How Should I Answer Someone Who Asks Whether Allah Most High Has a Nose?
Answered by The SeekersGuidance Answers Team
Question
Since the Quran and Sunna mention the hand and the face of Allah Most High, and the breathing of the spirit into Adam, someone might ask whether other human terms apply in the same way.
He already understands that whatever is said of Allah must befit Him, and asks how one should answer such a question when it is put to him.
Answer
These answers from our scholars speak directly to your question:
Related SeekersGuidance Answers
- Does Allah Most High Have Eyes through Which He Sees? Does Allah Need Eyes to See? — Shaykh Yusuf Weltch — The closest parallel to the question asked: physical organs are denied, and the term is either interpreted figuratively or its meaning consigned to Allah, with transcendence affirmed throughout.
- Is Confirming Hands for Allah Kufr? — Shaykh Faraz Rabbani — Affirm what scripture affirms while holding it absolutely unlike creation — affirming without likening and without literalising is the sound position.
- Is There a Way to Physically Describe Allah? — Ustadh Salman Younas — Allah cannot be described physically, since physicality belongs to creation; contemplate His creation rather than attempt to picture Him.
- How Should Mutashabihat (Elusive) Verses be Interpreted? — Shaykh Bassem Itani — The two sound approaches: consign the meaning to Allah while affirming transcendence, or interpret figuratively in line with Arabic usage and settled doctrine.
- Allah Breathing His Spirit Into Jesus? The Possible Meanings of this Verse and The Approach of Sunni Islam Towards Ambiguous Texts — Ustadh Faraz Khan — The breathed spirit is a created, honoured spirit and no part of Allah — with the Sunni approach to ambiguous texts set out.
- Was I Wrong to be Neutral about Allah (Most High) Having Body Parts? — Mawlana Ilyas Patel — A passing doubt of this kind does not invalidate prayer or require repentance, unlike a settled or stubborn belief
At your service,
The SeekersGuidance Answers Team
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