Al-Jawāb as-Sahīh li-man baddala dīn al-Masīh - Ibn Taimiya - (1/429)

Al-Jawāb as-Sahīh li-man baddala dīn al-MasīhIbn Taimiya

He, exalted be He, also said:

“He created the horses, mules, and donkeys for you to ride and as adornment; and He creates what you do not know.” ⦗al-Nahl 16:8⦘

It is well known that these beasts provide benefits beyond riding alone.

He, exalted be He, further said:

“He casts the Spirit, by His command, upon whom He wills of His servants, that he may warn of the Day of Meeting—the Day when they will come forth exposed.” ⦗Ghafir 40:15⦘

Here Allah informs us that He sends the angels with revelation to the prophets so that they may warn about the Day of Resurrection; this does not prevent their descent with glad tidings for the believers and with commands and prohibitions that constitute the laws.

He, exalted be He, said:

“Allah is the One who created seven heavens, and of the earth the like of them. His command descends between them so that you may know that Allah has power over all things and that Allah has encompassed everything in knowledge.” ⦗al-Ṭalāq 65:12⦘

Thus the Exalted One has declared that He created the upper and lower realms so that His servants might recognize His omnipotence and omniscience, yet His creation also serves other wise purposes besides the servants’ knowing His power and knowledge.

In the same vein, He, exalted be He, said:

“Allah has made the Kaʿba—the Sacred House—a standing for humankind, as well as the sacred month, the sacrificial animals, and the garlands, so that you may know that Allah knows whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth, and that Allah is, of all things, All-Knowing.” ⦗al-Māʾidah 5:97⦘

And it is clear that in making the Kaʿba, the offerings, and the garlands a means of stability for people, there are other wisdoms and benefits in addition to the one expressly mentioned.

قَالَ تَعَالَى: {وَالْخَيْلَ وَالْبِغَالَ وَالْحَمِيرَ لِتَرْكَبُوهَا وَزِينَةً وَيَخْلُقُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ} [النحل: ٨] . وَمَعْلُومٌ أَنَّ فِي هَذِهِ الدَّوَابِّ مَنَافِعَ غَيْرَ الرُّكُوبِ، وَقَالَ تَعَالَى: {يُلْقِي الرُّوحَ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ عَلَى مَنْ يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ لِيُنْذِرَ يَوْمَ التَّلَاقِ يَوْمَ هُمْ بَارِزُونَ} [غافر: ١٥] . فَقَدْ أَخْبَرَ أَنَّهُ يُنَزِّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةَ بِالْوَحْيِ عَلَى الْأَنْبِيَاءِ ; لِيُنْذِرُوا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَذَلِكَ لَا يَمْنَعُ أَنْ يَكُونُوا نَزَلُوا بِالْبِشَارَةِ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْأَمْرِ وَالنَّهْيِ بِالشَّرَائِعِ. وَقَالَ تَعَالَى: {اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ وَمِنَ الْأَرْضِ مِثْلَهُنَّ يَتَنَزَّلُ الْأَمْرُ بَيْنَهُنَّ لِتَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَحَاطَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عِلْمًا} [الطلاق: ١٢] . فَأَخْبَرَ تَعَالَى أَنَّهُ خَلَقَ الْعَالَمَ الْعُلْوِيَّ وَالسُّفْلِيَّ ; لِيَعْلَمَ الْعِبَادُ قُدْرَتَهُ وَعِلْمَهُ، وَمَعَ هَذَا فَفِي خَلْقِ ذَلِكَ لَهُ مِنَ الْحِكْمَةِ أُمُورٌ أُخْرَى غَيْرَ عِلْمِ الْعِبَادِ، وَمِثْلُ ذَلِكَ قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَى: {جَعَلَ اللَّهُ الْكَعْبَةَ الْبَيْتَ الْحَرَامَ قِيَامًا لِلنَّاسِ وَالشَّهْرَ الْحَرَامَ وَالْهَدْيَ وَالْقَلَائِدَ ذَلِكَ لِتَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ} [المائدة: ٩٧] . وَمَعْلُومٌ أَنَّ فِي جَعْلِ الْكَعْبَةِ قِيَامًا لِلنَّاسِ وَالْهَدْيَ وَالْقَلَائِدَ حِكَمًا وَمَنَافِعَ أُخْرَى.