at-Tafwīdh/Neutrality vs. at-Ta’wīl/Interpretation concerning the Sifāt/Qualities-Of-Allah

Author’s-Note:

This-Article is an Unofficial-Sharh/Commentary of a Previous-Article I’ve written about the Fitrah/Nature-Of-Allah.

al-Athariyyah vs. al-Ash`ariyyah

There have been, classically & contemporaneously, (various Persons, Groups, Schools, etc.)-Those whom have taken a Theological-Position that the Features which Allah describes Himself with are only “Allegorical”, and not Literal/Real…these’re predominantly the Theological-Adherents of al-Ash`ariyyah/Ash`arism. This is based solely upon Interpretations of Linguistic-Nuances of the Arabic-Language, as opposed to what Allah has actually mentioned about Himself, what Muhammad (Peace be upon him) has mentioned about Him, what his Companions (May Allah be pleased with them altogether), and what the general Consensus of Muslim-Scholars of as-Salaf (the 3-Generations of Muslims relative to the Revelation of The Qur’ān) have commented on, concerning the Features of Allah. In fact, classically, the Vast-Majority of the Salaf (as-Sahābah/the Companions & Generations-1&2 of at-Tābi`īn/the Followers) have always taken a Religio-Posture known as at-Tafwīdh/Neutrality, regarding the Features of Allah: they are what they are, as mentioned, in both The Qur’ān & Sunnah/Prophetic-Tradition, without attempting to explain them, nor denying the Reality that these Divine-Features actually exists…these’re predominantly those whom openly claim to be Theological-Adherents of al-Athariyyah/Atharism. However, in All-Truthfulness/Honesty: the Concept al-Athariyyah isn’t even an `Aqīdah/(Religio-Theological School)…it’s simply the Theological-Default for Average/Regular-Muslim. Every Nabī/Prophetic-Individual (Peace be upon them altogether) were Theological-Atharīs & at leadt 90% of as-Sahābah/the Companions (May Allah be please with them altogether) were Theological-Atharīs.

The Reality of the Fitrah/Nature of Allah

The Theological-Song that never ends

The Subject at-Tafwīdh vs. at-Ta’wīl…a very hotly contested Religio-Theological Issue amongst Fellow-Muslims: namely amongst those whom sectarianly label themselves as “Atharīs”, “Ash`arīs”, “Māturīdīs”, “Mu`tazilīs”, “Shī`īs”, “Salafīs”, Sūfīs”, “Deobandīs”, “Barelwīs”, etc. Albeit the Average-Muslim views Fellow-Muslims whom participate in these ridiculous `Aqīdah/Creed-Wars as Derelicts. Fellow-Muslims external of the Religio-Sectarian Scene rarely, if ever, even care about “`Aqīdah-Wars” (which consumes the Daily-Lives of Countless-Muslims whom’re Hizbī/Religio-Sectarian).

As per Team-Ash`arī pontificating/claiming that Non-Ash`arīs believe Allah exists in a “Place“

To Muslim-Ash`arīs whom pontificate/claim that Muslim Non-Ah`rīs believe Allah
exists via: “Space”, “Place”, “Direction”, etc…
…no Muslim believes that Allah is: “contained”, “confined”, restricted”, “limited” to: “Space”, Place, “Direction”, etc. Allah is literally above any/all Space, Place, Direction, etc. by default.

Literally, some of the
Asmā’/Names-Of-Allah are:

Al-`Alī/The Ultimately-Above

Al-Muta`āl/The Most-Elevated

Al-A`lā/The Most-High

However, Certain-Persons have deemed it necessary to do 1 of 2-Things:

a. Negate the Reality that Allah has described Himself with these Divine-Features, giving such Features a “Figurative-Definition/Allegorical-Interpretation”.

b. Attempt to give the Divine-Features of Allah a “Form/Structure”.

Both are equally theologically problematic as well as theologically dangerous.

This Particular-Debate (over the Extent of the Reality or lack-thereof concerning the Features of Allah), has been a (recurring, theological/scholarly) Debate for the Past-Millennium, A.H./C.E. amongst Muslims. But, that’s not my Concern, to get caught-up with the Ikhtilāf/Differing of Madhāhib (Religio-Scholastic Opinions) regarding Islāmic-Theology. My Point here is very simple: there’s so many things about Allah’s-Nature, which we, as Created-Things, will probably/defnitely never know…that’s OK to not know everything-Only Allah Themselves are Al-`Alīm/The All-Knowing.

The Dangers&Idiocy of Hizbī/Sectarian-Conflicts

But, it honestly doesn’t even matter, for the Following-Reasons:

a. If it were really that important for us, as Created-Things, to know in detail regarding the Sifāt/Features of Allah: they would’ve most definitely extended the Definition of what Their Features are/are not via The Qur’ān and/or the Sunnah.

b. Debating over whether Allah has Literal/Real-Sifāt vs. Metaphorical/Allegorical-Sifāt won’t get anyone any further via their Individual Islāmic-Development/Evolution. I view this as a Waste-Of-Time, for People to go Back&Forth: debating, arguing, attacking one another, etc. verbally and/or even physically over these Theological-Issues.

c. There must/should be 0-Doubt, to any Muslim, that when Allah mentions something in The Qur’ān, or within the Sunnah, that He is not at all attempting to be “deceptive”.

