Qawāʿid al-Asmāʾ al-Ḥusnā - Ibn al-Qayyim - (49)

they were revealed with, whether in wording or in meaning. Rather, they affirm for Him the names and attributes while denying for Him any likeness to created things, so their affirmation is free of anthropomorphism and their exaltation free of negation—unlike one who makes such comparisons that it is as though he worships an idol, or one who negates until it is as though he worships nothing but sheer non-existence.1

The people of the Sunnah occupy the middle course among the sects just as the people of Islam occupy the middle course among the religions. The lamps of their knowledge are lit
“from a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west; its oil would almost shine even if no fire touched it—Light upon light. Allah guides to His light whom He wills.” 2 3

So we ask Allah, exalted is He, to guide us to His light, to smooth for us the path that leads to His good pleasure and to the following of His Messenger. Indeed, He is near and responsive.

(1) Al-Lalikaʾi reports in Sharh al-Iʿtiqad (3/532) from Nuʿaym ibn Hammad: “Whoever likens Allah to any of His creatures has fallen into disbelief, and whoever rejects what Allah has affirmed for Himself has likewise disbelieved; yet nothing that Allah or His Messenger has affirmed for Him involves tashbih (anthropomorphism).” Ibn al-Qayyim – may Allah have mercy on him – says in his Nuniyya: Whoever likens the Almighty Allah to His creation Is the counterpart of a polytheistic Nestorian; And whoever strips al-Rahman of His attributes Is a thankless unbeliever, devoid of faith. See also Ibn Taymiyya, Majmuʿ al-Fatawa, 5/169. (2) Quran, Surah al-Nur, verse 35. (3) The phrase “its oil almost gives light …” to the end of the verse is missing in MS (S).

أنزلت عليه لفظًا ولا معنى، بل أثبتوا له الأسماء والصفات ونفوا عنه مشابهة المخلوقات فكان إثباتهم بريًا من التشبيه، وتنزيهم خليًا من التعطيل، لا كمن شبه حتى كأنَّه يعبد صنمًا أو عطل حتى كأنَّه لا يعبد إلا عدمًا١. وأهل السنة وسط في النحل كما أن أهل الإسلام وسط في الملل، توقد مصابيح معارفهم ﴿مِنْ شَجَرَةٍ مُبَارَكَةٍ زَيْتُونَةٍ لا شَرْقِيَّةٍ وَلا غَرْبِيَّةٍ يَكَادُ زَيْتُهَا يُضِيءُ وَلَوْ لَمْ تَمْسَسْهُ نَارٌ نُورٌ عَلَى نُورٍ يَهْدِي اللَّهُ لِنُورِهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ﴾ ٢ ٣. فنسأل الله تعالى أن يهدينا لنوره، ويسهل لنا السبيل إلى الوصول إلى مرضاته، ومتابعة رسوله إنه قريبٌ مجيبٌ.

١ روى اللالكائي في شرح الاعتقاد (٣/٥٣٢) عن نعيم بن حماد أنه قال: "من شبه الله بشيء من خلقه فقد كفر، ومن أنكر ما وصف الله به نفسه فقد كفر، وليس فيما وصف الله به نفسه ولا رسوله تشبيه". وقال ابن القيم ﵀ في نونيته: من شبه الله العظيم بخلقه ... فهو النسيب لمشركٍ نصراني أو عطل الرحمن من أوصافه ... فهو الكفور وليس ذا إيمان وانظر مجموع الفتاوى لابن تيمية (٥/ ١٦٩) . ٢ سورة النور، الآية: ٣٥. ٣ من قوله ﴿َكَادُ زَيْتُهَا يُضِيءُ ... ﴾ إلى تمام الآية ساقط من (ص) .