What is the meaning of the Hand of Allah?

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah Most Merciful Most Kind

Short Answer:

According to leading scholars of the Salaf and Khalaf, the meaning of the Hand of Allah (Most High) refers to His Power. Therefore, interpretation (Taweel) is permitted and even recommended. To understand it literally, in a human sense, is not permitted as that is anthropomorphism (Tashbeeh). Tashbeeh is Kufr.

Approach of the salaf:

When it comes to verses that seem to apply human attributes to Allah (Most High), the Salaf had two approaches. The first was Tafweed. We can translate this as resignation as there was the notion of not delving into the meaning of verses. Consequently, the Salaf would read the verse and continue reading without delving into meaning. The reason why this approach is called resignation (Tafweed) was because you resign the affair to Allah (Most High).

The second was Taweel (interpretation). This is to suggest a metaphorical meaning for the verse based on the Arabic language. Further, this approach was encouraged by the great scholar of the Sahabah, Sayidina Abdullah bin Abbas (May Allah Most High be pleased with them both).

Taweel:

إِذَا خَفِي عَلَيْكُمْ شَيْءٌ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ فَابْتَغُوهُ فِي الشِّعْرِ، فَإِنَّهُ دِيوَانُ الْعَرَبِ

If something of the Holy Quran is unclear to you then seek clarification in poetry. Since it is the catalogue of the Arabs. (Mustadrak Ala al-Sahihayn 3845, Sahih according to Imams al-Hakim and al-Dhahabi).

Despite the evident permissibility of Taweel, many Muslims stubbornly oppose this approach. As such, they deem it as misguidance. However, how can this approach be misguidance if the Salaf engaged in it repeatedly and we have been encouraged to follow the Salaf?

وفي قوله (يَدُ اللَّهِ فَوْقَ أَيْدِيهِمْ) وجهان من التأويل: أحدهما: يد الله فوق أيديهم عند البيعة، لأنهم كانوا يبايعون الله ببيعتهم نبيه صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم ; والآخر: قوّة الله فوق قوّتهم في نصرة رسوله صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم، لأنهم إنما بايعوا رسول الله صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم على نُصرته على العدو. (جامع البيان في تأويل القرآن)

In his saying (the Hand of Allah is above their hands) there are two interpretations. One of them is: Allah’s hand is over their hands when pledging allegiance. Since they were pledging to Allah (Most High) in their pledging to His Prophet ﷺ.

As for the other (interpretation): the power of Allah (Most High) is greater than their power in supporting His Messenger ﷺ. Since they were pledging allegiance to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to assist him over the enemy. (Imam Abu Jafar al-Tabari, Jami al-Bayan fi Taweel al-Quran).

In the Nass (text) above, we find Imam al-Tabari presenting Taweel for the Hands of Allah (Most High). Additionally, we also find Imam Ibn Qutaybah doing the same in the Nass below. Therefore, this clearly demonstrates that Taweel was prevalent amongst the early Muslim scholars.

{خَلَقْنَا لَهُمْ مِمَّا عَمِلَتْ أَيْدِينَا} يجوز أن يكون مما عملناه بقدرتِنا وقوَّتنا. وفي اليد القوةُ والقدرةُ على العمل؛ فتُستعارُ اليدُ فتُوضَعُ موضعها. على ما بيَّناه في كتاب “المشكل”. هذا مجازٌ للعرب يحتملُه هذا الحرفُ والله أعلم بما أراد. (غريب القرآن. أبو محمد عبد الله بن مسلم بن قتيبة الدينوري)

We created for them what our hands worked. It may mean, what We have created with our ability and strength. The hand has strength and ability to work. Thus, the hand is used allegorically and placed therein. As we explained in the book “al-Mushkil”. This is a metaphor used by the Arabs. This word has the capacity for it (this metaphor). And Allah (Most High) knows best regarding the true meaning. (Imam Ibn Qutaybah, Ghareeb al-Quran).

As well as this, there are so many examples of major Imams of Ahl al-Sunnah making Taweel. Despite this fact, many people teaching the Deen today reject Taweel. This is because such individuals claim Taweel was not done by the Salaf. Therefore, we must ask: Are they ignorant or wilfully misleading people?

In contrast, it is not surprising to find such senior scholars among the Salaf interpreting the Hand of Allah (Most High) as it becomes almost a necessity to interpret. This is because Allah (Most High) is transcendent and absolutely dissimilar to His creation.

Further, If major scholars of the Salaf were willing to interpret hand for humans, then naturally they will be comfortable in doing so for Allah (Most High). The norm with humans is for hand to be applied literally. Whereas with Allah (Most High) it is absolutely prohibited to apply it literally (this is anthropomorphism i.e., Tashbeeh).

Taweel in Tafseer:

“حَدَّثَنِي عَلِيٌّ، قَالَ: ثنا أَبُو صَالِحٍ، قَالَ: ثني مُعَاوِيَةُ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَوْلُهُ: {أُولِي الْأَيْدِي} [ص: 45] يَقُولُ: ” أُولِي الْقُوَّةِ وَالْعِبَادَةِ، وَالْأَبْصَارِ يَقُولُ: الْفِقْهُ فِي الدِّينِ

Ali narrated to me, he said: Abu Salih narrated to us saying, Muawiyah narrated to me, from Ali, from Ibn Abbas who said: (Possessors of hands) [Surah Saad, 45] (means) ‘possessors of strength in worship. And sight means religious insight.’