I mean, really…do you really think/feel that Allah (Creator/Lord of the Universe) would just mention that He possesses Features, for Himself, just to throw us off & confuse us, to have us at one another’s Throats (figuratively & literally)?!!! What type of God do you think/feel you’re worshipping?!!! Allah never plays Practical-Jokes upon His Creation, nor does He deceive people, nor does He insult anyone’s Intelligence. However, because we may possess some Deficiencies of our own, due to our Egos/Desires…Lack of Intellectual-Vision…and/or just Plain-Ignorance of the Knowledge of Revelatory-Texts…etc.: we’ve a Tendency/Propensity to overcompensate for the Fact that we don’t comprehend something about Allah, by attempting to define/interpret it ourselves. This undoubtedly in turn leads Persons astray.

What drove me to even write this to revist the Subject-Matter:

A Muslim-Colleague of mine, Tālib Nathaniel (an Ash`arī-Academic in their own Right) whom I personally respect immensely, as per their objective/extensive Islāmic-Academia: Tālib Nathaniel & myself very often respectfully (the Sincere-Respectfully not the Sarcastic-Respectfully) clash, debate, discuss, dialogue, etc. regarding the Theological-Grounds for any Muslim being Pro/Anti-Tafwīdh or Pro/Anti-Ta’wīl. So, I decided to just blatantly open the Full-Throttle Debate regarding Tafwīdh vs. Ta’wīl, figuring that Tālib Nathaniel would take an Interest in this Type/Kind of Endeavor. (As Allah would have it) Tālib Nathaniel proved me Right. They proved to be All-In with this.

My Heart breaks because of the Idiocy of the Muslim Afro-American

Prior to authoring this, I messaged Tālib the Original-Skeleton of This-Article. And, I know what they must’ve been thinking when they saw what I messaged them: “This-Nigga Gareth Bryant done lost they Damn-Mind!!!” LOL Nevertheless, I stand firm upon what I’ve authored & I’m more than sure that Tālib Nathaniel will most definitely author their own Rebuttal/Clapback-Article, as a Result of what I’ve written. I started-out the Article simply as a very lengthy Monologue, if you will, directed towards Tālib Nathaniel (exclusively to get their Feedback about what I originally messaged them).

So, this is how I conveyed my Monologue-Message to Tālib Nathaniel:

I got something for you to discuss with me. It’s the Easiest-Way to debunk Ash`arī-Kalām/Rhetoric against Non-Ash`arīs…the Concept of al-Masjid/the Mosque. The Alternate-Title of/for the Masjid is “Baytullah” (the House-Of-Allah). Here’s where we investigate the Tafsīr/Context of “Bayt”…is Allah stating that They divinely dwell in a: Space, Location, Place, Direction, Address, Village, Township/Town, Metropolis/City, Provence, State, Country, etc.?!!! Number-1: No Muslim would dare pontificate/claim that Allah “lives” within anything, “lives” at any Place, etc. Number-2: No Muslim would dare pontificate/claim that Allah is subject/subjected to having to seek-out Properties, Real-Estate…subject/subjected to Mortgages, Renting, Eviction, Foreclosure, etc.

So, when Allah states (via The Qur’ān): “And All-Masājid/Mosques are for/belong to Allah.” (Noble-Qur’ān: Chpt.72, V.18)…where do we go with This Revelatory-Statement?!!! Hold-On to your Kūfīs-According to Ash`arism: the Sifāh/Divine-Description of Allah descending to Samā’-id-Dunyā (the Sky/Heaven of the Mundane), during the Last-3rd of Nitetime…the Classic/Typical Ash`arī-Argument against at-Tafwīdh is that: “Nitetime occurs at Different-Times across the Earth. So, are People trying to claim that Allah is going ‘Up&Down’ anywhere/everywhere there’s different Nitetimes?!!!”. Obviously, this is a Deflective/Gaslighter-Posture, exclusively geared towards trying to make Non-Ash`arīs seem Islāmically-Ignorant, Unintelligent, etc. It’s literally meant as a Tool-Of-Humiliation.

The Evil&Destructive-Nature of Takfīr-Culture

Ironically though, via the Same-Line of Logic: the Revelatory-Statement, “And All-Masājid are for/belong to Allah.”…anyone can easily do the Same-Thing: “So, does this mean that Allah is a ‘Rolling-Stone’: wherever They lay Their Divinity is Their Home?!!!”. No Muslim would dare claim this, because it’s theologically insulting to the Integrity of at-Tawhīd/Islāmic-Monotheism. There’s 0-Doubt that mocking the Concept of at-Tafwīdh literally (by default/definition) is Mockery of anything/everything which Allah revealed to Muhammad via at-Tanzīl.

