What is the reason for those people's fear? They willingly accept what is precise thereof, and react ruinously when it comes to what is broadly indicative

Arabic text

عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما أنه رأى رجلا انْتَفَضَ لما سمع حديثا عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم في الصفات -استنكارا لذلك– فقال: "ما فَرَقُ هؤلاء؟ يجدون رِقَّةً عند مُحْكَمِهِ، ويَهْلِكُونَ عند مُتَشَابِهِهِ" .

Translation

Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he saw a man who shivered on hearing a Hadīth of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) about Allah's attributes. So, he said: "What is the reason for those people's fear? They willingly accept what is precise thereof, and react ruinously when it comes to what is broadly indicative.”

Explanation

Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) expresses his disapproval concerning the attitude of some people who used to attend his session from amongst the laymen, and who would display fear on hearing Hadīths about Allah's attributes. They would shiver out of their denial of that. They did not duly believe in what was authentically reported from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and whose meaning was known from the Qur'an, although it is the truth about which no believer doubts. Others, however, would interpret them in a way different from that intended by Allah, thereby exposing themselves to ruin.

Topics

• The Creed
• Jurisprudence and Juristic Principles
• Belief in Allah the Mighty and Majestic
• Oneness of Allah's Names and Attributes
• Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence
• The Book (the Qur'an)