Chapter 20: Affirmation of Hearing and Sight for Allāh, the Most High—by Abu Ismā’īl Al-Harawee (died 481H)

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All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all creation; may the peace and blessing be upon our noble Prophet Muhammad, his family, his Companions and all those who follow him exactly until the establishment of the Hour.

These are chapters from Shaikhul-Islām Abu Ismā’īl Al-Harawī’s: “The Book Of Forty Narrations In The Evidences Of Tawhīd” (Born 396H and died 481H may Allah’s mercy be upon him). This compilation is an amazing series of narrations in the establishment of the Tawhīd of Allāh, the Mighty and Majestic, especially in the arena of the Names and Attributes that has left the Jahmiyyah and their offspring such as the Ashā’irah and Māturīdīs dumbstruck just as Allāh has said:

وَقُلْ جَاءَ الْحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ الْبَاطِلُ ۚ إِنَّ الْبَاطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقًا

“And say: ‘The Truth has come and falsehood has been vanquished. Surely! Falsehood is ever bound to be vanquished.’” (Al-Israa 17:81)

Chapter 20: Affirmation of Hearing and Sight for Allāh, the Mighty and Majestic

Abu Ismā’īl Al-Harawī (481H) with his chain of narration to Abu Yūnus Salīm bin Jubayr who said: I heard Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) recite this Āyah:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تُؤَدُّوا الْأَمَانَاتِ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهَا وَإِذَا حَكَمْتُم بَيْنَ النَّاسِ أَن تَحْكُمُوا بِالْعَدْلِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ نِعِمَّا يَعِظُكُم بِهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ سَمِيعًا بَصِيرًا

“Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due and when you judge between people to judge with justice. Excellent is that which Allah instructs you. Indeed, Allah is ever Hearing and Seeing.” (An-Nisā: 58)

And then he placed his thumb on his ear and the index finger over his eye. He then said: “This is how I heard Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) recite it and he placed his thumb and finger over his ear and eye.”

The wording is from Ibn Khuzaymah.

Reported by Abu Dawūd in his “Sunan”, Kitāb As-Sunnah, Chapter: Concerning the Jahmiyyah, 5/96, no. 4728 through the route of ‘Ali bin Nasr and Muhammad bin Yūnus An-Nasā’ī, who both said: Abdullah bin Yazīd Al-Muqri said… (the hadīth).
Also Ibn Khuzaymah in At-Tawhīd (p. 43) through the route of Muhammad bin Yahyā who said: Abdullah bin Yazīd Al-Muqri said… (the hadīth). Al-Albāni said: “The chain of narration is sahīh.”


Abu Dāwūd (rahimahullāh) stated after narrating this hadīth: “This is a refutation of the Jahmiyyah.” (no. 4728) In this report of Abu Dāwūd, Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) recited the Āyah, “Indeed, Allah is ever All-Hearing and All-Seeing” and then said:

رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَضَعُ إِبْهَامَهُ عَلَى أُذُنِهِ وَالَّتِي تَلِيهَا عَلَى عَيْنِهِ

“I saw Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) place his thumb on his ear and his finger over his eye.”

And all praise is due to Allāh, the Lord of all creation.

Read the rest of this series by going to Categories > Books > 40 Hadith Harawee.

The Arabic Text:

2 Comments

  1. BaarakAllaahu Feek ya Shaykh,

    I was hoping you would continue translating this book as wallaahi it helped me a lot, may Allaah azza wa jal continue to bless you with the strength and ability to finish translating it.

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