Sharh Al-Aqeedat-il-Wasitiyah (Islamic book) -A muslims foundation of beliefs

8. Meaning of Tahreef, Ta 'teel and Tamtheel

And it forms part of the faith in Allah that we believe in those Attributes with which Allah has qualified Himself and with which the Prophet (peace be upon him) has qualified Allah. Neither should alterations be made nor negations, nor attributing a state of being nor of likeness to creation. The belief should rather be that the Self of Allah is as He has mentioned in the verse:

"There is nothing like unto Him and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer."

While explaining the meaning of Faith in detail, the author tells about the Faith of the Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama 'ah.

Tahreef means changing. Introducing change in a statement means leaving out the meaning understood by it and accepting such a meaning which the words may indicate in a doubtful sense. Of course, if there is a context to justify this sense then one must explain its possibility.

Ta'teel means leaving and vacating. In the present context it means negating the Attributes of Allah and denying them with His Self. The difference between Tahreef and Ta 'teel is that in the latter case that real meaning is denied which is proved by the Quran and the Hadith, while in Tahreef the explanation of the text is done with such meanings that are false and the word does not prove them. So Ta'teel includes Tahreef. Wherever there is Tahreef, Ta'teel is certainly there, but the reverse is not true. If someone tries to prove the false meaning and denies the real meaning, he is committing both Ta 'teel and Tahreef. If someone denies the Attributes proved from the Quran and the Sunnah and maintains that it is not the manifest sense which is meant, and yet he himself does not determine a sense, then it is called Tafweed . It is wrong to say that Tafweed was the creed of the Salaf. It was the Asha'irah (1) of the later times who ascribed this thing to the Salaf. The Salaf did not do Tafweed while trying to find out the meaning of something nor did they read anything whose meaning they did not understand. On the other hand, they understood the meaning of the passages of the Quran and the Sunnah, and proved these meanings in favour of Allah. Albeit, they would submit the knowledge of the reality and state of these meanings to Allah. When Imam Malik was asked about the state of Istiwaa (establishing, rising) of Allah on the heaven (Throne), he said Istiwaa is known but its condition is unknown.

Takyeef means to have faith that the states of the Attributes of Allah are such and such, or  putting questions about the state of the Attributes of Allah.

Tamtheel means to believe that the Attributes of Allah are like the Attributes of the creature. The phrase Bi ghair takyeef means that Ahlus Sunnah deny that they have any knowledge of His condition, for Allah Alone knows the state of His Self and Attributes. But this does not mean that they completely deny the states themselves, for it is essential for everything that it has a state.

"There is nothing like unto Him."

It is a clear Quranic verse. This is the code of conduct of the Ahlus Sunnah about negation and affirmation. He has negated the existence of anything like Him but has affirmed the Attributes of hearing and seeing for His Self.

This shows that the correct creed is not that the Attributes are completely denied as is the way of the Mu'attilah(2) nor is it to try to completely prove them as is the way of the Mumaththilah (3) . The true creed is to make an affirmation of the Attributes without similitudes. In the word Kamithlihi the Arabic letter Kaaf has been added for emphasis as the poet says: "There is none comparable to Zuhair in nobility."

Footnote

1. Al-Asha'irah (Ash'arite): They are the followers of Abul Hasan Al-Ash'ari, who was Mu'tazili. Then he left E 'tizaal and adopted a way between E 'tizaal and Ahlus Sunnah wal-Jama 'ah. In his last age, he returned to the creeds of Ahlus Sunnah and followed Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal in his theories. But some of his followers still remained on previous belief. They amplify the Attributes of Allah and have belief similar to Al-Murji'ah. They are closest to Ahlus Sunnah among all astrayed sects.

2. AI-Mu'attilah: One group of Mu 'tazilah.

3. Al-Mumaththilah, Al-Mushabbiha or AI-Mujassimah: They are opponent of Al-Jahmiyah in affirmation of Names and Attributes of Allah. They believe that Allah Possesses Hand similar to the hand of creatures, Hearing as hearing of creatures, Sight as sight of creatures etc. Exalted is Allah from that the wrongdoers say about Him. He is High and Great.