The Mu'tazilee Doubt: Allaah is Seperated From His Attributes

Follow @AhleDhikr One of the arguments that the People of Innovation present for not affirming that Allaah Speaks is that they make a differentiation between Allaah’s Essence and His Attributes.

They claim that His Essence is separate to His Attributes. This means that His Attributes are separate entities which are created. If they were separate and not created then this would lead to a presence of multiple deities. Likewise, by affirming more than one attribute for Allaah, it would necessitate in believing in multiple gods.

Thus they take the way of making Ta’weel, which is to seek an alternative interpretation to all the evidences that suggests that Allaah Speaks or the Quraan is the Word of Allaah.

The response of Ahl as-Sunnah:

Making Incorrect Ta’weel Linguistically;

For example, the words Kalaam Allaah (the speech of Allaah) appear more than once in the Quraan. The proof for Ahl as-Sunnah from the Quraan to affirm Speech for Allaah has preceded.

However, their claim to make Ta’weel can also be refuted linguistically. In the Arabic language a genitive clause or possessives are of two types:

1)      An adjective or attribute attributed to Allaah, such as Speech of Allaah, Mercy of Allaah etc.

2)    A noun attributed to Allaah, such as house of Allaah, she-camel of Allaah etc.

To know which one of these is being referred to, the context gives us the understanding.

An example for the grammar rule above. 

Allaah Says:

“purify My House” [al-Baqarah 2:125]

The word "house" is a separate part of Allaah’s creation. This is because a noun is being attributed to Allaah.

However, where Allaah Says:

“Then Adam received from his Lord Words” [al-Baqarah 2:37]

This shows an Attribute or an action which is attributed to Allaah, thus not being separate from Him.

Therefore, attributing a verb or an adjective to Allaah affirms it being as an Attribute for Him, in a manner that suits His Majesty.

However, attributing a noun to Him (a house, slaves etc.) then this is used for Honour and Sacredness.

To conclude, the Aayaat previously posted are sufficient as a proof against this notion however there is also a linguistically angle of their incorrect beliefs. 

Next post will be on the concept that ‘we must use our intellects to understand the texts.‘