This excerpt is taken from Shaykh Abu Hudhayfah Muhammad Javed Salafi’s book"Ā’īnah Tawḥīd wa Sunnat – In Response to What is Shirk, Along with the Reality of Bid‘ah."
◈ Barelvi Claim: Allah’s Attributes Can Exist in Human Beings
Hafizur Rahman Qadri narrates a fabricated, baseless story about Shaykh Shibli (رحمه الله) to justify calling a human being “Dātā” (Provider).
Such tales hold no value in Islam due to lack of authentic evidence. What has no proof has no place in Shari‘ah.He builds an elaborate story claiming that a police officer in Arabia read the word “Dātā” and arrested him. This narrative, like many others in Barelvi literature, is invented fiction — because their religion is constructed upon such imaginative tales rather than the Qur’an and Sunnah.
His main point: it is permissible to call a human being “Dātā.”
Then he further tries to prove that human beings can share in the attributes of Allah.
◈ Barelvi Argument: Human Beings Share Divine Attributes
Qadri claims:
- Humans are called “Mawlānā”, while the Qur’an says:
أَنتَ مَوْلَىٰنَا فَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
“You are our Protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people.”
(Surah Al-Baqarah: 286)
He argues that this use of "Mawlā" is not shirk.
Then he compares:
هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ
“Indeed, He is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.”
(Surah Al-Isra: 1)
With:
جَعَلْنَـٰهُ سَمِيعًۢا بَصِيرًا
“We made him hearing and seeing.”
(Surah Al-Dahr: 2)
Thus claiming that attributes like Samī‘ (Hearing) and Baṣīr (Seeing) are shared by Allah and man. He presents further verses like:
بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَءُوفٌۭ رَّحِيمٌ
“He is kind and merciful towards the believers.”
(Surah At-Tawbah: 128)
And from Surah Al-Hashr: Allah is described as:
The Sovereign, The Pure, The Source of Peace, The Protector...
Then argues: since these attributes are shared by both Allah and man, calling someone Dātā or attributing Divine characteristics is not shirk.
✔ First Response:
The distinction between truth and falsehood is evident here:
- They strive to prove others share in Allah’s attributes, while we present proofs that Allah is absolutely unique in His Being and Attributes.
Remember this principle:
Allah has no partner in His Being or Attributes. He is absolutely One and Unique in every aspect.Though the words Samī‘ (hearing) and Baṣīr (seeing) may be used for both Allah and man, the meanings, scope, and nature of these attributes are entirely different.
- Allah hears everything, in all languages, from everywhere, at every moment.
- The hearing of humans is limited, conditional, and needs means (like ears, sound waves, etc.).
- A man cannot hear a voice beyond a specific range. For example, if the Adhan is given without a loudspeaker, even a short distance makes it inaudible.
Human hearing is perishable; Allah’s hearing is eternal. Humans are dependent on Allah for hearing; Allah is self-sufficient.So, how can the Creator and the creation be equal in their hearing or seeing?
Allah, from above His Throne, hears even the whisper of a crawling ant on a rock in the dark of night. Can any human being do that?
Likewise, Allah sees everything — in light and darkness, on land and sea, from near and far — without any limitation.
- Human vision is limited.
- He cannot see in darkness without light.
- He cannot see beyond a certain range.
Therefore, whoever believes a human possesses such attributes in the same unlimited way as Allah does, is guilty of shirk in attributes (shirk fi al-sifat) — and this is a major shirk.✔ Second Response:
Allah says:
قُلْ تَعَالَوْا۟ أَتْلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْۖ أَلَّا تُشْرِكُوا۟ بِهِ شَيْـًٔا
“Say: Come, I will recite what your Lord has forbidden to you: Do not associate anything with Him.”
(Surah Al-An‘ām: 151)
And also:
قُلْ إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ رَبِّيَ الْفَوَاحِشَ... وَأَن تُشْرِكُوا بِاللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِ سُلْطَانًا
“Say: My Lord has only forbidden indecency... and associating with Allah that for which He has sent down no authority.”
(Surah Al-A‘rāf: 33)
These verses prove that shirk is forbidden, and there is no divine proof or revelation allowing it.
However, Allah Himself has said:
جَعَلْنَـٰهُ سَمِيعًۢا بَصِيرًا
“We made him hearing and seeing.”
(Surah Al-Dahr: 2)
So when Allah affirms these attributes for man in a limited, created, and dependent sense — it is not shirk.
But believing that man possesses these attributes in the same eternal, perfect, absolute manner as Allah, is shirk.
Otherwise, if having partial attributes made someone a partner with Allah, then Allah would not have bestowed them on His creation — while simultaneously forbidding shirk!
❖ Final Clarification:
- Allah hears the beating of hearts, the most secret thoughts, the unspoken whispers.
- Human abilities are finite and dependent on tools and environment.
- Therefore, comparing the Creator’s attributes with those of creation is a grave injustice.
The Creator is independent of all causes. The creation is dependent upon causes. Allah’s attributes are absolute, eternal, and without limit. The creation’s attributes are limited, temporary, and dependent.