are capable of – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah: Lesson 49 : Points [180-181]
Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

180. And Allaah – the Most High- did not burden them except with what they are capable of.
181. And they are only capable of doing what they have been enjoined with. 

[Souncloud Audio Link]

At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah AtTahaawiyyah. By Shaykh Saalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah. Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah, in 1426AH

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the Full Audio Series of Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah:
Explanation of Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Book Study Resource : Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah – Imam at-Tahaawi

We do not enter into vain speech concerning Allaah, nor do we dispute regarding Allaah’s Religion – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah: Lesson 32  : Point [126] 

We do not enter into vain speech concerning Allaah,nor do we dispute regarding Allaah’s Religion

[Souncloud Audio Link]

At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah AtTahaawiyyah
By Shaykh Saalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah, in 1426AH

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the Full Audio Series of Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah:
Explanation of Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

The knowledge of Allaah is the basis of every other knowledge, for the one who knows of Allaah knows other than Him

Based upon the work of Shaykh Ibn Al-‘Uthaymeen
Explained by Dr Saleh As-Saleh, rahimahumaa Allaah

The most honorable and greatest knowledge is the knowledge of Allaah, whom there is no God except Him, the true God, the Lord of all that exists. And the knowledge of Allaah is the basis of every other knowledge, for the one who knows of Allaah knows other than Him.

[Souncloud Audio Link]

The one who knows of Allaah knows other than Him, and the one who is ignorant of Allaah is therefore by all means ignorant of every other thing.

Allaah says,

وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ نَسُوا اللَّـهَ فَأَنسَاهُمْ أَنفُسَهُمْ ۚ أُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ

‘And be not like those who forgot Allaah, so He made them forget themselves. Those are the defiantly disobedient.’ {Suraah Anfaal 8: 47}

And don’t be like those who forgot Allaah- because of their disobedience, so He let them forget their own selves- for they were not able to do righteous deeds.

If you contemplate this aaayah, you will find a noble and honourable meaning and a great one implicated in this verse that anyone who forgets Allaah, Allaah will make him forget his own self, and therefore will not realise his reality nor would he realise that which benefits or harms him.’

So he will be crippled like cattle, even cattle could be more knowledgeable of its benefits in this sense. What is meant is that the knowledge of Allaah is the basis and foundation of every other knowledge and it is the basis of the slave of Allaah to know of his happiness, and to perfect his affairs and to work for his other life.

Therefore he would properly estimate Allaah, the proper estimation He deserves. And it will lead him to be shy of Allaah, out of love and magnification- his heart being attached to Him, yearning to meet Allaah and be close to Him, turning His affairs to Him and having awe and fear of Him. And mankind, with this respect, differ in such an estimation of Allaah.

The prophet  said in invocation to Allaah,

…لا أحصي ثناء عليك أنت كما أثنيت على نفسك

[صحيح مسلم و غيره]

‘I cannot enumerate praising You, as You (o Allaah) are as You have praised Yourself’ [Muslim and others]

The prophet  indicating those most knowledgeable of Allaah, even invoke Allaah with this saying:

…لا أحصي ثناء عليك أنت كما أثنيت على نفسك

‘I cannot enumerate praising You, as You are as You have praised Yourself (O Allaah)’

Love and eagerness are matters that follow the knowledge of Allaah, so the knowledge of Allaah brings forth and leads to love of Him and yearning to meet Him.

And therefor the knowledge of Allaah, is the most great and honorable knowledge and this leads to the proper estimation of Allaah, loving Him and eagerness to meet Him. The more a person is knowledgeable of Allaah, the more perfection he is in his love of Him.

Ad therefore ‘whoever believes in Allaah and His names and attributes’ and knows of Him in this respect will love Him more, and then he would achieve a state of sweetness in his heart, and this sweetness puts him in a state whereby he will always love to meet Allaah and be close to Him, and to sense and look at His Face, and listen to Him and to His words.

The knowledge itself leads to the proper estimation of Allaah.

Maalik ibn Dinaar rahimahullaah said ‘the people of this life they left it and didn’t take the best of it,’ they said to him, ‘and what is it o Abaa Yahya?’ He said, ‘knowing  of Allaah The Most Mighty and Majestic.’

Those who know of Allaah are the ones who have really tasted what is best in this life, and that is the knowledge of Allaah in this life as Maalik bin Dinaar stated.

وَمَا قَدَرُوا اللَّـهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ إِذْ قَالُوا مَا أَنزَلَ اللَّـهُ عَلَىٰ بَشَرٍ مِّن شَيْءٍ ۗ

‘And they did not appraise Allaah with true appraisal when they said, “Allaah did not reveal to a human being anything.”’ {Suraah Al-An’aam 6: 91}

‘They (kuffar) did not estimate Allaah with the estimation due to Him’ when they said that Allaah sent nothing down to the human being- so what is meant by saying what is due to Him is what is meant by the proper estimation of Him.

When the knowledge of Allaah is strengthened then his eagerness for Allaah also strengthens.

Abdullah ibn Masoud radhi Allaahu anhu said, ‘the believer will not feel at rest without the meeting of his Lord Allaah, therefore anyone who sets his resting coat in this life in the meeting of Allaahسبحانه و تعلى, then it is as if He has reached that.’

Meaning the believer would not have any real rest without being keen about the matter of meeting Allaah, yearning so that he can reach Him. As Allaah سبحانه و تعلى says,

الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللَّـهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّـهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ

Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allaah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allaah hearts are assured.” {Suraah Ar-Ra’ad 13: 28}

This is what ibn Masoud was speaking about in his saying that there will be no real rest for the believer unless he meets Allaahسبحانه و تعلى; therefore this matter should be alive, as mentioned in the aayah in Suraatur Ra’ad, they will achieve that.

Allaah gave the prophets عليهم السلام the choice between increasing their stay on earth or death, and they would choose the meeting with Allaah the most High.

