An Overview of the Characteristics of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah (Part 7)
Some Characteristics of the Beliefs of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah:
The beliefs of Ahl al-Sunnah wa-al Jama’ah are derived from the Qur’an and the hadiths of the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him. These beliefs reflect those of the Sahaba, Tabi’een, and predecessors of the Islamic Ummah. Below, we briefly outline some of the key characteristics of Ahl al-Sunnah wa-al Jama’ah:
The Essence of Allah Almighty
Allah is the Creator of the worlds, without beginning or end, independent and necessary, and free from any deficiency. He is adorned with ultimate perfection and is far removed from any defect. He is alive, hears, sees, is unique, unparalleled, and has no partner in His essence, attributes, or actions.
Allah is free from any partner or peer in existence, worship, creation, or the planning of existence. No one deserves to be worshiped except Him. He is the only one who can heal the sick and provide sustenance for His creatures. Allah is devoid of any form of dissolution or union with His creatures, and He is free from being created in essence and attributes. He is neither substance nor width nor body, and He does not occupy a limited space; rather, He is based on the Arsh (throne).
Attributes of Allah Almighty
Allah is pure and beautiful, the Creator of the universe. According to the requirements of His lordship and divinity, He possesses good names and excellent attributes. Allah is singular and has no partner in having these attributes because He is the only Lord, and there is no deity except His pure essence.
Allah’s (S.W.T) attributes can be mainly divided into two categories: 1. Attributes of the Essence: These are attributes of proof or meaning, and they are those that Allah attributes to Himself while not attributing their opposites. Examples include power, knowledge, and will, with their opposites being helplessness, ignorance, and coercion.
2. Attributes of Action: These attributes can be attributed to both Allah and their opposites, such as “Ighna” (to make rich) and “Afqar” (to make poor), as well as “Ahya” (to give life) and “Amaat” (to cause death).
Some scholars argue that engaging in complex verbal discussions regarding Allah’s attributes leads to confusion and can damage the beliefs of Muslims rather than provide benefit. For this reason, the contemporary Egyptian scholar, Allamah Sayyed Sabe, states: “I assert, based on the opinions of scholars and religious leaders, that such discussions in Islam are temporary, unexpected ideological heresies and abominations that Muslims should protect their beliefs and thoughts from, for Allah’s essence is higher and superior and cannot encompass such matters.”
This form of thinking is forbidden for us, and Allah has not obligated us to pursue it; it lies outside the limits of our finite intellect, and the essence of our Lord is beyond perception and thought, as articulated in the verse: «لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ» (Translation: “There is nothing like Him, and He is the Hearing and the Seeing.”)
A hadith states: “Think about the creations of Allah Almighty, but do not reflect on Allah’s essence, for you do not possess the ability to comprehend it.”
What we are required to know is that Allah exists and possesses good names, great attributes, and absolute perfection, and that is sufficient.
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