Chapter 4: The Finger of Allah: “The Obligation upon the whole creation to accept the Attributes of Allah, the Most High”: Abu Isma’īl Al-Harawī (d. 481H)

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BISMILLAH

The following is a chapter from Shaikhul-Islaam Abu Ismaa`eel Al-Harawee’s (rahimahullaah, 396 – 481H): “The Book Of Forty Narrations In The Evidences Of Tawheed”Screenshot 2015-12-08 10.27.51 This compilation is an amazing series of narrations in the establishment of the Tawheed of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, especially in the arena of the Names and Attributes that has left the Jahmiyyah and their offspring such as the Ashaa`irah and Maatureedees dumbstruck just as Allaah 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 wiped out.’” (Al-Israa 17:81)

Chapter (4): The Obligation upon the whole creation to accept the Attributes of Allaah, the Most High

Abu Ismaa`eel Al-Harawee (481H) with his chain of narration to `Ubaidah from ‘Abdullaah (radiyallaahu `anhu) who said:

“A man from the People of the Book came to Allaah’s Messenger (salallaahu `alaihi wassallam) and said:

“Oh Muhammad, indeed Allaah, the Most High, will place the heavens on a finger, the earths on a finger, the mountains on a finger, the land upon a finger – and then He will say: ‘I am the King.’

Allaah’s Messenger (salallaahu `alaihi wassallam) smiled until his pre-molars were visible. Then he recited:

وَمَا قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ

“They did not estimate Allah with an estimation due to Him.”

Fudail and Sufyaan added: “He smiled in amazement and in affirmation of what he said.”

(Reported Al-Bukhaaree, 7414, 7451, 7513. Muslim, 4/2147. At-Tirmidhee, 3291 – see attached scan for the Arabic text and complete referencing by Shaikh `Alee Naasir Al-Faqeehee, hafidhahullaah)

Notes:

The Attributes of Allaah are affirmed upon their apparent meanings: 1. Without negating or rejecting any of the Attributes. 2. Without interpreting/distorting the Attributes to mean other than what is apparent (through the use of metaphors and analogies). 3. Without asking “how” the Attributes are. 4. Without likening any of the Attributes of Allaah to the creation. This hadeeth affirms for Allaah the Attribute of “Finger” without interpreting that to mean anything else and without resemblance to the creation. In a variant narration of Bukhaaree there occurs with his chain of narration (no: 7451):

باب قَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُمْسِكُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ أَنْ تَزُولاَ

حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ جَاءَ حَبْرٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَضَعُ السَّمَاءَ عَلَى إِصْبَعٍ، وَالأَرْضَ عَلَى إِصْبَعٍ، وَالْجِبَالَ عَلَى إِصْبَعٍ، وَالشَّجَرَ وَالأَنْهَارَ عَلَى إِصْبَعٍ، وَسَائِرَ الْخَلْقِ عَلَى إِصْبَعٍ، ثُمَّ يَقُولُ بِيَدِهِ أَنَا الْمَلِكُ فَضَحِكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَقَالَ ‏”‏ ‏وَمَا قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ‏”‏

Chapter: “Verily, Allah grasps the heavens and the earth lest they move away from their places…”

A Jewish Rabbi came to Allaah’s Messenger (ﷺ) and said, “O Muhammad! Allah will put the Heavens on one finger and the earth on one finger, and the trees and the rivers on one finger, and the rest of the creation on one finger, and then will say, pointing out with His Hand, ‘I am the King.’ Upon that Allaah’s Merssenger smiled and said, “No just estimate have they made of Allah such as due to Him.” (Quran 39:67)

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