English Translation of Seminal Islamic Texts

5.2 Arguments from the Prophetic Ḥadīths 11. (1). ‘Abdu al-Jabbār b. al-‘Alā’ al-‘Aṭṭār and Sa‘īd b. ‘Abd al-Raḥmān al-Makhzūmī → Sufyān → ‘Amr b. Dīnār → Jābir (b. ‘Abdullāh): When the verse, “Say: ‘He has the power to send calamities on you, from above (Q 6:65),” was revealed the Prophet said, “I seek refuge of Your Face ( wajhik ).” When the Prophet received the part of the verse which says, “or from beneath your feet”, he said, “I seek refuge of your bountiful Face ( wajhik al-karīm ).” When the Prophet recited the part of the verse which reads, “or to cover you with confusion in party strife, giving you a taste of mutual vengeance - each from the other”, he said, “these two are easier and less hard.” I (Abū Bakr) have chosen the wording of the tradition reported by Makhzūmī. The meaning of the narrations of the both (‘Abdu al-Jabbār b. al-‘Alā’ al-‘Aṭṭār and Sa‘īd b. ‘Abd al-Raḥmān al-Makhzūmī) is the same. 12. (2). Abd al-Jabbār b. al-‘Alā’, Ya‘qūb b. Ibrāhīm a...

5. On Allah’s Face 5.1 Arguments from the Holy Qur’ān This chapter proves face ( wajh ) for Allah. Allah characterized His face ( wajh ) with exaltedness and honor, as He Himself says “and the face of your Lord ( wajhu rabbika ), the possessed of exaltedness and honor, shall remain” (Q 55:27). Allah negated that His face ( wajh ) would ever cease to exist. He ordained end for all His creatures which He created to meet destruction not to live eternally. Far is our Lord above than that any aspect of His personal attributes should meet destruction. Allah, the exalted and superior, says, “and the face ( wajh ) of your Lord, the possessed of exaltedness and honor, shall remain.” (Q 55:27). He says: “Everything will perish except His face ( wajhuhū )” (Q 28:88). Addressing His Prophet, He says: “Restrain yourself along with those who cry to their Lord at morning and evening, seeking His face ( wajhahū )” (Q 18:28). He says: “To Allah belong the east and the west. Whithersover you ...

4 .      On Allah’s Knowledge [The discussion seeks to prove that Allah’s knowledge], blessed and exalted are His names, based on the book He revealed to His Chosen Prophet; the Book recited in the mosques ( miḥrābs ) and the schools ( katātīb ). [This oft-recited revelation] is the knowledge with the generality, [transmitted through generality to generality], not by specific individuals. The Mu‘aṭṭilah Jahmīs contradict this knowledge [on the question of Allah’s knowledge.] They do not have real faith in the Book of Allah. They remove the words from their context following the example of the Jews. These people do not believe in the fact that Allah possesses knowledge. They assume that, in such verses of the Book, Allah holds that He is a knower, He is an ‘Ᾱlim . They reject the view that knowledge can be attributed to Him as His personal attribute. Allah Almighty has said in His firm revelation, the Holy Qur’ān: “But Allah bears witness to what He has rev...