• Meaning of Tahreef, Ta'teel and Tamtheel •

• Meaning of Tahreef, Ta'teel and Tamtheel •

√ Tahreef means changing. Introducing changes in a statement means leaving out the meaning understood by it, and accepting such a meaning which the words may indicate in a doubtful sense. Of course, if there is a context to justify this sense, then one must explain its possibility.

√ Ta'teel means leaving and vacating. In the present context, it means negating the attributes of Allaah and denying them with His Self.

The difference between Tahreef and Ta'teel is that in the latter case, that real meaning is denied which is proven by the Qur'aan and Hadeeth, while in Tahreef the explanation of the text is done with such meanings that are false and the word does not prove them. So Ta'teel includes Tahreef. Wherever there is Tahreef, Ta'teel is certainly there, but the reverse is not true. If someone tries to prove the false meaning and denies the real meaning, he is committing both Ta'teel and Tahreef. If someone denies the Attributes proven from the Qur'aan and Sunnah, and maintains that it is not the manifest sense which is meant, and yet he himself does not determine a sense, then it is called Tafweed. It is wrong to say that Tafweed was the creed of the Salaf. It was the Asha'irah of the later times who ascribed this to the Salaf. The Salaf did not do Tafweed while trying to find out the meaning of something nor did they read anything whose meaning they did not understand. On the other hand, they understood the meaning of the passages of the Qur'aan and the Sunnah, and proved these meanings in favor of Allaah. Albeit, they would submit the knowledge of the reality and state of these meanings to Allaah. When Imaam Malik was asked about the state of Istiwaa (establishing, rising) of Allaah on the heaven (Throne), he said Istiwaa is known but its conditions unknown.

√ Takyeef means to have faith that the states of the Attributes of Allaah are such and such, or putting questions about the state of the Attributes of Allaah.

√ Tamtheel means to believe that the Attributes of Allaah are like the Attributes of the creature. The phrase 'Bi ghair takyeef' means that Ahl'us Sunnah deny that they have any knowledge of His condition, for Allaah Alone knows the state of His Self and Attributes. But this does not mean that they completely deny the states themselves, for it is essential for everything that is has a state.

{ليس كمشله شىء}

"There is nothing like unto Him."

It is a clear Qur'aanic verse. This is the code of conduct of Ahl'us Sunnah about negation and affirmation. He has negated the existence of anything like Him but has affirmed the Attributes of hearing and seeing for His Self.

This shows that the correct creed is not that the Attributes are completely denied as is the way of the Mu'attilah nor is it to try to completely prove them as is the way of the Mumaththilah. The true creed is to make an affirmation of the Attributes without similitude. In the word 'Kamithlihi' the Arabic letter Kaaf has been added for emphasis.

[Sharh al Aqeedah Al Wasitiyyah; Shaykh'ul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah; Commentary by Dr. Muhammad Khalil Harras]