What is the validity of the statement that Ibn Taymiyyah's creed deviated and that he attributed human characteristics to God, and to what extent was he accepted by scholars such as Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani?

Shaykh al-Islam Ahmad ibn Abd al-Halim ibn Taymiyyah is considered one of the prominent reformers in Islam. His knowledge and jurisprudence influenced scholars, students of knowledge, and Islamic groups. Imams of his era and thereafter testified to his knowledge, understanding, courage, and sincere advice to the Ummah. Among them are: Imam al-Dhahabi, who described him as "Shaykh al-Islam, unique in his era in knowledge, understanding, and courage"; Al-Hafiz Imad al-Din al-Wasiti, who said: "By God, no one like your Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah has been seen under the canopy of the sky in terms of knowledge and action"; and Al-Hafiz Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti, who called him "Shaykh al-Islam, a wonder of the age." Moreover, Mulla Ali al-Qari defended him against the accusations of anthropomorphism and resemblance made by Ibn Hajar al-Haytami, clarifying that Shaykh al-Islam was from the people of Sunnah and Jama'ah. The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta issued a fatwa stating that he is "an Imam among the Imams of the people of Sunnah and Jama'ah, calling to the truth and to the straight path." Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani also praised him in his commendation of the book "Al-Radd al-Wafir," describing him as "Shaykh al-Islam" and testifying to his imamate, vast knowledge, piety, and asceticism. He mentioned that his funeral was grand despite the city being bigoted against him, confirming that this is evidence of his great status.

As for the claim that Shaykh al-Islam deviated from sound creed and described Allah with the attributes of His creation, it is a lie and slander. His texts show his innocence from such claims, as he said: "The predecessors of the Ummah and its Imams agreed that there is nothing like Allah, neither in His essence, nor in His attributes, nor in His actions," and "Allah is only described by what He described Himself with, or what His Messenger described Him with; one does not go beyond the Qur'an and Sunnah." Furthermore, his methodology is to describe Allah as He described Himself and as His Messenger described Him, without distortion or denial, and without specifying how or likening Him to creation.