Does the story of God "placing His foot" in Hell describe God's form, or is it a metaphor to describe the torment of Hell?
One must believe in the names and attributes of Allah as established in the Qur'an and authentic Sunnah, without tashbeeh (likening Allah to creation), ta'teel (denying Allah's attributes), takyeef (speculating on the 'how' of His attributes), or tamtheel (representing Allah's attributes with a likeness). Among the attributes firmly established for Allah are "the Leg" (ar-Rijl) and "the Foot" (al-Qadam), as mentioned in authentic hadiths and as understood by the Salaf (pious predecessors) among the Companions and their successors. Takyeef refers to specifying the form or manner of the attribute, which is impermissible. Some sects have attempted to interpret these attributes, claiming that "the Foot" and "the Leg" refer to a "group" or "foremost" of Allah's servants, an invalid interpretation that contradicts the plain meaning of the texts and the consensus of the Salaf.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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