Attributes of Allah
Lili966
According to a consensus of the Islamic scholars, there are 13
attributes of Allah that every Muslim is required to know (fard
^ayniyy). Allah has more than these thirteen attributes, but because
these thirteen were mentioned repeatedly in the Qur’an and Hadith,
the scholars rules that these are from the obligatory knowledge. To
know and memorize these attributes protects one’s Islam.
1.) Allah does not resemble any of His creations (al-Mukhalafatu
lil-Hawadith). Textual Proof-Surat ash-Shura, ayah 11:
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ
السَّمِيعُ البَصِيرُ which means, “Nothing
resembles Allah in any way whatsoever.” Mental Proof-Allah is greatly
clear of the attributes of the creations, because the attributes of the
creations indicate that the creatures are in need of a Creator. Had
Allah been attributed with any of these created attributes, He would
have been in need of one who created Him, and Allah is clear of that.
2.) Allah exists without a place or shape (al-Wujud). Textual
Proof-Surat Ibraheem, ayah 10: أَفِي اللّهِ شَكٌّ which
means, “The existence of Allah is indubitable.” Mental Proof-Allah
exists and is not similar to the other created things. To resemble the
creation is to be susceptible to the same weaknesses as that creation.
Allah existed before He created place, and His existence does not
change.
3.) Allah has no beginning (al-Qidam, i.e. al-Azaliyyah). Textual
Proof-Surat al-Hadid, ayah 3: هُوَ الْأَوَّلُ
وَالْآخِرُ which means, “Allah is the One whose existence
is without a beginning and without an end.” Mental Proof-The Creator
has no beginning. The creation has a beginning. The one with a
beginning must have a Creator to create it.
4.) Allah has no end (al-Baqa’). Textual Proof- Surat al-Hadid, ayah
3:
هُوَ الْأَوَّلُ وَالْآخِرُ which means,
“Allah is the One whose existence is without a beginning and without
an end.” Mental Proof-The Creator has no end. The creation has an
end. The one with an end must have a Creator to Will that end.
5.) Allah is One (al-Wahdaniyya). Textual Proof-
لَوْ كَانَ فِيهِمَا آلِهَةٌ إِلَّا
اللَّهُ لَفَسَدَتَا which means, “Had there been
other Gods for the heaven and Earth other than Allah, they (heaven and
Earth) would not have existed.” Mental Proof-Allah is one, not in
terms of numbers, but terms of Oneness in His Godhood.
6.) Allah has the attribute of Sight (al-Basar). Textual Proof- Surat
ash-Shura, ayah 11:
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ
السَّمِيعُ البَصِيرُ which means, “Nothing
resembles Allah in any way whatsoever, and Allah is attributed with
Hearing and Sight. Mental Proof-Allah sees all the seeable things,
without the need of an eye or light. Allah’s attribute of Sight is
not like the sight of the creation. Our sight depends on organs (eyes)
and light.
7.) Allah has the attribute of Hearing (as-Sam^). Textual Proof- Surat
ash-Shura, ayah 11:
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ
السَّمِيعُ البَصِيرُ which means, “Nothing
resembles Allah in any way whatsoever, and Allah is attributed with
Hearing and Sight. Mental Proof-Allah hears all of the hearable things
without the need of an ear or any other instrument. Allah’s attribute
of Hearing is not like the hearing of the creation. Our hearing depends
on an organ (ear) and sound resonation.
8.) Allah has the attribute of Speech (al-Kalam). Textual Proof-Surat
an-Nisa’, ayah 164: وَكَلَّمَ اللّهُ مُوسَى
تَكْلِيمًا which means, “Allah spoke to Musa with His
Speech (Kalam).” Mental Proof-The Speech of Allah is not like the
speech of the creations. The Speech of Allah is not a sound or a letter
or a language. It does not depend on organs (lips, teeth and tongue)
and it does not resonate in the ear. The Speech of Allah does not start
and stop. Like all of the Attributes of Allah, it has no beginning and
no end.
9.) Allah has the Attribute of Life (al-Hayah). Textual
Proof-Suratul-Baqarah, ayah 255: اللّهُ لاَ إِلَـهَ
إِلاَّ هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ which
means, “No one is God except Allah, the One who is attributed with
Life and is not in need of anything.” Mental Proof-Allah has the
attribute of Life, but His life is not like the life of the creations.
The creations are alive with flesh, blood and souls. The creations
occupy the six directions, exist in places, and need sustenance. Allah
is greatly clear from the attributes of the creations. The one who
possesses the attributes of the creations is susceptible to the same
weaknesses that the creations are susceptible to. This weakness does
not befit Allah, ta^ala.
10.) Allah has the attribute of Knowledge (al-^Ilm). Textual
Proof-Surat al-‘Anfal, ayah 75: إِنَّ اللّهَ
بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ which means, “Allah has
the perfect knowledge of everything.” Mental proof-Allah has the
attribute of knowledge, but His knowledge is not like the knowledge of
the creations. The Knowledge of Allah does not increase or decrease. If
we say that there is something that Allah does not know about yet, this
is attributing ignorance to Allah, and ignorance does not befit Allah.
Allah’s Knowledge is perfect, without a beginning or an end.
11.) Allah has the attribute of Will (al-Iradah). Textual
Proof-Suratat-Takwir, ayah 29: وَمَا تَشَاؤُونَ
إِلَّا أَن يَشَاء اللَّهُ رَبُّ
الْعَالَمِينَ
which means, “You do not will anything except by the Will of Allah,
the Lord of the Worlds.” Mental Proof-Everything that Allah Willed in
eternity for it to exist must come into existence at the time which
Allah Willed for it to exist. Nothing will exist unless Allah willed
for it to exist.
12.) Allah has the attribute of Power (al-Qudrah). Textual
Proof-Suratal-Baqarah, ayah 109: إِنَّ اللّهَ عَلَى
كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ which means, “Allah has the
perfect Power over all things.” Mental Proof-Allah has power over all
things. He is not powerless over anything. To be powerless against a
creation would mean that Allah had a weakness, and weakness does not
befit Allah.
13.) Allah does not need anything (al-Qiyamubin-Nafs). Textual
Proof-Surat al-^Imran, ayah 97: فَإِنَّ الله غَنِيٌّ
عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ which means, “Allah does not need
any of the worlds.” Mental Proof-Allah does not need anything, and
everything needs Him. Weakness and need are attributes of the
creations, and not an attribute of the creator.
And Allah knows best