“Section
The Creator has described Himself in the Quran as having two hands, in His saying, Most High:
‘What I created with My two hands’ [Sād: 75].
And He, Most High, said:
‘The Jews say, “Allah’s hand is shackled.” Shackled are their hands, and cursed are they for what they say. Rather, both His hands are outstretched; He spends however He wills’ [al-Mā’idah: 64].
He said: ‘This verse entails affirming two intrinsic attributes called hands.’
He said:
‘The Muʿtazilah and a group of the Ashʿarīs held that the two hands mean two blessings, while another group among them held that the two hands here mean power.’
He said:
‘The evidence that they are two intrinsic attributes, distinct from blessing and power, is as follows: the Quran was revealed in the language of the Arabs. In their language, understanding, and customary usage, the word “hand,” when used without qualification, affirms an intrinsic attribute of the one described, with characteristics peculiar to its intended meaning. This is its literal meaning, just as their usage recognizes the attribute of power and the attribute of knowledge, and likewise all the other attributes, such as the face, hearing, sight, life, and so forth. This is the primary meaning of this attribute. They do not depart from this literal meaning to any figurative meaning without a contextual indication pointing to it. When it is used without qualification, however, they do not do so.
‘Thus they say, “So-and-so has a hand with me,” meaning the kindness received through the hand. This meaning is understood only because “hand” is coupled with the expression “with me.” He says this even though there lies between them