✦ Clarification on the Divine Attributes: As-Samīʿ (All-Hearing) and Al-Baṣīr (All-Seeing) ✦
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Vol. 1 – Kitāb al-ʿAqāʾid, p. 177
❖ Ḥadīth Reference and Authentication:
This ḥadīth is narrated by:
- Imām Abū Dāwūd رحمه الله (Ḥadīth No. 4728)
- Ibn Ḥibbān (al-Mawārid: 1732)
- al-Ḥākim (1/24)
- Imām al-Dhahabī also authenticated it.
❖ Content and Interpretation of the Ḥadīth:
Narrated by Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه:
“I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ placing his thumb on his ear and his index finger on his eye.”
📌 This action was performed during the explanation of the Qur’ānic verse:
“إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ سَمِيعًا بَصِيرًا“
“Indeed, Allah is Ever-Hearing, Ever-Seeing.”
(Surah al-Nisāʾ: 58)
❖ Does the Ḥadīth Prove Physical Attributes Like Ear and Eye?
✔ This ḥadīth affirms the Divine Attributes of:
- Samaʿ (hearing)
- Baṣar (sight)
✘ However, it does not establish physical limbs (like ears) for Allah.
📌 The Prophet ﷺ’s gesture of pointing to his eye and ear was for illustrative and educational purposes to explain the attributes, not to ascribe bodily parts to Allah.
❖ Mention of Allah’s Eyes in the Qur’an and Sunnah:
✔ The attribute of ‘Ayn (eye) has been explicitly mentioned in the Qur’an and authentic aḥādīth, such as:
“وَلِتُصْنَعَ عَلَىٰ عَيْنِي“
“That you may be brought up under My eye.”
(Surah Ṭāhā: 39)
✔ Hence, belief in Allah’s ‘eye(s) in a manner befitting His majesty is valid and affirmed without likening it to creation.
❖ The Issue with Inferring “Ear” for Allah:
✘ The ḥadīth does not explicitly attribute an “ear” to Allah.
✘ Therefore, it is incorrect to deduce from this narration that Allah possesses ears.
⚠ Establishing a Divine attribute requires clear and explicit proof—as is found for “ʿAyn” but not for “Udhun” (ear).
❖ Commentary of Imām Ibn Khuzaymah رحمه الله:
✔ Imām Ibn Khuzaymah cited this narration in response to the Jahmiyyah sect, who denied the attributes of hearing and sight for Allah.
✔ His intent was not to attribute limbs to Allah, but to affirm the Divine qualities mentioned in the Qur’an:
“Indeed, Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.”
✒ The focus is on affirming attributes—not on anthropomorphism (attributing bodily parts).
❖ Conclusion:
✔ This ḥadīth affirms that Allah hears and sees—as stated in the Qur’an.
✘ However, it does not establish physical organs such as ears for Allah.
✔ Any such deduction would be unwarranted and incorrect.
The approach of Imām Ibn Khuzaymah was to refute the deviant beliefs of the Jahmiyyah, not to anthropomorphize Allah.
والله أعلم بالصواب
