Is Confirming Hands for Allah Kufr?

Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Question

If someone believes Allah has hands but not like creation. His hands are similar to creation to be called a hand but besides that everything else is distinct…

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Merciful and Compassionate

I hope you’re doing well, insha’Allah.

Affirming What Allah Affirmed for Himself

Affirming what Allah Most High affirms is from our faith and moral duty. This includes affirming what Allah affirms of “Hand” (Yad) in the Quran.

At the same time, negating what Allah Most High negates–which is any similitude whatsoever to creation–is also from our faith and moral duty.

Allah Most High says, “There is nothing like Him, for He ˹alone˺ is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing.” [Quran, 42:11]

Thus, we affirm what Allah affirms, but also affirm that it is absolutely distinct from the qualities of creation.

This applies to all affirmations that could be (mis-)understood to be affirming similitude.

Imam Laqani (Allah have mercy upon him) says in the Jawharat al-Tawhid:

“Every text that could give the misimpression of similitude,
Either interpret it or consign its meaning to Allah–and hold fast to affirming transcendence”

What About Literalist Understandings?

As for wrongful opinions: don’t busy yourself with them.

Some people are simply keen to affirm what the Quran and Sunna affirm–and no more. Others may be over-affirming to the point of their statements entailing literalism and similitude with creation.

While this is not acceptable–and the scholars warn against such methods–no Muslim accepts affirming similitude between Allah Most High, the Creator, and His Creation.

Our Counsel

Learn sound Islamic Beliefs, such as through the clear and structured courses here at SeekersGuidance.

Here are a few courses for your consideration:
What Muslims Believe and Why: Dardir’s Kharida al-Bahiyya
The Belief of the Masses: What Muslim Youth Need to Know

Then focus on cultivating your faith through acting upon beneficial knowledge, remembrance of Allah Most High, cultivating your sincerity (Ikhlas) and presence of heart, and through serving creation solely for the sake of the Creator.

And don’t argue, as this is contrary to Prophetic teachings.

And Allah is the giver of success and facilitation.

[Shaykh] Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani spent ten years studying with some of the leading scholars of recent times, first in Damascus, and then in Amman, Jordan. His teachers include the foremost theologian of recent times in Damascus, the late Shaykh Adib al-Kallas (may Allah have mercy on him), as well as his student Shaykh Hassan al-Hindi, one of the leading Hanafi fuqaha of the present age. He returned to Canada in 2007, where he founded SeekersGuidance in order to meet the urgent need to spread Islamic knowledge–both online and on the ground–in a reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible manner. He is the author of: Absolute Essentials of Islam: Faith, Prayer, and the Path of Salvation According to the Hanafi School (White Thread Press, 2004.) Since 2011, Shaykh Faraz has been named one of the 500 most influential Muslims by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center.