Can you clarify and elaborate on the understanding of some verses describing attributes, such as "The hand of Allah is above their hands" and "for verily you are in Our Eyes," as being closer to allegorical interpretation, where the first means subjugation and dominance, and the second means preservation and care, instead of a literal hand and eye?
Sound belief is built upon what has been established in the Qur'an and Sunnah, according to the understanding of the Salaf of the Ummah, who unanimously affirmed the attributes of Allah mentioned in the texts without takyif (كيف - asking how), tamthil (تمثيل - likening to creation), ta'til (تعطيل - negating), or ta'wil (تأويل - metaphorical interpretation). The texts indicated the reality of the attributes, not their metaphorical meaning, because the Qur'an and Sunnah came to inform people about the attributes of their Lord, and this is achieved by taking the words at their literal meaning. There is no narration from the Prophet (peace be upon him) indicating the necessity of interpreting an attribute or that its apparent meaning is not intended. It has been established in authentic hadiths the affirmation of attributes such as al-nuzul (النزول - descending), al-qadam (القدم - foot), and al-dahik (الضحك - laughing) without diverting them from their apparent meaning or any objection from the Companions. When the innovations of those who claimed the attributes were metaphorical appeared, the Salaf and the Imams affirmed the reality of the attributes, as transmitted from Imam al-Darimi, al-Tabari, al-Karaji, Ibn Mandah, Ibn Abd al-Barr, and al-Dhahabi, who all agreed on taking the attributes literally, not metaphorically. As for His saying, the Most High: "The hand of Allah is over their hands" and "for indeed, you are in Our eyes," both affirm the attributes of Hand and Eye. The Salaf interpreted His saying "in Our eyes" as "under Our sight" as an interpretation by way of lazim (لازم - necessary implication) or tadammun (تضمن - inclusion) while still affirming the Eye, and it is not a ta'wil that negates the attribute.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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