Hypocritical-Hizbīs

What/where’s my Evidence People’ll ask & that’s good to ask…the following are my Proofs:

1. Allah has a Nafs/Persona

This is solely based upon the Fact that Allah does say about Himself, in The Qur’an, as well as what Muhammad (Peace be upon him), said about Allah, as having an Actual-Nafs/Persona. Of course, obviously not to be compared, or confused, with the Similitude of the Nafs/Persona of any Creature/Being.
(Noble Qur’an: Chpt.5, V.116; at-Tabarī; as-Suyūtī)

2. Allah has a Face/Eyes

This is solely based upon the fact that Allah does in fact describe Themselves, within The Qur’ān, as well as Muhammad (Peace be upon him) via the Sunnah describing Him as having an Actual/Real-Face/Eyes. This isn’t at all to be compared or confused with the Similitude of the Face/Eyes of any Created-Thing.
(Noble-Qur’ān: Chpt.52, V.48; 55, V.26 & 27; at-Tabarī; as-Suyūtī)

3. Allah has a Voice/Speech

This is solely based upon the Fact that Allah is described in The Qur’ān, as well in the Sunnah, as having an Actual/Real-Voice/Speech, not to be compared or confused with the Similitude of the Voice/Speech of any Created-Thing.
(Noble-Qur’ān: Chpt.4, V.164; at-Tabarī; as-Suyūtī)

4. Allah has Hands/Fingers

This is solely based upon the Fact that Allah does in fact details about Themselves, in The Qur’ān, as well as in the Sunnah, as having Actual-Hands/Fingers (2 Right-Hands in fact to be exact) not to be compared or confused with the Similitude of the Hands/Fingers of any Created-Thing.
(Noble-Qur’ān: Chpt.38, V.75; at-Tabarī; as-Suyūtī; al-Bukhārī; Muslim)

5. Allah has Shins

This is solely based upon the Fact that Allah does in fact describe Himself, in The Qur’an & the Sunnah, as having Actual-Shins, not to be compared or confused with the Similitude of the Shins of any Created-Thing.
(Noble-Qur’ān: Chpt.68, V.42; at-Tabarī; as-Suyūtī)

6. Allah has Feet

This is solely based upon the Fact that Allah does in fact describe Himself as having Actual-Feet, not to be compared, or confused with the Similitude of the Feet of any Created-Thing.
(al-Bukhārī&Muslim)

The Pushback against the Aforementioned-Points

Of course, there’s going to be Persons whom’ll challenge what I’ve stated. Yet, I’ll pose the Following-Questions:

1. Is the Face of a Mountain the same as the Face of a Building?!!!

2. Is the Eye of a Storm the same as the Eye of a Needle?!!!

3. Are the Hands of a Clock/Watch the same as the Hands of a Human?!!!

Anyone/everyone of Basic-Intelligence will respind: “Of course, they’re not the same.”. So, since that’s the Case: it literally defies Human-Intelligence to assume that any Muslim attempts to ewuate the Sifāt/Features-Of-Allah to the Sifāt of Makhlūq/Akwān (Created-Things/Beings). For any Muslim to dare accuse any Fellow-Muslim of attempting to equate Allah to Creation/Creation to Allah (at-Tashbīh [Anthropomorphism]/at-Tamthīl [Theophany]) is quite honestly a Dummy.

at-Tark/Deflection as per the Validity of at-Tafwīdh:

The Mockery/Rejection of at-Tafwīdh by default/definition is in turn the Mockery/Rejection of at-Tanzīl/Revelation itself. Surely, the Concept of at-Tafwīdh didn’t just incept/invent itself. And, none of the Muslims just freestyled it themselves. at-Tafwīdh was explicitly taught by Allah to Muhammad (Peace be upon them) via The Qur’ān & the Sunnah/Prophetic-Tradition.

The Haqqover/Super-Hizbī: Debunking the Pseudo-Justifications for Takfīr-Culture

Ironically, Ash`arī-Rhetoric opposing at-Tafwīdh proves that they don’t even believe in The Qur’ān & the Sunnah as they pontificate/claim:

Number-1…Allah affirms/confirms that everything Muhammad (Peace be upon them) stated, did, etc. regarding al-Islām was at-Tanzīl/Revelation.
(Noble-Qur’ān: Chpt.53, V.1-5)

Number-2…Muhammad stated: “Beware, verily, I was granted The Qur’ān & something just like it as Revelation. And there’ll be Persons from my Nation whom’ll recline on Couches claiming “The Qur’ān alone is enough for me.”. Beware of them.”.
(Abū-Dāwud)

Number-3…Allah affirms/confirms that whomever mocks Muhammad and/or whatever they were sent with as per at-Tanzīl are Cursed-Persons.
(Noble-Qur’ān: Chpt.108)

This-Article, for the Record, will definitely be the Last-Article I ever author about anything related to al`Aqīdah/Islāmic-Theology…I’ve written enough about the Subject & especially concerning at-Tafwīdh vs. at-Ta’wīl. Personally, I don’t even have to write about the Subject any longer: I’ve written as extensively as I could & have attempted to have my Articles contain as many Facts, Contexts, Clarity/Clarification, etc. as humanly possible. Now, don’t get me wrong: with Allah’s-Help I’ll still be writing…just no longer about these Goofy-Ass `Aqīdah-Wars.

Gareth Bryant