As Imaam Bukhaari entitled the chapter in his saheeh – “the one who loves to meet Allaah, Allaah will love to meet Him”. Under this chapter he gave the situation with the prophet  from his wife,

حدثنا بشر بن محمد حدثنا عبد الله قال يونس قال الزهري أخبرني سعيد بن المسيب في رجال من أهل العلم أن عائشة قالت كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول وهو صحيح إنه لم يقبض نبي حتى يرى مقعده من الجنة ثم يخير فلما نزل به ورأسه على فخذي غشي عليه ثم أفاق فأشخص بصره إلى سقف البيت ثم قال اللهم الرفيق الأعلى فقلت إذا لا يختارنا وعرفت أنه الحديث الذي كان يحدثنا وهو صحيح قالت فكانت آخر كلمة تكلم بها اللهم الرفيق الأعلى

موطأ مالك, صحيح البخاري, صحيح مسلم, مسند أحمد

Aisha (رضي الله عنها) who said, ‘Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم used to say, ‘no prophets soul will be taken by Allaah until he sees his seat in Paradise then he will be given the choice’ so when he صلى الله عليه وسلم  became ill and the moment of death approached and his head was on my thigh, when he صلى الله عليه وسلم used to go into the state of unconsciousness and woke up, finally I saw him gaze in the direction of the roof and said ‘O Allaah, the Highest companionship.’ Aisha said, ‘so I knew he didn’t choose us, and I remember the statement he  صلى الله عليه وسلم used to say to us and it is true. And the last words he spoke was ‘Allaahumma rafeequl a’laa.’ (O Allaah, the Highest companionship)

[Muwatta of Maalik, Bukhaari, Muslim and Ahmed (with slight difference in wording)]

So how is it that these rough hearts and stone hearts are able to accuse other Muslims when they speak about knowing Allaah’s names and attributes and defending them in the proper way, as Allaah intended and as Allaah affirmed for Himself, and by the prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم .

Knowing Allaah: Through His Beautiful Names
Dr Saleh As Saleh رحمه الله d.1421AH

Listen to the full audio series @
https://abdurrahman.org/2014/12/13/the-meaning-of-allaahs-most-beautiful-names-dr-saleh-as-saleh/

And we say that Allaah took Ibraaheem as an especially beloved one (Khaleel) and that Allaah spoke directly to Moosaa – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah: Lesson 30   : Point [121] 

 ونَقُولُ‏:‏ إِنَّ اللهَ اتخَذَ إبراهيمَ خَلِيلاً، وكَلَّمَ اللهُ مُوسى تكْلِيماً، إِيماناً وتَصْدِيقاً وتَسْلِيماً

[121]  And we say that Allaah took Ibraaheem as an especially beloved one (Khaleel) and that Allaah spoke directly to Moosaa, saying that with eemaan (true faith) and testifying to the truth and with full submission.

[Souncloud Audio Link]

The Explanation – Point [121]

From the `aqeedah (creed and belief) of the Muslims, is that the Messengers (Rusul) are the most excellent of the creation and that the Messengers (Rusul) vary in levels of excellence. So they hold as their creed and belief, that Allaah took Ibraaheem as a Khaleel (an especially beloved one) just as Allaah, the Most High, said,

“..and Allaah took Ibraaheem as a Khaleel (an especially beloved)”  (Sooratun-Nisaa· (4), aayah 125)

And this word ‘al-khullah’ (الخلة), it means: the highest of the levels of love. So Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, has love for His believing servants and for the muttaqeen ( المتقين – the people of taqwaa – those are dutiful to Him) and He has love for the muhsineen (المحسنين – the doers of good) and He loves those who frequently repent (التوابين – at-tawwaabeen) and He loves al-muttatahhireen (المتطهرين – those people who purify themselves). However, al-khullah is a special degree which has not been attained except by two of the creation: Ibraaheem and Muhammad `alayhimassalaatu was-salaam. Just as he `alayhissalaatu was-salaam said,

“Allaah took me as an especially beloved one (Khaleel) just as He took Ibraaheem as an especially beloved one (Khaleel).” [1]

“And Allaah spoke directly to Moosaa”  (Sooratun-Nisaa· (4), aayah 164)

So, He (Allaah) gave excellence to some of the Prophets over others, even though all of them were upon a very high level. However, Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, gave excellence to some over others.

“Those are the Messengers; We gave excellence to some of them over others. From them are those to whom Allaah spoke directly and He raised some in degrees of excellence.” (Sooratul-Baqarah (2), aayah 253)

So, every Prophet was given by Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, a degree of excellence particular to him. So he gave to Ibraaheem and Muhammad `alayhimassalaatu was-salaam, al-khullah (that He made them His specially beloved). And He gave to Moosaa the excellence that He spoke to him directly, without an angel in-between. And Moosaa heard His Speech; so He the Perfect called to him (ناداه – naadaahu) and spoke privately to him (ناجاه – naajaahu). And the term ‘al-munaadaat’ (المنادات) means ‘a raised voice’ and ‘al-munaajaat’ (المناجات) is ‘speaking with a low voice’. Both of these occurred for Moosaa `alayhissalaatu was-salaam and this was a virtue not attained by anyone besides him. And He said at the end of the aayah, “takleemaa (تكليما – with Speech)” for emphasis so that no one could say that this was something metaphorical. So when He has emphasized it with this verbal noun, this proves that it is true and real Speech from Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic. So this contains affirmation of al-Kalaam (الكلام – Speech) for Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic. And it contains affirmation of the virtue of Moosaa `alayhissalaatu was-salaam over other Prophets with regard to this characteristic. And the fact that a Prophet had a particular quality special to him does not necessitate that he is better than the others unrestrictedly. Rather, it means that he was more excellent than other Prophets with regard to this particular quality.

End of explanation of point [121][2]

Footnotes:

[1] Reported by Muslim as a hadeeth of Jundub radiyAllaahu `anh, and something similar occurs in Al-Bukhaaree but not with this particular wording.

[2] Translator’s Side Point: The explainer, Ibn Abil-`Izz, in his explanation of AtTahaawiyyah, he said,

“And just as the station of al-khullah (being an especially beloved one of Allaah) which is confirmed for Ibraaheem salawaatullaahi `alayhi he is shared in that by our Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam, as has already preceded. And likewise, the status of being spoken to directly which is confirmed for Moosaa salawaatullaahi `alayhi, then he is shared with that by our Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam, as well, as occurs in the hadeeth of the Israa· (the Ascent through the heavens).”

