Allah’s Attributes and Names

Do not say Allah created us in His own image
• Allah is not attributed with image. Allah is not similar to the creations. Creations have images.
• To believe in any resemblance between Allah and the creations contradicts Qur’an.
• Soorat ashShooraa: 11 has explicitly negated any resemblance of Allah’s creation to Allah. None can attribute to Allah any human’s attribute.
• AlMusawwir, is one of Allah’s Names and it means the One Who forms His creatures in different pictures and images.
• The Christians and Jews say that Allah created the human beings in his own image.
Do not say Allah is ever present with us and within us
• One of the main Sunni principles of Belief is that Allah exists without a place, time, direction and body.
• Mullaa ‘Aliyy alQaariy alHanfiyy (d. 1014 AH) said: The one who believes in direction (i.e., attributed to Allah) is a non-Muslim as Imam al’Iraaqiyy (d. 826 AH) declared and said it is the saying of Imam Abu Hanifah (d. 150 AH), Imam Malik (d. 197 AH), Imam ashShafi’iyy (d. 204 AH), Imam alˊAsh’ariyy (d. 324 AH) and Imam alBaaqillaniyy (d. 403 AH). (Sharhul Mishkaat).
• Imamul Maatoreediyy (d. 333 AH) said: A saying which suggests that Allah has a place falls in associating a partner to Allah. (Imamul Maatoreediyy, Sharhul Fiqhil Akbar, Haydar ˊAbaad, 1365 AH).
• Allah has the Attributes that none has. As soorat anNahl: 60 has stated.
Do not say a pious believer’s heart becomes the abode of Allah
• Imam ‘Aliyy also emphasized clearing Allah of quantities, places and sitting. He said: The one who claims that our God is attributed with a quantity is ignorant about the Creator, the One rightfully worshipped.
• Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (164-241 AH) said: Allah, the Exalted, is not an Elementary Particle, body’s quality, or body. Creations do not dwell in Him, He does not dwell in a creation, nor is He contained in a creation. He existed and no place existed and then created the place. He is as He was before He created the place.
Do not say Allah is out there
• Imam Ahmad arRifaa’iyy said: The ultimate knowledge about Allah [to which the God-obeying individuals have reached] is to believe with certitude that Allah exists without having tangibility, creation-like attribute, or place. (Documented in AlBurhaan AlMu’ayyad).
Do not call Allah a Force or Supreme Power that has created the Universe
• Allah has Power. He is not Force or Power. Qur’an did not say Allah is Power, but Allah has Power, as soorat adhDhaariyaat: 58 has stated.
• Allah is attributed with Attributes. He is not an attribute, like power. The attribute follows that which it has attributed and Allah is not an attribute to anyone. This is impossible.
• Also, Allah is attributed with Power, Knowledge, Will, Life and other Attributes. All these Attributes are perfect Attributes and are not similar to the attributes of the creations. Had Allah been an attribute like force or power, then Allah would not be attributed with other Attributes. This is also impossible.
Do not call Allah a source
• AlKhaaliq is a name of Allah which means the Creator.
• The Creator brings the creation from inexistence into being. The Creator is not a source. The sun or the moon may be called sources. Source is not one of Allah’s perfect Names.