Bukhari

Hadith Commentary:
The scriptures of the People of the Book have become old and mixed (with alterations), so what obsession has overtaken you that you ask them, whereas if they were to ask you, that would be understandable, because your Book is completely preserved and has been newly revealed.

Hadith Commentary:
1.
The attributes of Allah, the Exalted, are comprised of two categories:
➊ Essential (Dhatīyah)
➋ Active (Fi‘liyyah)

Essential attributes (Sifāt Dhatīyah) are those with which Allah, the Exalted, has always been described and will always be described. For example: knowledge (al-‘ilm), power (al-qudrah), hearing (as-sam‘), and sight (al-basr), etc.

Active attributes (Sifāt Fi‘liyyah) are those attributes that are connected to Allah’s will and desire; if He wills, He does them, and if He wills, He does not do them. For example: providing sustenance (rizq) and descending to the lowest heaven, etc. The attribute of speech (kalām) of Allah, the Exalted, has two aspects:

In terms of its essence, it is an essential attribute (Sifah Dhatīyah), because Allah, the Exalted, has always been speaking and will always be speaking. But in terms of actually speaking or not speaking, it is an active attribute (Sifah Fi‘liyyah), because His speaking is subject to His will.

2.
The Mu‘tazilah denied the active attributes (Sifāt Fi‘liyyah) on the grounds that, being based on creation, they are contingent (ḥādith), and Allah, the Exalted, cannot be the locus of contingencies (ḥawādith). They also say that the Qur’an is “created” (muḥdath), because Allah, the Exalted, has called it “muḥdath.” Imam al-Bukhari rahimahullah, in this chapter heading and the ahadith he has presented, has refuted this position, because the Qur’an has been called “muḥdath” in the sense of being freshly revealed from Allah, the Exalted, as Allah, the Exalted, has said about Himself:

“He is every day in a new affair.” ()

The meaning of “every day in a new affair” is that all creation is in need of Allah, the Exalted, for the fulfillment of their needs and the removal of their difficulties. Some are asking Him for food, some for drink. Some are praying for health, others for children. Some are praying for forgiveness of sins, others are praying for elevation of ranks. And He hears all of His creation and responds to their pleas. Allah, the Exalted, is doing all these things at every moment and every instant. In addition, He is constantly bringing new creation into existence; just as the birth of humans is increasing, so too is the progeny of every living being increasing. In short, every day He has a new manifestation and a new affair.

3.
In any case, Imam al-Bukhari rahimahullah has established that Allah, the Exalted, is also described with active attributes (Sifāt Fi‘liyyah), such as speaking, giving life, causing death, creating, descending, etc. These kinds of actions and arrangements are constantly appearing anew at every moment. Those who have denied the active attributes on the basis that they are contingent (ḥādith) and that contingencies are not befitting to the Essence of Allah, the Exalted, are undoubtedly devoid of knowledge and bereft of intellect. And Allah knows best.