The
Great Islamic Scholar, the Proof of Islam [Hujjathul Islam] ,the Mujaddid of
the 5th Century of Hijra Imam
Abu Hamid Muhammad al-Ghazali (Rah) (d.505.AH.Tus.Iran)
wrote ,in his most noteworthy book on the theology of Islam , AL
IQTIṢĀD FĪ AL-I’TIQAD: [ Moderationin Belief ]
“ALLAH is existent (mawjud),eternal a
parte ante (Qadim) eternal a parte post (Baqi) ,not a substance (Jawher) ,not
acomposite body (Jism) and neither He is an accident (‘arad) nor is He
defined. He is not in direction,is seen and knowable and is one.”
“He does not accept divisibility which has
no quantity neither definition nor magnitude. He is more perfect having
no equal in any manner either in Essence or in Attributes. Thereis no plurality
in Allah’s Essence either through Attributes or otherwise.
“He has seven Perfect Attributes(Sifaat) , [Seven as per
Ash’ariyyah and Eight inMaturidiyyah] [the essential seven are “Life(Hyat),
Knowledge(Ilm), Power(Qudrat),Will(Iradat), Seeing (Basr), Hearing (sam’;),
Speech (Kalam)] [and Creating (Takwin) too in Maturudiyyah] ,which are not the
Essence but rather they are
1) Eternaland subsistent in Essence, and that it is
impossible that any aspect of theattributes is temporal.
2) Distinct (Existing separately and objectively)
3) Super added to the Essence (Dhat).
We maintain that theMaster of the world is Knowing according to
Knowledge, Living according toLife, Powerful according to Power, Willing
according to Will, Seeing accordingto Sight, Hearing according to Hearing, and
Speaking according to Speech”
(The Divine attributes are notsomething other than Allah).
”All the attributes are all eternal because if they were
originated the Eternal a parte ante would be a locus for contingent things
which is absurd .It is impossible for a Necessary Essence(Wajibu Dhat) to
possess possible Attributes. “
“When say “ALLAH” , we point to the Divine Essence(Dhat)
together with the Attributes(Sifat) and not to the Essence alone because the
term “ALLAH” could not be predicated of an Essence that is judged to be
free from Attributes.”.
“[As against ] Philosophers [ and Christians] who say that
attributes are essence, We believe that Attributes are not Essence but only
superadded to the Essence. They are rather point to Essence.”
“The Essence is independent of Attributes but the Attribute
depend on theEssence .
“All the attributes subsist in His Essence and none of
them could possibly subsist without His Essence whether(the attribute is) in a
locus or not“.
[There is no contradiction in this belief as,
Imam adds:] “Just as the
mind is capable of intellecting an Eternal existent(Allah) who has
no cause, it is also capable of intellecting an Eternal existent who has
Attributes and who has no cause for the existence of both”[essence as
independent and attributes as super added].
[ ie, The Attribute are not something other than Allah and
there in no Pleurality in His Essence either through attributes
orotherwise].
On
the Acts of Allah Most High:
“ Allah Most High is not obliged to give [any] commandment
to Men, nor to create [them], nor to reward [their compliance with] the
commandment, nor to observe what is best for his servants; that it is not
absurd that Allah should give commandments that cannot be fulfilled; that Allah
is not obliged to punish sinners; and that it is not impossible for Allah to
send forth prophets; but that [all of these things] are possible for him”.
“The ignorant who hold wrong views about the belief in Allah and
His attributes will be told (on the Day of judgment) ,”Thou was heedless of
this; therefore, We have now removed from thee thy covering, and so
thy sight Today is piercing .
“It will become evident to you, O seeker of instruction in the
fundamental dogmas of the Sunnis, who demands to know their verification
through decisive proofs, that the ability to achieve consistency between reason
and its implementation is to be found in only one sect, which is this [the
Sunni] Sect. I thank Allah Most High that He has caused you to follow in their
footsteps and affiliate with the community of their order”
“To enter into their abundance and join company with their
sect. For, perhaps in this way you will be able to be resurrected among their
ranks on the Day of Reckoning”
“We ask God most high to cleanse our souls of the stains of
error and that He will illuminate our souls with the light of truth; that He
will cause our tongues to be silent rather than to speak words of falsity, and
cause them to utter words of truth and wisdom. For, He is bounteous in the
effusion of His grace and replete with Mercy”
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