Section

Al-Rāzī said:

“As for the ‘Hanbalīs,’ who have committed themselves to affirming components and parts.”

The response is: If you mean that they describe Him using the terms “components” and “parts,” applying these to Him without denying the false meaning, and say that He can be divided into components or parts, with one part separating from another, then no Hanbalī is known to say this. They explicitly affirm [their rejection of this].

If you mean applying the word “part” to His attributes in general—this is not widely reported of them, especially since the Hanbalīs adhere more closely to the wording of the Quran and hadith than the Karrāmiyyah and the Ashʿariyyah (with the Hanbalīs affirming the term “body”)—then this has been transmitted from the Companions and the Successors. The Hanbalīs and others disagree over applying this term, as we shall mention, Allah willing.

There is nothing peculiar to the Hanbalīs in this regard. They hold no position, whether in negation or affirmation, without that position—and something even more far-reaching—being found among the various sects and others. For, owing to their great concern for the Sunnah and hadith, and their following those most knowledgeable about the Sunnah, they are further removed from views