Is the Verse “The Hand of Allah Is Above Their Hands” Taken Literally or Interpreted, and How Did the Salaf Understand It

Question: Is the verse, “The Hand of Allah is above their hands” taken according to its apparent meaning, or is it interpreted, and how did the righteous predecessors understand it?

Summary:

The verse, “The Hand of Allah is above their hands” is taken according to its apparent meaning in a manner befitting Allah, without distortion or denial, without asking how, and without resemblance. This is the methodology of the righteous predecessors and Ahl al Sunnah wal Jamaah, and it is consistent with the Quran, the Sunnah, and the consensus of the Salaf.

Answer:

In the name of Allah, all praise is due to Allah, and may Peace and Blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)

First, Evidence from the Quran

Allah the Exalted said,

From the Qur'an:

  • Surah Al-Fath 10
    "Allah’s Hand is over theirs."...

Allah affirmed for Himself the attribute of the Hand with a clear affirmation, and He described it as being above the hands of those who pledged allegiance. This is a real affirmation that befits His Majesty, and it does not resemble the hands of creation, as Allah said,

From the Qur'an:

  • Surah Ash-Shuraa 11
    "There is nothing like Him, for He ˹alone˺ is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing"

    Allah also said:

From the Qur'an:

  • Surah Al-Ma'idah 64
    "Rather, He is open-handed"...

    and He said,

From the Qur'an:

  • Surah Sad 75
    Allah asked, “O Iblîs! What prevented you from prostrating to what I created with My Own Hands?"

    All of these texts are clear in affirming the attribute of the Hand for Allah in a manner befitting Him.

Second, Evidence from the Sunnah It is authentically established in the Sunnah that Allah has Hands. Among this is the statement of the Prophet ﷺ,

From the Sunnah:

  • Sahih Bukhari 7411Narrated Abu Huraira:
    Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Allah's Hand is full, and (its fullness) is not affected by the continuous spending, day and night."

From the Sunnah:

  • sahih Bukhari 7412Narrated Ibn `Umar:
    Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will grasp the whole Earth by His Hand, and all the Heavens in His right, and then He will say, 'I am the King." Abu Huraira said, "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said," Allah will grasp the Earth...'

    These texts are clear in affirmation, without interpretation or resemblance.

Third, The Understanding of the Righteous Predecessors The methodology of the Salaf regarding the verses of attributes was to affirm what Allah affirmed for Himself, or what His Messenger ﷺ affirmed for Him, upon its true meaning that befits Allah, without asking how, without resemblance, and without distortion or denial.

From the Salaf:

  • Imam Malik رحمه الله said
    egarding istiwa, which is a foundational principle for all attributes, “Istiwa is known, the how is unknown, believing in it is obligatory, and asking about it is an innovation.”

    This principle applies to all attributes, including the attribute of the Hand.

From the Salaf:

  • Imam Ahmad رحمه الله said,
    “We believe in them and affirm them, and we do not reject any of them, nor do we describe Allah with more than what He described Himself with.”

From the Salaf:

  • Nuaym ibn Hammad رحمه الله said,
    “Whoever resembles Allah to His creation has disbelieved, and whoever denies what Allah described Himself with has disbelieved, and there is no resemblance in what Allah described Himself with or what His Messenger described Him with.”

Fourth, The Position of Ahl al Sunnah Regarding Interpretation Ahl al Sunnah do not interpret the Hand as power or blessing, because this diverts the wording from its apparent meaning without evidence, and it negates the attribute that Allah affirmed for Himself. If Allah intended power or blessing, He would have stated that explicitly, especially since power is already affirmed through other texts. One does not abandon the apparent meaning except with evidence, and there is no evidence here. The verse, “The Hand of Allah is above their hands,” affirms the attribute of the Hand for Allah in a real sense that befits His Majesty, without resemblance, without likening, and without innovated interpretation. This is the methodology of the righteous predecessors and Ahl al Sunnah wal Jamaah, and it is the safest, most knowledgeable, and most wise path.

And Allah knows best.

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