At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah AtTahaawiyyah
By Shaykh Saalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah
Pages 125-128 (Points 118-121)

Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah, in 1426AH
Transcribed by Sideeqa Ali

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the Full Audio Series of Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah:
Explanation of Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Allaah resurrects all of the mankind without any exertion or difficulty – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Clip|En]

Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah : Lesson 06

 باعث بلا مشقة.

[15]    The One who resurrects without any exertion


The Explanation – Point [15]

This is from the amazing affairs of His ability, that He causes the creation to die and causes them to pass away so that they are destroyed and become dust and remains – such that an ignorant person would say, ‘It is not possible for these to be restored’. However Allaah the Mighty and Majestic will resurrect them again, and He will restore their creation anew. And He will have no difficulty in doing this, as He the Perfect and Most High said:

The creation of you all, and the resurrection of you all is just like that of a single soul. (Soorah Luqmaan (31), aayah 28)[1]

And He (Allaah) it is One who creates initially, and then He repeats it (the creation); and that is even easier for Him.  And for Him is the Highest Description in the heavens and in the earth.  And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise. (Sooratur-Room (30), aayah 27)

So the people of shirk, they denied the resurrection, holding it to be something far-fetched, just as Allaah said about them, (that the unbelieving man would say)

“Who will give life to these bones when they are crumbled away?” (Soorah YaaSeen (36), aayah 78)

And Allaah the Perfect and Most High, said in response,

Say: “He will give life to them Who created them for the first time!”  (Soorah YaaSeen (36), aayah 79)

The first time they did not exist at all, so He brought them into existance from nothing, He the Perfect and Most High. So, the One who created them from non-existence, is He not able even more so to bring them back into existence? This is correct in accordance with the people’s intellect but otherwise, analogy cannot be made between Allaah, the Perfect, and His creation.  So this is just stated as a similitude,

And for Him is the Highest Description (Sooratur-Room (30), aayah 27)

So this a refutation of the denier, Allaah the Most High said,

And he forgets his (own) creation (Soorah YaaSeen (36), aayah 78)

Meaning: he forgets that in the beginning he was nothing; he did not exist at all.

Has there come upon man a time when he was nothing mentioned? (Sooratul-Insaan (76), aayah 1)

Meaning: this man, he forgets that Allaah produced him from non-existence.

So Allaah will indeed gather together these separated bones, shredded flesh, disintigrated dust and these scattered hairs, and He will restore them as they once were:

And from His (Allaah’s) Signs is that the heaven and the earth are established by His Command.  Then, when He calls you with a single call, you will come out from the earth. (Sooratur-Room (30), aayah 25)

And then the Horn will be blown, and whoever is in the heavens and whoever is upon the earth will faint and die, except whomever Allaah wishes.  And then it will be blown again and they will be standing up, looking on. (Sooratuz-Zumar (39), aayah 68)

The second blowing is the blowing for the resurrection.

And as for the first blowing of the horn, it is the blowing for the people to faint and die.

And the Horn will be blown and then the people will come out from their graves going quickly to their Lord.  They (the unbeliever) will say: “Woe to us! Who has taken us out from our place of sleep?” (The believer will respond) “This is what the Most Merciful promised, and the Messengers spoke the truth!” (Soorah YaaSeen (36), aayaat 51-52)

So Allaah indeed has Power and Ability over everything and this contains a refutation of the unbelievers, those who say that Allaah is unable to give life to the dead and to return them to life.

Does man think that We will not gather his bones together? Indeed, We are fully able even to put his fingertips together. (Sooratul-Qiyaamah (75), aayaat 3-4)

On that Day (the Day of Resurrection) they will come out from the graves, hurrying as if they are racing to a finishing post. (Sooratul-Ma`aarij (70), aayah 43)

So this is the Power of Allaah, and His Will and His Wish.  Nothing makes Him incapable.  However, it is just that some of the creation, they draw analogy between Allaah and His creation and so therefore they hold that it is far-fetched that there will be any resurrection; because the person thinks in his view, that’s something impossible and he doesn’t look to the Power of Allaah and he doesn’t judge Allaah’s Power as He deserves; and this is a case of ignorance with regard to Allaah the Mighty and Majestic.

End of explanation of point [15]

Footnotes:

[1] Translator’s side point: In explanation of this aayah, the famous mufassir from the Taabi`een, Mujaahid, he said, “meaning that Allaah says, ‘Be!’ and it is, whether it is something small or a great deal.”

At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah AtTahaawiyyah
By Shaykh Saalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Transcribed by Sideeqa Ali

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the Full Audio Series of Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah:
Explanation of Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

He (Allaah) does not resemble the creation – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Clip|En]

Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah : Lesson 05

 ولا يشبه الأنام‏ 

[10]    And He (Allaah) does not resemble the creation. 


The Explanation – Point [10]

This is like the wording which has already preceded: And there is nothing like Him.”[1] And the meaning of al-anaam (الأنام) is ‘the creation’.  So Allaah, the Perfect and Most High, is free of any resemblance to the creation.

There is nothing like Him and He is the All-Hearing the All-Seeing. (SooratushShooraa (42), aayah 11)

And there is no equal for Him. (Sooratul-Ikhlaas (112), aayah 4)

So He, the Perfect, is free from resembling His creation.  And even though He has Names and Attributes which correspond to names and attributes of the creation in their wording and in their meaning, however, in their reality and in how they are, there is no resemblance between the two.

End of explanation of point [10][2]

Footnotes:

[1] Point [3] – Listen @ There is nothing like Him (Allaah) 

[2] Translator’s side point: Ibn Abil-`Izz rahimahullaah, in his explanation, said on this point:

Nu`aym ibn Hammaad said,

“Whoever declares that Allaah is like anything from his creation then he has committed unbelief, and whoever denies anything from that which Allaah has described Himself with, then he has committed unbelief, and there is not in the attributes which Allaah has mentioned for Himself nor in the attributes which His Messenger mentioned for Him, any resemblance.”

Likewise, Ishaaq ibn Raahawayh said,

“Whoever describes Allaah and declares that His Attributes are like the attributes of anyone from Allaah’s creation then he is a kaafir (disbeliever) in Allaah, the Tremendous One.”

