41- The categories of attributes according to whether or not they are inseparable from the Essence of Allah the Exalted
In this respect, the attributes of Allah the Exalted are of three categories:
The first category: the essential attributes.
The second category: the attributes of action.
The third category: the attributes that are both essential and of action.
① The essential attributes:
By this are meant those attributes of Allah the Exalted that are inseparable from the Essence of Allah the Exalted from eternity without beginning to eternity without end, and Allah the Exalted is described by these attributes at all times, such as life, knowledge, power, might, wisdom, greatness, majesty, loftiness, and other attributes like them. Because they are inseparable from the Essence of Allah the Exalted, they are called essential attributes. Likewise, the affirmation of the two Hands, the Eyes and the Face for Allah the Exalted is called the informative attributes (sifat khabariyyah).
② The attributes of action:
By these are meant attributes that are connected to the will and intention of Allah the Exalted and are not inseparable from the Essence of Allah the Exalted, neither in terms of their kind nor in terms of their individual instances, such as Allah the Exalted rising above the Throne, His descending to the lowest heaven, and His coming on the Day of Resurrection to judge between the servants. All of these are attributes of action, connected to will: if He wills, He does them, and if He wills, He does not do them. These are attributes that, in terms of their kind and their individual instances, are hadith (they come into being whenever He wills). So His rising above the Throne took place after the creation of the Throne, His descent to the lowest heaven is after the creation of the heaven, and His coming on the Day of Resurrection to judge will not take place before the Resurrection.
③ The essential and action attributes:
This is the name for those attributes that, in terms of their kind, are eternal and everlasting attributes of Allah the Exalted, and Allah the Exalted has been described by these attributes from the very beginning; but when we set them apart from their collective form and consider them individually, it becomes clear that they are connected to will and intention and are not inseparable from the Essence. For example, the attribute of speech of Allah the Exalted. In terms of its kind it is an essential attribute, because Allah the Exalted has always spoken, and this attribute is proof of the perfection of the Essence of Allah the Exalted; but with regard to any specific utterance it is an attribute of action: Allah the Exalted speaks when He wills, because it depends on the will of Allah the Exalted.
