Article - Definitions of Allah Most High's Attributes
In the Name of Allah, the Benevolent, the Merciful
Kharida Dars - Lesson Four
Definitions of Allah’s Attributes
[A] The Personal Attribute
The personal attribute is an attribute whose affirmation indicates the Entity itself without any additional meaning.
1. Being (wujud)
His Being is necessary and instrinsic.
[B] The Attributes of Negation
An attribute of negation negates that which does not befit Allah Most High.
1. Beginninglessness (qidam)
There is no beginning to His Being.
2. Endlessness (baqa’)
There is no end to His Being.
3. Distinctness (al-mukhalafa li’l hawadith)
Allah is absolutely distinct from originated things in (1) His Entity, (2) His Attributes, and (3) His Actions.
4. Self-Sufficiency (al-qiyamu bi’l nafs)
Allah is beyond need for a place to subsist or a specifier.
5. Oneness (wahdaniyya)
Allah is unique, indivisible, and without partner in His Entity, Attributes, and Actions.
[C] The Affirmative Attributes
An affirmative attribute is any attribute that subsists through an entity and affirms for it a meaning.
1. Life (hayat)
An affirmative attribute that is a condition for the one possessing it to be characterized by the other affirmative attributes (of knowledge, will, power, etc.).
2. Knowledge (`ilm)
An affirmative attribute that subsists through the entity of Allah by which Allah knows all things in every way without ever not having known them.
3. Will (irada)
An affirmative attribute that subsists through the entity of Allah by which He specifies the possible with some of what is possible for it.
4. Power (qudra)
An affirmative attribute that subsists through the entity of Allah by which He brings into existence the possible or takes it out of existence in accordance with His Will.
5. Speech (kalam)
An affirmative attribute that subsists through the entity of Allah that indicates all knowables, and is not comprised of letters or sounds.
6. Hearing (sam`)
An affirmative attribute that subsists through the entity of Allah by which Allah hears all existent things.
7. Seeing (basar)
An affirmative attribute that subsists through the entity of Allah by which Allah sees all existent things.
Sources:
Dardir Sharh al-Kharida al-Bahiyya
Bajuri Tuhfat al-Murid `ala Jawharat al-Tawhid
Hashimi Miftah al-Janna
Burhani al-Ta`liqat al-Mardiyya `ala’l Hadiyya al-`Ala’iyya