He also said,

“The sign of Jahm and his companions is their claim against the people of the Sunnah and the Jamaa`ah and the lies which they had instigated, that they say, ‘The people of the Sunnah are mushabbihah (that they declare Allaah to be like His creation).’ But rather, it is just that they are mu`attilah (deniers of the attributes).”

And this was the saying of a great number of the imaams of the Salaf – the sign of the Jahmiyyah is that they call the people of the Sunnah Mushabbihah.  Because there are none from the deniers of the Names and Attributes, except that he calls the one who affirms them a Mushabbih (one who makes Allaah like the creation).  So whoever denies Allaah’s Names altogether, then they are from the extreme apostates – like the Qaraamitah (القرامطة) and the philosophers.  And whoever says that it cannot be said about Allaah that He is has knowledge and (it cannot be said, they say, about Allaah) that He has power, claiming that whoever calls Allaah that is a Mushabbih.  They say His Names are just metaphorical, like the extreme Jahmiyyah.

At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah AtTahaawiyyah
By Shaykh Saalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Transcribed by Sideeqa Ali

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the Full Audio Series of Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah:
Explanation of Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Allah is not reached by people’s conjecture nor can He be grasped by their understanding – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Short Clip|En]

Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah : Lesson 05

 لا تبلغه الأوهام ولا تدركه الأفهام‏

[9]  He is not reached by people’s conjecture nor can He be grasped by their understanding.  


The Explanation – Point [9]

So, Allaah the One free of all imperfections and the Most High, cannot be encompassed; so Allaah is greater than everything, He the Perfect and Most High.

He (Allaah) knows whatever is in front of them and whatever is behind them and they do not comprehend Him with knowledge (Soorah TaaHaa (20), aayah 110)

So Allaah the One free of all imperfections, He is known; however, He is not comprehended and encompassed by that (their knowledge).  So, Allaah is greater than everything, so thoughts cannot imagine Him and it is not permissible for a person to say about Allaah except what He the Perfect said about Himself or what His Messenger `alayhissalaatu was-salaam said about Him.

End of explanation of point [9]

At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah AtTahaawiyyah
By Shaykh Saalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Transcribed by Sideeqa Ali

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the Full Audio Series of Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah:
Explanation of Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

There is nothing like unto Him and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Short Clip|En]

Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah : Lesson 08

 ‏         {‏لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ البَصِيرُ‏}‏

[27]  {There is nothing like unto Him and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.}
(ashShooraa (42) aayah 11)


The Explanation – Point [27]

This is a negation of tashbeeh – there being anything like Allaah, the One free of all imperfections. And the kaaf (in كمثله) is to emphasize the negation, like (as occurs in a different aayah):

وَكَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ عَلِيمًا

…and Allaah is Sufficient as a Knower.  (Sooratun-Nisaa. (4), aayah 70)

In origin (it would usually be said): وكفى الله عليماً but the (extra) baa’ (in بالله) is for emphasis.

And nothing whatsoever resembles Him – not the angels, and not the Prophets, and not the Messengers, and not the beloved servants of Allaah, nor any created being.

وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ البَصِيرُ

…and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. (SooratushShooraa (42), aayah 11)

So He called Himself As-Samee’ (the All-Hearing One) Al-Baseer (the All-Seeing One).

So the beginning of the aayah [1] contains a refutation of the Mushabbihah (those who liken Allaah to the Creation) and the end of it contains a refutation of the Mu`attilah (those who deny Allaah’s Attributes). And it indicates that affirming His Names and Attributes does not necessitate resemblance to the created beings. So the hearing and seeing of the created beings does not resemble the Hearing and Seeing of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic.

End of explanation of point [27]

Footnotes:

[1] “There is nothing like Him…

At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah AtTahaawiyyah
By Shaykh Saalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Transcribed by Sideeqa Ali

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the Full Audio Series of Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah:
Explanation of Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Every affair is easy for Him (Allaah) – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Short Clip|En]

Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah : Lesson 08

[25] وكل أمر عليه يسير‏.

[25] And every affair is easy for Him (Allaah).

https://soundcloud.com/abdurrahmanorg/every-affair-is-easy-for-him-allaah-dawud-burbank

The Explanation – Point [25]

His Affair, if He wills something, is just that He says to it, “Be!” and it is! (Soorah YaaSeen (36), aayah 82)

So He gives life and gives death, and He creates and gives provision, and He gives and He withholds and He gives life to the dead after they have passed away; and that is easy for Him, He the Perfect and Most High. Nothing is a burden for Him and nothing is difficult for Him, contrary to the creation; because things are a hardship (for the people) and some things he will be incapable of doing. As for Allaah, then nothing is difficult for Him.

The creation of you all and the resurrection of you all, is just like that of a single soul. (Soorah Luqmaan (31), aayah 28)[1]

End of explanation of point [25]

 Footnotes:

[1] Translator’s side point: In explanation of this aayah, the famous mufassir from the Taabi`een, Mujaahid rahimahullaah, said, “It is just that Allaah says, ‘Be!’ and it is! whether it is something (which is) a small amount or a great amount.”

At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah AtTahaawiyyah
By Shaykh Saalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Transcribed by Sideeqa Ali

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the Full Audio Series of Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah:
Explanation of Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Everything is totally dependent upon Allaah – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah : Lesson 07

وكل شيء إليه فقير‏

[24]     And everything is totally dependent upon Him. 

https://goo.gl/JJkuhC

The Explanation – Point [24]

So there is nothing than can possibly do without or be independent of Allaah – no angel, nor any heaven nor any earth, nor anyone from the jinn nor anyone from mankind, nor any inanimate object, whether mountains or oceans; everything is dependent upon Allaah.

O mankind! You are the ones who are needy and dependent upon Allaah.  And Allaah, He is the One who is Independent – the One deserving of all praise. (Sooratul-Faatir (35), aayah 15)

So everything is dependent upon Him and not upon the awliyaa.  (beloved servants of Allaah) and not upon the heavens.  And whoever says that the awliyaa.  (beloved servants of Allaah) have power and ability which is different to human power and ability, and whoever says that they have some control over the creation and that they benefit and harm, besides Allaah; then this is the saying of the unbelievers and the mushriks.  So the awliyaa.  (beloved servants of Allaah), and the Messengers and the angels, have no independence from Allaah and they cannot do anything without Him.

