The Grand Imam: Speaking about religion is not open to everyone

 

 

The material science pales in comparison to the rational thought found among Muslim philosophers.

 

“The attributes of Allah are eternal and not created” — A warning from the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar against attributing created qualities to the Creator.

 

 

His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, Prof. Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, affirmed that Allah’s name “Al-Hakeem” (The All-Wise) is one of the names that are unique to Him, and no one may share it with Him, as this name is derived from Divine wisdom, which is “knowledge of the most noble of knowledge through the most noble of sciences,” citing the words of leading Islamic scholars, such as Al-Ghazali and Al-Razi.

 

 

 

During the twenty-first episode of the program “Imam Al-Tayeb,” the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar added that it is permissible to describe people with the attribute Hakeem when it means “prudent” or “rational.” However, he warned against likening people's attributes to Allah's attributes, emphasizing: “If a human being is viewed as sharing absolute wisdom with Allah, then this is religiously forbidden.”

 

His Eminence also clarified the difference between eternal Divine knowledge and acquired human knowledge. He noted that human knowledge presupposes prior ignorance, which is impossible for Almighty Allah. He also highlighted the relationship between material sciences and faith, saying, “Modern science compels you to search for Allah.”

 

 

In response to the statement of some that “religion is not a science, and that discussing religious matters is permissible for everyone, while talking about science is limited only to specialists,” the Grand Imam said that material science pales in comparison to the rational thought found among Muslim philosophers, and even the spiritualists and idealists in general.

 

 

 

He explained that the difference between the material world and the ideal divine realm lies in the fact that the material world stops at the halfway point and does not go beyond, citing examples such as water boiling at 100 degrees Celsius—examples that demonstrate natural laws are designed by divine will. He warned against attributing created (temporal) qualities to Allah, affirming that His attributes are eternal, and that it is inconceivable for the Eternal to be described with a transient attribute.