Did Allah Most High speak through a tree

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah Most Merciful Most Kind

Short Answer

No, it is not correct to say that Allah (Most High) spoke through a tree. The Sunni position is that the attributes of Allah (Most High) are not restricted to time, place or direction. The above statement is worse than the Mutazilah position regarding the speech of Allah (Most High). So, it cannot be a Sunni opinion.

Explanation

فَلَمَّا أَتَاهَا نُودِيَ مِنْ شَاطِئِ الْوَادِ الْأَيْمَنِ فِي الْبُقْعَةِ الْمُبَارَكَةِ مِنَ الشَّجَرَةِ أَنْ يا موسى إِنِّي أَنَا اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ

When he reached it, he was called from the right side of the valley in the blessed place, at the tree: O Moses, Indeed I am Allah, Lord of the worlds. (Surah al-Qasas, 30).

 

I have translated مِنَ الشَّجَرَةِ in the verse above as, at the tree. Althoughمِنْ  (min) is usually translated as from, it has many possible meanings. This is common with particles (حروف) in Arabic. This translation negates the view of those who say Allah (Most High) spoke through a tree.

Many classical scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah pointed this out in their commentaries. They said the verse should be understood to mean that revelation was at the tree. Not from the tree.

 

Tafseer (commentary)

وَقِيلَ: إِنَّ مَعْنَى قَوْلِهِ {مِنَ الشَّجَرَةِ} [القصص: 30] : عِنْدَ الشَّجَرَةِ. ذِكْرُ مَنْ قَالَ ذَلِكَ: حَدَّثَنَا بِشْرٌ، قَالَ: ثنا يَزِيدُ، قَالَ: ثنا سَعِيدٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، قَوْلَهُ ” {فَلَمَّا أَتَاهَا نُودِيَ مِنْ شَاطِئِ الْوَادِ الْأَيْمَنِ فِي الْبُقْعَةِ الْمُبَارَكَةِ مِنَ الشَّجَرَةِ} قَالَ: نُودِيَ مِنْ عِنْدِ الشَّجَرَةِ {أَنْ يَا مُوسَى إِنِّي أَنَا اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ} [القصص: 30]. (تفسير الطبري)

It was said: The meaning of his saying “From the tree” (Al-Qasas: 30) is: at the tree. Mentioning who said that: Bishr informed us saying, Yazid informed us saying, Sa`id informed us from Qatada who said: When he reached it, he was called from the right side of the valley in the blessed place, from the tree. He said: He was called at the tree. O Moses, Indeed I am Allah, Lord of the worlds. (Surah al-Qasas, 30). (Imam Abu Ja’far al-Tabari 310H, Jami’ al-Bayan).

In the Nass (text) above, we find Imam al-Tabari providing a chain of narration back to the great scholar of the Tabieen Imam Qatadah. He explains that revelation was at the tree not from the tree. Therefore, we do not say that Allah (Most High) spoke through a tree.

This Tafseer of Imam Qatadah was mentioned by many early and later scholars of Tafseer. Thus, it is disturbing to see these Molvis saying that Allah (Most High) spoke through a tree. Especially since that would contradict the Aqeedah of Ahl al-Sunnah.

 

وقوله: {مِنَ الشَّجَرَةِ} قال المفسرون: من ناحية الشجرة. وقال قتادة: من عند الشَّجَرَةِ. (التَّفْسِيرُ البَسِيْط)

His saying: From the tree. The commentators said: from the direction of the tree. Qatada said: At the tree. (Imam Abu al-Hasan al-Wahidi 468H, Tafseer al-Baseet).

Extreme deviance

As for the Molvis in Pakistan who are saying Allah (Most High) spoke through a tree, this may be done by them because they are followers of Ahmad Rida Khan Barelvi. Not only did he say this in his work Fataawa Ridawiyah, but he went much further.

He said it to defend a person who apparently said my flag will be bigger than the flag of Muhammad. In order to make excuses for this extreme blasphemy and deep insult against our beloved Prophet ﷺ, he said Allah (Most High) was speaking through his mouth. This is absolutely shocking.

How can he praise an insult against the Prophet ﷺ in this manner. His obligation is to defend the Prophet ﷺ. This is an utter betrayal. As Muslims our allegiance is to Allah (Most High) and His beloved Prophet ﷺ. That is where our loyalty must be.

He has also given the impression that revelation did not cease after our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. This opens up the doors to the deviant Qadyanis. Why would a Muslim do such a thing.

Yet another calamitous result of this one sentence is that it places the speech of Allah (Most High) in the mouth of a person. Such a belief is Tajseem (anthropomorphism). Sunni Muslims do not believe in limiting Allah (Most High) or his attributes to time, space, direction or anything else.

It is painfully ironic to see that the followers of Ahmad Rida often accuse Salafis of Tajseem (anthropomorphism). Yet they ignore this extreme example of it in one of the most famous works of their leader Ahmed Rida. Worse still, they defend it or remain silent when it is pointed out to them.

Ahmed Rida Khan tried to justify his extremely deviant and blasphemous opinion using the above verse of the Holy Quran. Saying that Allah spoke through a tree so he can speak through the tongue of Abu Yazid.

He seemed to ignore the Tafseer of the Ayah and the Aqeedah of Ahl al-Sunnah. We do not believe in revelation after the blessed Prophet ﷺ. Nor do we believe the speech of Allah (Most High) can emanate from the tongue of man from this Ummah. And we certainly do not believe it is permitted to praise blasphemy and vile insults against the bless Prophet ﷺ in this manner.