So this nullifies the worship of everything besides Allaah, whether idols or other things.  How can you worship things that are themselves dependent (upon Allaah) and forget the One in whose Hand is the Ownership and the Mastery of everything?

And for this reason one of the scholars from the grave-worshippers, he said to a common person from the people of Tawheed, “You people say that the awliyaa.  (beloved servants of Allaah), they can’t benefit and they can’t bring harm.” So he said, “Yes, we say that they don’t bring benefit and they don’t bring harm.” So he (the grave-worshipper) said, “Does not Allaah, the Most High, say,

Do not consider those who are killed in Allaah’s cause as being dead.  Rather, they are alive, with their Lord, being given provision.” (Soorah Aal-`Imraan (3), aayah 169)

So (this man who is only just a regular person) he responded to him and said, “Did Allaah say yurzaqoon (يُرْزَقون – they are given provision) or did He say yarzuqoon (يَرْزُقون – they give provision)?” So the man said, “Rather He said, yurzaqoon (يُرْزَقون – they are given provision) with a dammah on the yaa’” So (the man who is a common person), he said, “In that case I will ask the One who Provides for them and I will not ask them.” So that person of knowledge was defeated in argument by the evidence of this common person who was upon the correct natural disposition.

End of explanation of point [24]

At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah AtTahaawiyyah
By Shaykh Saalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Transcribed by Sideeqa Ali

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the Full Audio Series of Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah:
Explanation of Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Allaah has always had His Attributes, before His act of creation – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah : Lesson 07

 ما زال بصفاته قديمًا قبل خلقه

[16]     He has always had His Attributes, before His act of creation.

https://goo.gl/GGu3zw

The Explanation – Point [16]

The saying of the author, The ancient One without any beginning[1] has already preceded.  So, there was nothing before Him, He the Perfect and Most High.  And the meaning of that is that He has the Attributes of Perfection and His Attributes of Perfection are eternal; they have always existed and they always will.  So just as He is the First without any beginning, then likewise, His Attributes (are the same) since they are along with Him, He the One free of all imperfections.  So, they were always existing, just as Allaah the Perfect and Most High has always existed.

So it is not the case that He existed before without any Attributes and then Attributes came about for Him afterwards as the people of misguidance say; those who say, “He did not always have Attributes and then afterwards He came to have them.” They say so in order not to necessitate there being multiple lords deserving worship, as they claim, or multiple divinities in existence who are eternal, such that the Names and Attributes would be partners with Allaah in His Eternity.  So we say, “How free is Allaah of all deficiencies, SubhaanAllaah!  This (saying) would necessitate that Allaah was deficient – High and Exalted is Allaah – that He was deficient for a period and then He came to have Attributes and so, became Perfect through those Attributes; High and Exalted is Allaah above what they say.  And the fact that His Attributes are eternal does not necessitate that there are other eternal lords.  Because the attributes are not something other than and outside the one who has those attributes.  Rather, they are meanings found in the one who has the attributes.  And an attribute is not something independent of the one who has the attribute. So if you say for example, “such and such person hears and he sees and he has knowledge of fiqh (he is a jurist) and he is a scholar of the language and he is a scholar of grammar” does it mean that this person has become many people? So having multiple attributes does not necessitate that the ones having the attributes are multiple as the people of misguidance have said.

So Allaah, the One free of all imperfections and the Most High, His Attributes had no beginning just as His Self (Dhaat) had no beginning.  So Allaah has the Attribute of being the Creator (Al-Khaaliq) always and forever.

And as for the actions of (Allaah) the Perfect, then they are eternal with regard to their type, newly occurring with regard to actions.

So Allaah, the Perfect and Most High, He was ‘the One who speaks’ before He actually spoke and He was ‘the Creator’ before He actually created anything and as for His speaking and His creating, then these are actions which newly occur and so on, to the rest of the actions.

End of explanation of point [16]

[17] لم يزدد بكونهم شيئًا، لم يكن قبلهم من صفته.

[17]  He (Allaah) was not increased in any Attribute which He did not have before, by the creation of the creation.

The Explanation – Point [17]

Meaning: His creating the creation.  We do not say that He did not become a Creator except after He created the people.  Rather, Allaah has been the Creator always, forever, without any beginning to that.  And as for His act of creating, then that is an action which occurs newly again and again.

End of explanation of point [17]  

[18] وكما كان بصفاته أزليًا، كذلك لا يزال عليها أبديًا.

[18] And just as He has always possessed His Attributes, then likewise, He will always possess them forever.

The Explanation – Point [18]

Just as He has always has His Attributes forever, meaning: there was no beginning to that; then likewise, His Attributes will remain with Him, He the Perfect, in the future.  So He is Eternal, along with His Attributes; He has no end.

أنت الآخر فلا بعدك شيء

“You are the Last One, so there is nothing after You.” [2]

the Last One with Your Names and Attributes.  So it is not to be said that these attributes will cease to be with Him in the future; rather, they will always be with Him, He the Perfect and Most High.

End of explanation of point [18]  

[19] ليس بعد خلق الخلق استفاد اسم ‏(‏الخالق‏)‏.

[19]     He did not acquire the Name ‘The Creator’ after the creation of the creation.

The Explanation – Point [19]

This is a clarification and a repetition of what has preceded.

 End of explanation of point [19]

[20] ولا بإحداث البرية استفاد اسم ‏(‏الباري‏)‏.

[20] Nor did He acquire the Name ‘Al-Baaree’ (The Maker) after giving existence to the beings.

The Explanation – Point [20]

So from the Names of Allaah the Mighty and Majestic is الباري (Al-Baaree – The Maker); meaning: The Creator.  برأ الخلق (bara.a al-khalq) means: He made them.  So, Allaah is Al-Baaree (The Maker of the creation).  And this Name goes along with Allaah’s Self – it has no beginning.

End of explanation of point [20] 

[21] له معنى الربوبية ولا مربوب، ومعنى الخالق ولا مخلوق‏.

[21] He possessed the meaning of Lordship and Nurturing when there were no slaves, and He had the meaning of being the Creator without there being any creation.

