Salafi Publications and Allah's transcendence

As-Salamu Alaykum

I was known for being staunch against the Salafi Movement, i was told that Salafis believe that Allah sits on his chair and things of this nature.

However after reading a few Salafi publications i found this to be a strawman arguement raised against the Salafi Organisation.

the following quotations are what i came across whilst reading such books as Kitaab ut Tawheed and Authentic Creed, in which i was taught NOT to touch these books.

I am just a researcher, reporting my findings and in all fairness, considering that i was against the very writers of these books and I may have falsly accused them without having the knowledge.

I therefore take back any statements i may have said and present the following:


in a footnote of chapter two of Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhabs Kitaabu Tawheed Allah’s transcendence was discussed wherein the translator says

‘it should not be misunderstood that Allah is contained within the heavens or the earth since he has described himself in the Quran as transcendent, Most High, above all, i.e. in 2:255, 20:5,25:59 and many places elsewhere in His book. Indeed the statement is another proof that Allah cannot be considered within the creation. (Detailed explanation can be seen in ‘fathul majeed Sharh Kitabut Tawheed)

(Kitaab ut Tawheed Chapter two, Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhab, found in ‘The Concise Collection On Creed & Tawheed’ pg 38 Dar us Salam Publications)

I also had the opportunity to sit and read ‘The Authentic Creed’ by Abdul Aziz Bin Abdullah Bin Baz and in his chapter ‘Belief in Allah’ he documents the following

‘Belief in Allah also necessitates the belief in His Beautiful Names and Lofty Attributes that are clearly stated in the Quran and are authentically mentioned by His Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). We should believe in all His Attributes without changing them, completely ignoring them, twisting their meanings, or claiming that they resemble human attributes. Rather, we should believe in these Attributes and describe Allah in a manner that suits His Majesty and Grandeur, for none of His creatures resembles Him in any way.

The Quran says: "There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer." (Soorah 42: 11)

"Invent not similitude’s for Allah. Truly, Allah knows and you know not." (Soorah 16:74)

Such is the creed of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah, the Companions of the Prophet and those who follow in their foot steps. Imam Abu Al-Hasan Al-Ash'ari mentioned this creed n his book 'Al-Maqalat 'an Ashabil-Hadithi wa Ahlis-Sunnah.
Other leading scholars have also mentioned this true creed in their works.

Imam A1-Awza said:
"Az-ZuhrI and Makhul were inquired about the Verses which talk about Allah’s Attributes and they replied, 'Leave them as they are." That is, do not interpret them.

Al-Walid bin Muslim said:
"Malik, Al-Awza'i, Al-Laith bin Sa'd, and Sufyan Ath-Thawri, may Allah have mercy upon them, were asked about the narration concerning Allah's Attributes, and they all said to believe in them all without interpreting their meanings.

Al-AwzA'i said:
"We used to say in the presence of At-TAbi'un, the successors of the Prophet's Companions, that Allah is over His Throne, and we believed in all the Prophetic traditions concerning Allah's Attributes.

When Rabi'ah bin Abu 'Abdur-Rahman, the teacher of Imam Malik, was asked about the Verse,

"Allah rose over His Throne." (Soorah 7:54)

He replied:
"Allah's rising over the Throne is not to be denied, to imagine the manner in which this is done is impossible, the Message is from Allah, the Prophet conveyed this Message, and we have to believe in it as it is."

When Imam Malik himself was inquired about the manner in which Allah rose over the Throne, he replied: "Allah's action of rising over the Throne is known, the manner in which this was done is not known, the belief in this matter is obligatory, and inquiring about this manner is an innovation in religion, or Bid'ah.

"Then he addressed the inquirer thus, "You are but an evil person." Then he asked people around him to send him out.
Umm Salamah, the Prophet's wife, is reported to have made the same statement.

Imam Abu 'Abdur-Rahman 'Abdullah bin Al-Mubarak said in his connection:
"We know that our Lord, Glorious is He, is over His Throne and over His heavens, distinct from His creation."

The religious scholars have written so much on this subject that it is impossible to quote them all in this treatise. Whoever is interested to find out more about this subject can refer to works written by scholars of Sunnah in this regard. These include, among other things, 'Abdullah bin Imam Ahmad's As-Sunnah, Muhammad bin Khuzaimah's At-Tawhid, Abul Qasimat-Tabari's As-Sunnah. One can also refer to Imam Ibn Taimiyyah's reply to the people of Hamat, Syria, in which he delineated the belief of Ahius-Sunnah. He also included in this reply the statements of Ahlus-Sunnah as well as logical and textual evidence from the Quran and the Sunnah supporting their position and exposing their opponents' opinions. He also dealt with the subject in his treatise known as Ar-Risalatu At-Tadmiriyyah in which he cited the belief of Ahlus-Sunnah along with logical and textual evidence from the Quran and the Sunnah, leaving no room for argument for the objective seekers of Truth.

Whoever adopts other than the position of Ahlus-Sunnah as to the issue of Allah's Names and Attributes will certainly contravene massive logical and textual evidence from the Quran and the Sunnah.

Ahlus-Sunnah have confirmed all the Names and Attributes that Allah confirmed for Himself either in the Quran or through the authentic traditions of the Prophet (PBUH), without changing them completely, twisting their meaning, ignoring them or likening them to those of His creatures. They have taken into account all possible proofs and have thus avoided falling into obvious contradictions. It is Allah's Plan to make the argument of those objective and sincere seekers of the Truth supreme:

"Nay, We hurl the Truth against falsehood, and it destroys it, and behold, falsehood is vanished." (Soorah21:18)

"And no question do they bring to you but We reveal to you the Truth and the best explanation (thereof)
."(Soorah 25:33)

Commenting on the Verse:
"Indeed your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and then He rose over the Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty)." (Soorah 7:54)

The renowned exegete of the Quran, or Mufassir, Al-Hafiz Ibn KathIr said:
"People in this regard adopt far too many different opinions, which are not possible to cite here. However, we adopt in this regard the position of (the righteous predecessors)
, As-Salaf us-Salih, past and present, such as Malik, Al-Awza'i, Ath-Thawri, Al-Laith bin Sa'd, Ash-Shafi'i, Ahmad and Ishaq binRahwaih. They all believed in Allah's Attributes without twisting their meanings, ignoring them completely, or likening them to those of His creatures."

And whatever image comes to our minds about Allah should be rejected, for

"There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer." (Soorah 42:11)

Nu'aim Al-KhuzA'i, the teacher of ImAm A1-BukhAri, said: Whoever likens Allah to His creatures is a disbeliever, and whoever denies the Attributes that Allah ascribes to Himself is a disbeliever. It is impossible to liken Allah to any of His Creatures. Guided are those who confirm to Allah the Attributes, in a manner suiting His Majesty, mentioned in the clear Qur’aanic Verses and authentic Prophetic traditions and rejects all blemishes as to Allah's Attributes."

if anybody has any more references to add to this subject then please do so...and wasalams.