A: Ta'wil of the Attributes of Allah is Munkar (disapproved by Islamic law and by Muslims of sound intellect) and so it is not permissible to do so. In fact, it is obligatory to take the Attributes of Allah as they are, in a way that is most befitting of Him, without Tahrif (distortion of the meaning), Ta`til (denial), Takyif (descriptive designation), or Tamthil (likening His Attributes to those of His Creation). Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) informs us about His Names and Attributes saying:
There is nothing like Him; and He is the AllHearer, the AllSeer.
As Muslims, we have to accept them as they stand, according to the opinion of AhlulSunnah walJama`ah (adherents to the Sunnah and the Muslim mainstream). They maintained that Muslims must honour Allah's Attributes as they are, without Takyif, Tahrif, Ta'wil or Takyif. Muslims must hold Allah's Attributes as they were revealed in a way that best befits Allah, without any Takyif or Tamthil. For example, we should say about the saying of Allah (Exalted be He): The Most Gracious (Allâh) rose over (Istawâ) the (Mighty) Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty). and other similar Ayahs, that Allah rose over the Throne in a way that is most befitting His Majesty, and this rising cannot be compared to that of any of His creatures.
The scholars who follow AlHaqq (the Truth) see this as signifying His Highness and Exaltedness. The same applies to other Attributes of Allah, such as His Sight, Hearing, Hand, Foot, and other Attributes that are stated in the texts of the Qur'an and the Sunnah. All of these Attributes are exclusively appropriate to Allah (may He be Praised) in a manner that uniquely befits Him alone and are not comparable to those of any creature. This was the opinion of the scholars from among the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet) and the great Imams of Sunnah (initiator of a School of Jurisprudence) after them, such as Al Awza`i, A lThawri, Malik, Abu Hanifah, Ahmad, Ishaq, and other Muslim Imams (may Allah be merciful with them all).
This ruling applies also to the saying of Allah (Exalted be He) regarding the story of Prophet Nuh (Noah, peace be upon him): And We carried him on a (ship) made of planks and nails, Floating under Our Eyes
He (may He be Exalted and Glorified) also says when relating the story of Prophet Musa (Moses, peace be upon him): in order that you may be brought up under My Eye. AhlulSunnah wal Jama`ah commented on the Ayah which reads: Floating under Our Eyes explaining that He (Glorified be He) let the ship float under His Care until it safely rested on Mount Judy. Similarly, when Allah (may He be Praised) states: in order that you may be brought up under My Eye. they explain that Allah (Glorified be He) means that Musa (peace be upon him) will be brought up under His Care and with His Guidance to those in charge of raising him.
In the same manner, when Allah (may He be Praised) reveals to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): So wait patiently (O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ) for the Decision of your Lord, for verily, you are under Our Eyes He (Glorified be He) means that Muhammad is under Allah's Protection and Care. These interpretations do not fall under the prohibited Ta'wil; they are just conventional explanations and clarifications of the style of the Arabic language.
A third example was related in a Hadith Qudsi (Revelation from Allah in the Prophet's words) where Allah (Glorified be He) states: When my servant draws near Me by a hand span, I draw near him by the length of a cubit. And when he draws near Me by the length of a cubit, I draw near him by the length of a fathom. And when he turns to Me walking I turn to him hurriedly.
The words of this Hadith must be accepted as they were revealed from Allah (may He be Praised and Exalted) without Tahrif, Takyif, or Tamthil, but in the way that is intended by Allah. The same thing can be said conserning Allah's descent at the end of the night, His Hearing, Sight, Wrath, Pleasure, Laughter, Joy, and other indisputably established Attributes of Allah. They are all accepted as they were revealed, in a manner that most befits Him, without any Takyif, Tahrif, Ta`til or Tamthil. This is confirmed by Allah (Exalted be He) in His saying: There is nothing like Him; and He is the AllHearer, the AllSeer. and many other Ayahs that have the same effect.
As for Ta'wil of Allah's Attributes and overlooking their apparent denotation, this is the method of those who follow Bid`ah (innovations in Islam), such as AlJahmiyyah (a deviant Islamic sect denying some Attributes of Allah, claiming they are ascribed to people and cannot be ascribed to Allah), the Mu`tazilah (a deviant Islamic sect claiming that those who commit major sins are in a state between belief and disbelief), and all those who followed them. Their Madhhabs (doctrinal trends) is Batil (null and void) and has been rejected and renounced by AhlulSunnah walJama`ah who have warned against its promoters. May Allah grant us success!