The Explanation – Point [21]

So likewise, He was the Rabb (Lord and Nurturer) before anything existed for Him to be the Owner and the Master of.  And the meaning of Ar-Rabb (The Lord and Nurturer) is: The Owner and the One who Controls and the One who Rectifies and the Master; and these Attributes are always with His Self – without any beginning and without any end, even before the existence of those things that He is the Lord and Master of, and even after those things which He is the Lord and Master of, pass away.

End of explanation of point [21]

[22] وكما أنه محيي الموتى بعدما أحيا، استحق هذا الاسم قبل إحيائهم، كذلك استحق اسم الخالق قبل إنشائهم‏.

[22] And just as He is the One who is ‘The Giver of life to the dead’ after He gives them life, then He deserves this Name even before He gave life to them; and likewise, He deserves the Name ‘The Creator’ before He created and produced them.

The Explanation – Point [22]

So just as He, the Perfect has always possessed the Attribute of being the One who gives life to the dead, and that He gives life and gives death, and this Attribute was never absent (from Him) until He actually gave life to the dead. Rather, it was always His and it always will be His forever.  And as for the action of giving life to the dead, then this is something which occurs newly and repeatedly; Allaah gave life to some and He gives life to some, He the Perfect, whenever He Wishes.

End of explanation of point [22]

[23] ذلك بأنه على كل شيء قدير‏.

[23] That is because He has full Power and Ability over everything.

The Explanation – Point [23]

This is an eternal Attribute.  It cannot be said that He did not acquire the Attribute of Power and Ability until He created and produced the creation.  Rather, Al-Qudrah (Power and Ability) is an eternal Attribute of His.  Rather, His having produced the creation, this is an effect produced by His being the One who has full Power and Ability.

And Allaah is the One who described Himself as being the One who has full Power and Ability over everything – over the things that exist and over the things that do not exist.  And He did not restrict His Power to anything in particular.  Rather, nothing renders Him incapable and it is not permissible to restrict and say that He only has Power over such and such.  And it is not to be said, “Allaah has power over whatever He Wishes.”[3] Because, this saying is particular and restricted to gathering the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth:

And from His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and all the creatures that He spread throughout them.  And He has full Power to gather them when He Wishes. (SooratushShooraa (42), aayah 29)

So this was a particular case.

End of explanation of point [23][4]

Footnotes:

[1] Point [6]

Listen @ the Link : http://wp.me/p1VJ3-bCO

[2] From a hadeeth in Saheeh Muslim where the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam said, addressing Allaah in a du`aa., “You are the Last One, so there is nothing after You.”

[3] This came previously under Point [4]

[4] Translator’s side point: As a correction of this point, Shaykh Al-Albaanee rahimahullaah, then he criticised this saying here, the saying that you can’t say about Allaah that He has power over what He wishes. Sh al-Albaanee criticised that in his Silsilah … [break in recording] “… Lord of the Creation.  So Allaah will reply, “I am not mocking you but rather I have full ability over whatever I Wish.”Hadeeth reported by Muslim in the book of Eemaan. [187].

After he brought this hadeeth, Shaykh Al-Albaanee said: So the saying of Allaah the Most High, at the end of this hadeeth, “But rather I have full power over whatever I Wish,” this shows the mistake of the one who wrote notes to Al-`Aqeedah AtTahaawiyyah quoting some noble person that, “some people say, ‘Allaah has full power over whatever He Wishes’ and that this saying is not correct.”  I (Shaykh Al-Albaanee )say: Rather, it is exactly what is correct after its being established in this hadeeth, especially when it is witnessed to by the saying of Allaah, the Most High,

And He (Allaah) has full Power to gather them when He Wishes. (SooratushShooraa (42), aayah 29)

And this does not deny that His Wish and His Power and Ability, He the Most High, are general to everything as someone seems to have thought; and Allaah knows best.  [as-Saheehah 6/195, Hadeeth #2601]

At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah AtTahaawiyyah
By Shaykh Saalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Transcribed by Sideeqa Ali

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the Full Audio Series of Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah:
Explanation of Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Allaah has no need of the Arsh (Throne) and whatever is beneath it – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah : Lesson 30

[118]    وهُوَ مُسْتَغْنٍ عَنِ العرشِ وما دُونَه.‏‏‏‏

[118]       And He (Allaah) has no need of the Throne and whatever is beneath it.


The Explanation – Point [118]

Do not imagine that the meaning of His saying, He the Most High,

 And then He (Allaah) ascended upon the Throne  (Sooratul-A`raaf (7), aayah 54)

…is that He has need of the Throne just as someone from the creation would mount something from the creation. Rather, Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic ascended upon the Throne and He has no need of the Throne, nor of whatever is beneath the Throne.

All of the created beings are in total need of Allaah.

Allaah holds the heavens and the earth so that they do not fall away from their places; and if they moved away, then none besides Him could hold them. (Soorah Faatir (35), aayah 41)

So, He (Allaah) holds and supports the Throne and He holds and supports the heavens and He holds and supports the earth and all the created beings by His Power and His Might. So, they are in need of Him and He has no need of them, He the One free of all imperfections and the Most High.

And the fact that something is above something else does not necessitate that the thing which is higher has need of the thing which is beneath. So the heavens are above the earth, and they are not in need of the earth.

End of explanation of point [118][1] 

Footnotes:

[1] Translator’s Side Point: From Shaykh Al-Albaanee rahimahullaah, he said in his small notes,

“The explainer (Ibn Abil-`Izz) rahimahullaahu ta`aalaa said, ‘The Shaykh (AtTahaawee) rahimahullaah, mentioned this speech here having already mentioned the `Arsh (Throne) and the Kursee (Footstool); so then afterwards he mentions that He, the Perfect, has no need of the Throne and whatever is beneath the Throne, to make clear that His creating the Throne to ascend over it is not because He had any need of it; rather, for a great wisdom which was necessitated. And the fact that something above is above the thing which is beneath, does not necessitate that the lower thing contains or encompasses or carries the higher thing; nor does it mean that that thing which is higher is in need of that which is lower. So look at the heaven how it is above the earth and yet it is not in need of it.