Divine transcendence

وقوله: مِنَ الشَّجَرَةِ يقتضي: أن موسى- عليه السلام- سَمِعَ ما سَمِعَ من جهة الشجَرةِ، وسمع وأدرك غَيْرُ مُكَيَّفٍ ولا محَدَّدٍ. (الجواهر الحسان في تفسير القرآن)

His saying: From the tree. Dictates that (Sayidina) Musa – peace be upon him – heard what he heard from the direction of the tree. And he heard and perceived without modality or restriction. (Imam Abd al-Rahman bin Muhammad al-Tha’alabi 875H, al-Jowhar al-Hisan).

The Nass (text) above, once again emphasises the creed (Aqeedah) of Ahl al-Sunnah. We do not restrict the Speech of Allah (Most High) in any manner. Nor do we apply modality to it. Our Aqeedah is one of pure Tanzih (transcendence). Therefore, there is no license to say that Allah (Most High) spoke through a tree or Abu Yazid.

More Tafseer

والحال أنه كائن في وجهة الشجرة، وليس المراد أنه سمع الكلام من جهة الشجرة فقط، بل المحققون على أنه سمع الكلام بجميع أجزائه، بلا حرف ولا صوت من جميع جهاته، كما يكون لنا في الآخرة عند رؤية ذاته تعالى، بلا كيف ولا انحصار. (حاشية الصاوي على تفسير الجلالين)

This situation was that he was in the direction of the tree. Not that he heard the words from the direction of the tree alone. Rather, scholars of verification say that he heard the speech with his entirety. Without letter or sound. From all directions. As it will be for us in the afterlife when we see the Almighty’s essence. Without modality or confinement. (Imam al-Sawi1241H, Hashiyah ala al-Jalalayn).

Imam al-Sawi explains, in the Nass above, that the speech of Allah (Most High) is not limited to a particular place. This is the case with all the attributes of Allah (Most High) and His divine essence too. He also explained that ‘at the tree’ refers to Sayidina Musa.

Thus, we do not say that Allah (Most High) spoke from the tree. And we certainly do not believe He (Most High) spoke through the mouth of Abu Yazid. This is not aligned with the creed (Aqeedah) of Ahl al-Sunnah. Rather it is in direct contradiction to it. And it resembles the belief of deviants.

Worse than Mutazilah

احْتَجَّتِ الْمُعْتَزِلَةُ عَلَى قَوْلِهِمْ إِنَّ اللَّه تَعَالَى مُتَكَلِّمٌ بِكَلَامٍ يَخْلُقُهُ فِي جِسْمٍ بِقَوْلِهِ: مِنَ الشَّجَرَةِ فَإِنَّ هَذَا صَرِيحٌ فِي أَنَّ مُوسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ سَمِعَ النِّدَاءَ مِنَ الشَّجَرَةِ وَالْمُتَكَلِّمُ بِذَلِكَ النِّدَاءِ هُوَ اللَّه سُبْحَانَهُ وَهُوَ تَعَالَى مُنَزَّهٌ أَنْ يَكُونَ فِي جِسْمٍ فَثَبَتَ أَنَّهُ تَعَالَى إِنَّمَا يَتَكَلَّمُ بِخَلْقِ الْكَلَامِ فِي جِسْمٍ. (مفاتيح الغيب)

The Mutazilites used this to prove their opinion that Allah Almighty speaks words which He creates in a body. (They say) His saying: From a tree, is clear that Moses (peace be upon him) heard the call from the tree, and the speaker was Allah (Most High). He (Most High) is exalted above being in a body. So, it is proven that He (Most High) only speaks by creating speech in a body. (Imam Fakhr al-Deen al-Razi 606H, Mafateeh al-Ghayb).

 

Imam Fakhr al-Deen al-Razi elucidated the creed of the Mutazilah. They said, Allah (Most High) created speech at placed it in the tree. They further explained that He (Most High) is exalted above being in a body so they have this belief.

This was rejected by the Ahl al-Sunnah, despite the fact that the Mutazilah negated the divine speech being limited. The deviant view espoused by Ahmad Rida above, goes further astray than the Mutazilah.

وَعند الْمُعْتَزلَة: أَن الله تَعَالَى خلق كلَاما فِي الشَّجَرَة، فَسمع مُوسَى ذَلِك الْكَلَام، وَهَذَا عندنَا بَاطِل. (تفسير السمعاني)

According to the Mutazilites: Allah Almighty created speech in the tree, so Moses heard that speech. With us (Ahl al-Sunnah), this is false. (Imam Abu Mudhafar al-Sam’aani 489H, al-Tafseer).

Conclusion

The Molvis in Pakistan who are saying Allah (Most High) spoke through a tree, are undoubtedly mistaken. Furthermore they have contradicted the creed (Aqeedah) of Ahl al-Sunnah. They have probably fallen into this error due to ignorance or sectarianism. Since, this view is espoused by the leader of their sect.

The view of Ahl al-Sunnah is that we do not restrict the speech of Allah (Most High) to time, place or direction. This is our belief regarding all attributes (Sifaat) of Allah (Most High). As well as His divine essence (Dhaat).

And Allah Most High Knows Best.

–Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (22.02.25)