How can the meanings of Allah's attributes, such as "laughter," "face," and "shin," etc., be defined in a manner befitting Allah's majesty, without falling into anthropomorphism (takyif) or similitude (tashbih), and at the same time avoiding complete delegation of meaning (tafwid), especially given that Arabic linguistic interpretations may necessitate what humans conceive of creatures?
Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah believe in the attributes of Allah Almighty and their true linguistic meanings. They entrust the knowledge of their "how" (kayfiyyah) to Allah, because they do not resemble the attributes of creation, and "there is nothing like unto Him." Thus, they affirm the attribute of laughter for Allah as a reality, not a metaphor, in a manner befitting Him, without anthropomorphism (tamthīl) or specifying a "how" (takyīf). Therefore, the delegation of knowledge pertains to the "how" and not to the meaning. It is essential to differentiate between knowing the meaning and affirming the reality of the attribute, and knowing its "how." Scholars have unanimously agreed that the attributes of Allah are understood according to their apparent meaning, while negating the "how" and resemblance. The believer knows the rulings and effects of these attributes, but does not encompass their essence.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/3589