So the Lord, the Most High is far greater and more tremendous than His ‘Highness’ should necessitate this. Rather, Allaah’s being High (His ‘Highness’) results in qualities particular to Him and in His bearing and carrying whatever is beneath, by His Power. And it necessitates the total need of the lower things for Him and the fact that He, the Perfect, has no need whatsoever of what is beneath Him. And it necessitates His encompassing everything, He the Mighty and Majestic. So He is above the Throne and He, by His Power, supports the Throne and its carriers and He has no need of the Throne. And the Throne is in need of Him and He encompasses the Throne and the Throne does not encompass Him; and He confines the Throne and it does not confine Him; and all of these things are not possible for the creation.

And those people who deny al-`uluww (Allaah’s Highness) – the people who deny His Attributes, if they only accepted this detailed explanation, then they would be guided to the correct path, and they would know that intellect is in accordance with the texts and they would be proceeding behind the proof. However, they depart from the proof so they go astray from the correct way. And the affair in that regard is just as Imaam Maalik rahimahullaah said when he was asked about the saying of Allaah, the Most High,

And then He (Allaah) ascended over the Throne (Sooratul-A`raaf (7), aayah 54)

…and other things, (someone asked him), “How did He ascend?’ So Imaam Maalik replied, “Istiwaa (ascending) is known and how is unknown.”’”

Translator’s Side Point: Likewise, Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah in Dar· at-Ta`aarud al-`Aql wan-Naql (درء تعارض العقل والنقل) makes the same point – that it is from Allaah’s tremendous Power that He supports the Throne and whoever is carrying the Throne, and they only support the Throne because of power given to them by Allaah.

At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah AtTahaawiyyah
By Shaykh Saalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Transcribed by Sideeqa Ali

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the Full Audio Series of Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah:
Explanation of Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

He (Allaah) is the Creator without any need, Provider without any difficulty – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah : Lesson 06

[13] خالق بلا حاجة، رازق بلا مؤنة

[13]    He is the Creator without any need, Provider without any difficulty.


The Explanation – Point [13]

He is the One who created the creation and He has no need of them.  Rather, He created them just so that they should worship Him.

And I did not create jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me alone. (SooratudhDhaariyaat (51), aayah 56)[1]

So, He created them not because He had any need of them – that they should aid Him or assist Him or help Him, He the One free from all imperfections, or that they should defend Him.  He only created them so that they should worship Him.  And they (the people) are the ones who need that worship in order to connect themselves to Allaah and to attach themselves to their Lord.  So `ibaadah (worship) is the connection between the person and his Lord.  So it draws him closer to Allaah, and through it he attains reward from Allaah, and recompense.  So, `ibaadah (worship) is a need of the creation and it is not a need of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic.

If you (people) disbelieve (in Allaah), you and everybody upon the earth, then Allaah is the Independent One who has no need, the One deserving of all praise. (Soorah Ibraaheem (14), aayah 8)

If you (people) disbelieve (in Allaah), then Allaah has no need of you. (Sooratuz-Zumar (39), aayah 7)

And his (the author’s) saying, “Allaah is the Provider without any difficulty”[2] meaning, He is the One who provides all the provision for His servants and that does not diminish what He has with Him.

End of explanation of point [13]

Footnotes:

[1] Translator’s side point: Ibn Abil-`Izz rahimahullaah, quotes the next two aayaat which come after this one in SooratudhDhaariyaat, aayaat 57 and 58:

I do not want from them any provision and I do not want that they should feed Me.  Indeed Allaah, He is the great Provider, the One possessing Power, the Strong.

(SooratudhDhaariyaat (51), aayaat 57-58)

[2] Side point: Ibn Abil-`Izz rahimahullaah, quotes from the following hadeeth qudsee:

“…O my servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you were to stand in one place and ask of Me, and I were to give every person what he asked for, then that would not diminish anything from what I have, except as a needle would diminish the water of the sea when it is placed in it.”

Hadeeth reported by Muslim.

At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah AtTahaawiyyah
By Shaykh Saalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Transcribed by Sideeqa Ali

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the Full Audio Series of Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah:
Explanation of Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

There is nothing like Him (Allaah) – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah : Lesson 03

[3] ولا شيء مثله‏‏

[3]  And there is nothing like Him. 


The Explanation – Point [3]

This is taken from the saying of Allaah, the Most High,

There is nothing like Him (Allaah) (SooratushShooraa (42), aayah 11)

And also, the saying of Allaah, the Most High,

And there is none equal or comparable to Him (Allaah) (Sooratul-Ikhlaas (112), aayah 4)

And His saying, the Most High,

So do not set up any rivals for Allaah (Sooratul-Baqarah (2), aayah 22)

Meaning: those who are alike or similar to Him.

And His saying, He the Most High,

Do you know of any namesake for Him (Allaah)? [1] (Soorah Maryam (19), aayah 65)

Meaning: anyone like Him – one who can share His Name, He the Perfect and Most High. So at-tamtheel (التمثيل – there being anyone like Him) and at-tashbeeh (التشبيه – there being anyone resembling Him), both of these are negated for Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic.

So, no one from His creation resembles Him. So this is what is obligatory – that we affirm whatever Allaah has affirmed for Himself and we hold that as our creed. However, we do not hold that He resembles anyone from His creation nor do we hold that He is like his creation, He, the Perfect and Most High. So this contains a refutation of the mushabbihah – who believe that Allaah is like His creation and (they) do not differentiate between the Creator and the creation; and this is a false and futile position.

And opposite to this position, is the position of the mu`attilah (المعطلة – those who negate/deny Allaah’s attributes) – those who go beyond limits in declaring Allaah free to such an extent that they deny for Allaah that which He has affirmed for Himself with regards to Names and Attributes. Doing so, as they claim, to flee away from declaring Him to be like His creation.

So, both of these two groups go beyond the limits. The mu`attilah (those who deny His attributes) go beyond limits in tanzeeh (تنزيه – declaring Him free) and denying any likeness. Whereas, the mushabbihah (المشبهة – those who declare Allaah’s Attributes to be like those of the creation) go beyond the limit in affirmation. Whereas, the Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa`ah take the moderate and middle position. So, they affirm for Allaah whatever He affirms for Himself in accordance with what befits His Majesty, without tashbeeh (declaring His attributes to be like the attributes of the creation) and without ta`teel (تعطيل – denying His attributes), doing so in accordance with the saying of Allaah, the Most High,

There is nothing like Him, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. (SooratushShooraa (42), aayah 11)

So His saying, “There is nothing like Him” negates and denies any tashbeeh (resemblance with the creation) and His saying, “And He (Allaah) is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing” is a negation of ta`teel (denying His attributes). So this is the position which the people of the Sunnah and the Jamaa`ah proceed upon.

