one kind consists of expressions mentioned in Allah’s Book, the Sunnah of His Messenger, and the statements of scholars whose consensus is authoritative. Their meanings must be taken into account, and judgments must be based upon them. If a designation conveys praise, the person so designated deserves praise; if it conveys blame, that person deserves blame. Whatever these statements affirm must be affirmed, and whatever they negate must be negated, for Allah’s words are true, His Messenger’s words are true, and the statements of those scholars in consensus are true.

Examples include Allah’s words:

“Say: He is Allah, the One; Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, and there is none comparable to Him.”
[al-Ikhlās: 1-4]

And His words:

“He is the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful. He is Allah, other than whom there is no deity, the Sovereign, the Most Holy, the Source of Peace, the Granter of Security.”
[al-Hashr: 22-23]

The same applies to other names and attributes of Allah.

Likewise, Allah says:

“There is nothing like Him.”
[al-Shūrā: 11]

And:

“Vision does not encompass Him, but He encompasses all vision.”
[al-An‘ām: 103]

And:

“Faces that Day will be radiant, looking at their Lord.”
[al-Qiyāmah: 22-23]

These and similar statements made by Allah Most High and His Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, are all true.

Anyone who falls under a designation condemned in the revealed law is blameworthy, such as “disbeliever,” “hypocrite,” “heretic,” and the like. Anyone who falls under a designation praised in the revealed law is praiseworthy, such as “believer,” “God-fearing,” and “truthfulness,” and the like.

[The Second Kind]

As for expressions that have no basis in the revealed law, their meanings may not serve as grounds for praise or blame, affirmation or negation, unless it is shown that they accord with the revealed law. And expressions used to challenge