ثم قال: أُولِي الْأَيْدِي يعني أولى القوة في العبادة. (تفسير مقاتل بن سليمان)

Then he said: ‘Possessed of hands’ refers to being possessed of strength in worship. (Imam Muqatil bin Sulayman, Tafseer).  

أنا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ , فِي قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى: {أُولِي الْأَيْدِي وَالْأَبْصَارِ} [ص: 45] قَالَ: «أُولِي الْقُوَّةِ فِي الْعِبَادَةِ». (تفسير عبد الرزاق)

Muammar narrated to us on the authority of Qatada, regarding the Almighty’s saying: (Possessed of hands and eyes). [Surah Saad, 45], “possessed of strength in worship.” (Imam Abd al-Razaq al-San‘ani, Tafseer 2607).

عطاء الخراساني في قوله: «أُولِي الْأَيْدِي وَالْأَبْصارِ» قال القوة في العبادة والبصر بالدين. (تفسير مقاتل بن سليمان)

Regarding His (Most High) saying: Those with strong hands and eyes, Ata Al-Khorasani said: Strength in worship and insight in religion. (Imam Muqatil bin Sulayman, Tafseer).

In the Nusoos above, we find that scholars of the Salaf moved away from the norm and interpreted hand for the human. They interpreted it as power. This was done even though the literal application was possible. Therefore, the approach of Taweel should not surprise us where the literal application is inconceivable regarding Allah (Most High).

قَوْلُهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: {أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّا خَلَقْنَا لَهُمْ مِمَّا عَمِلَتْ أَيْدِينَا أَنْعَامًا} [يس: 71] ، أَيْ: بِقُوَّتِنَا فِي تَفْسِيرِ الْحَسَنِ، كَقَوْلِهِ: {وَالسَّمَاءَ بَنَيْنَاهَا بِأَيْدٍ}. (تفسير يحيى بن سلام)

His statement Mighty and Majestic: Have they not seen that We have created for them cattle from among what Our hands have made? [Yasin: 71], meaning: by Our power in the interpretation of al-Hasan. Like His (Most High) saying: And We built the sky with (our) hands. (Imam Yahya bin Salam, Tafseer).

Additionally, In the Nass above, we have Imam Yahya considering the word Ayd to be referring to hands. This is one of two interpretations. If we were to go with this interpretation, then we may say many great scholars of the Salaf interpreted Hands.

حدثني عليّ، قال: ثنا أبو صالح، قال: ثني معاوية، عن عليّ، عن ابن عباس، قوله (وَالسَّمَاءَ بَنَيْنَاهَا بِأَيْدٍ) يقول: بقوة. (جامع البيان في تأويل القرآن)

Ali informed me saying, Abu Salih informed him, who said Muawiyah narrated to me from Ali from Ibn Abbas, who commented upon His (Most High) saying: And the sky We built it with Ayd (hands), (meaning) strength. (Imam Abu Jafar al-Tabari, Jami al-Bayan fi Taweel al-Quran).

أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ، قَالَ: نا إِبْرَاهِيمُ، قَالَ: ثنا آدَمُ، قَالَ: ثنا وَرْقَاءُ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَجِيحٍ، عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ: {وَالسَّمَاءَ بَنَيْنَاهَا بِأَيْدٍ} [الذاريات: 47] قَالَ: «بِقُوَّةٍ». (تفسير مجاهد)

Abdul Rahman informed us saying, Ibrahim informed us saying, Adam told us saying, Warqaa from Ibn Abi Najih, from Mujahid that he said regarding: And the sky We built with Ayd (hands). (Surah al-Dhaariyaat, 47), (meaning) with strength. (Tafseer Mujahid).

Concluding remarks:

In the tradition of Ahl al-Sunnah we have always accepted Taweel (interpretation) and Tafweed (resignation). However, anthropomorphism (Tashbeeh) has always been rejected and considered to be Kufr. Therefore, as long as one remains well clear of comparing Allah (Most High) to His creation, he is at liberty to select either Taweel or Tafweed.

واعلم أن اليدَ في اللغة تتصرفُ على وجوهٍ؛ منها: الجارحةُ وهي معروفةٌ، وتعالَى اللهُ عن الجوارحِ. ومنها: النعمةُ كما يقال: لفلانٍ علَيَّ يدٌ ؛ أي نعمةٌ. ومنها: القوةُ كما قال تعالى: {أُوْلِي الأَيْدِي وَالأَبْصَارِ}. (تفسير القرآن العظيم. الإمام الطبراني)

Know that linguistically the (word) hand has different meanings. Among them is the physical (hand), which is known. Allah (Most High) is exalted above physical limbs. Among them is a blessing. It is said, so-and-so has a hand over me. Meaning a blessing. Among them is strength. As Allah (Most High) said: (Possessors of hands and sight). (Imam al-Tabarani, Tafseer al-Quran al-Adheem).

And Allah Most High Knows Best.

–Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (25.10.23)