What are the meanings of the attributes of Al-Haqw and Al-Kanaf for Allah, what is the difference between Al-Haqw and Al-Hujzah, and what is the most preponderant opinion regarding the meaning of "His shade" in the Hadith: "Seven whom Allah will shade in His Shade"?
The two aforementioned hadiths do not resemble each other in meaning:
The hadith "The womb stood up and took hold of the Haqu (side/waist/garment) of the Most Merciful": This is one of the hadiths concerning the divine attributes, which are to be accepted as they are, without delving into their modality. It refers to an attribute of Allah, the Exalted, that is not a physical limb. The womb takes hold of it not in the sense of physical connection or contact, but in the sense of the appellation as used by the Lawgiver. The meaning of "Haqu of the Most Merciful" and "Hujzah (loincloth/garment) of the Most Merciful" is the place where the izar (lower garment) is tied, and it has been metaphorically applied to the izar itself, which is a place of refuge and seeking assistance.
The hadith "Seven whom Allah will shade in His shade": The meaning of "His shade" here is the shade of His Throne, as explained in some narrations, and as indicated by the hadith "Whoever grants respite to one in difficulty or pardons his debt, Allah will shade him in the shade of His Throne on the Day of Resurrection." It is also said that the intended meaning of "shade" is protection and refuge.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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