So therefore, it is said,

الْمُعَطِّلُ يَعْبُدُ عَدَمًا، وَالْمُشَبِّهُ يَعْبُدُ صَنَمًا، وَالْمُوَحِّدُ يَعْبُدُ إِلَـٰهًا وَاحِدًا فَرْدًا صَمَدًا

The mu`attil (one who negates Allaah’s attributes) worships something which does not exist;

And the mushabbih (one who declares Allaah’s attributes to be like those of the creation) worships an idol;

And the muwahhid (person upon true tawheed) worships the sole One who deserves worship, the One who is Single, the Independent Lord and Master.

End of explanation of point [3][3]

Footnotes:

[1] Translator’s side point: Shaykh `Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Naasir As-Sa`dee rahimahullaah said in the tafseer of this aayah that the aayah is in the form of a question and what is meant is a denial i.e. there is no namesake for Allaah.

[3] Translator’s Side Point: Shaykh Al-Albaanee rahimahullaah says regarding this point: “And there is nothing like Him”: This is one of the fundamentals from the fundamental principles of tawheed; which is, that with regard to Allaah the Most High: there is nothing like Him – neither in His Self, His Attributes and His Actions. However, the innovators and the people of ta.weel (تأويل – those who twist Allaah’s Attributes) take it as a principle by which they deny many of Allaah’s Attributes, He, the Exalted and Most High. So whenever their hearts are too constricted to believe in one of His Attributes, He, the Mighty and Majestic, then they perform ta.weel (twist that Attribute) and try and destroy it and deny it. So they deny an Attribute and they use as an evidence for what they are doing His saying,

There is nothing like Him …

Pretending to be ignorant of the end of the aayah:

… and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. (SooratushShooraa (42), aayah 11)

So, this aayah gathers between declaring Him free, along with affirming His Attributes. So whoever wishes to be safe and sound in his creed then he should declare Allaah, the Most High, to be free from any resemblance to the creation, without explaining His Attributes away, and without denying His Attributes. Rather, he should affirm for Allaah the Mighty and Majestic, with regard to Attributes, everything which He has affirmed for Himself in His Book or in a hadeeth of His Prophet, without declaring that the Creator resembles the creation. This is the position of the Salaf; and the author rahimahullaah, was upon it following on from Abu Haneefah and the rest of imaams. [Source: Shaykh Al-Albaanee’s العقيدة الطحاوية – شرح وتعليق – explanation of point 3]

At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah AtTahaawiyyah
By Shaykh Saalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Transcribed by Sideeqa Ali

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the Full Audio Series of Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah:
Explanation of Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Allaah is Al-Hayy (the Living One) who does not die – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Aqeedah Tahawiyyah : Lesson 05

حي لا يموت

[Point #11]    He (Allaah) is the Living One who does not die.

https://soundcloud.com/abdurrahmanorg/allaah-is-al-hayy-the-living-one-who-does-not-die-dawud-burbank

The Explanation – Point [11]

His Life is a complete and perfect life which does not suffer from any deficiency nor any sleep.

Allaah, none has the right to be worshipped except Him, the Ever-Living One, the Independent Sustainer of all.  Neither sleep nor slumber takes hold of Him. (Sooratul-Baqarah (2), aayah 255)

And place reliance upon the Ever-Living One Who does not die. (Sooratul-Furqaan (25), aayah 58)

So, He negates for Himself as-sinah (السِنة – slumber) and that means light sleep and (He negates for Himself) an-nawm (النوم) which is deep sleep.[1] And He negated for Himself al-mawt (الموت – death) because of the completeness and perfection of His Life, He the Perfect and Most High.[2]

And sleep and slumber and death, these are deficiencies in life and these are attributes to be found in the creation; and the life of the creation is deficient because he sleeps and he dies.

So sleeping is a part of completeness with regard to the creation but it is a deficiency with regard to the Creator; because a person who cannot sleep they have an affliction affecting their health.  So this shows the difference and the distinction between the Attributes of the Creator and the attributes of the creation.  And as for the two Names: الحي (Al-Hayy – The Ever-living) and القيوم (Al-Qayyoom –and the independent Sustainer of all), then these are two attributes taken from the statement of Allaah the Most High,

Allaah, none has the right to be worshipped except Him, He is the Ever-living, the independent Sustainer of all (Sooratul-Baqarah (2), aayah 255)

So Al-Hayy, the Ever-living means the One who has complete and perfect life and Al-Qayyoom is a word in intensive form.

End of explanation of point [11] 

Footnotes

[1] From Aboo Moosaa radiyAllaahu `anh who said: Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam stood amongst us with five sayings; so he said, “Allaah the Mighty and Majestic does not sleep and it is not befitting for Him that He should sleep…” the hadeeth.  Reported by Muslim in the book of Eemaan.

[2] From Ibn `Abbaas radiyAllaahu `anhumaa that the Messenger of Allaah sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam used to say,

اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ، وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ، وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ، وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْتُ، وَبِكَ خَاصَمْتُ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِعِزَّتِكَ،

لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ، أَنْ تُضِلَّنِي، أَنْتَ الْحَيُّ الَّذِي لاَ يَمُوتُ، وَالْجِنُّ وَالإِنْسُ يَمُوتُونَ

“O Allaah, to You I have surrendered and in You I have truly believed and upon You I have placed my reliance and to You I turn and with Your Aid I dispute.  O Allaah, I seek refuge in Your Might; none has the right to be worshipped except You; I seek Your Refuge from Your misguiding me.  You are the Ever-living One Who does not die whereas jinn and mankind die.”  Reported by Muslim.

At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah AtTahaawiyyah
By Shaykh Saalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Transcribed by Sideeqa Ali

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Read the Related Post:

Allaah is Al-Qayyoom (the Independent Sustainer of everything), who does not sleep – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Listen to the Full Audio Series of Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah:
Explanation of Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]