Praise be to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
The belief of Ahl al-Sunnah is that the names and attributes of Allah are not created, and that Allah has always possessed the attributes of perfection that befit Him. They also believe that the Qur’an is the uncreated Speech of Allah. They affirm for Allah whatever names and attributes He affirmed for Himself and whatever His Messenger ﷺ affirmed for Him, without distortion, denial, asking how, or likening them to the attributes of creation.
The truth does not change because a contrary view becomes famous or because many people adopt it. In matters of belief, the reference is the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of His Messenger ﷺ, and the way of the Companions and the early generations of Muslims.
The Qur’an and Sunnah Are the Reference in Matters of Belief
A Muslim must base his beliefs on what has come in the Qur’an and Sunnah and should strive to understand the religion according to the way of the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ.
The Prophet ﷺ warned against the disagreements and innovations that would appear after him, saying:
“Indeed, whoever among you lives will see much disagreement. Beware of newly invented matters, for they are misguidance. Whoever among you witnesses that must adhere to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided caliphs. Hold firmly to it with your molar teeth.”
[Reported by al-Tirmidhi]
The existence of disagreement among people does not mean that the truth cannot be known. Likewise, the popularity of a view or the fame of the person who holds it is not evidence that it is correct.
Therefore, the question should always be: What is the evidence from the Qur’an and Sunnah, and what was the position of the Companions and the early generations?
The Names of Allah Are Not Created
The leading scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah affirmed that the names of Allah are not created, and the early generations rejected the claim that they are created.
Allah says:
“And to Allah belong the Most Beautiful Names, so call upon Him by them.”
[Al-A‘raf 7:180]
The names of Allah include attributes of perfection that befit Him. Allah named Himself with these names and praised Himself with them.
It is reported that Imam al-Shafi‘i, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
“Whoever swears by one of the names of Allah and then breaks his oath must offer expiation, because the name of Allah is not created. But whoever swears by the Ka‘bah or by al-Safa and al-Marwah does not owe expiation, because they are created, whereas that is not created.”
The leading scholars of the early generations also strongly rejected the claim that Allah’s names, knowledge, and attributes are created.
Allah Has Always Possessed the Attributes of Perfection
Allah is perfect in His Essence, names, and attributes. He did not acquire attributes of perfection after creating the universe.
He was All-Knowing before the existence of created beings and All-Powerful before the existence of things over which His power is exercised. He is the Creator and Provider in a manner befitting His Majesty.
It is therefore incorrect to believe that Allah lacked an attribute of perfection and then later acquired it, because lacking an attribute of perfection is a deficiency, and Allah is exalted above every deficiency.
Allah says:
“Indeed, Allah has always been All-Knowing, All-Powerful.”
[Al-Nisa’ 4:17]
And He says:
“Indeed, Allah has always been All-Hearing, All-Seeing.”
[Al-Nisa’ 4:58]
The meaning is that Allah has always possessed the perfection that befits Him.
Is the Qur’an Created?
The belief of Ahl al-Sunnah is that the Qur’an is the Speech of Allah, revealed and uncreated.
Speech is one of Allah’s attributes, and Allah Himself spoke the Qur’an in a manner befitting His Majesty.
For this reason, historically, the claim that Allah’s names are created became connected with the claim that the Qur’an is created. Someone who says that Allah’s Speech is created may consequently argue that the names by which Allah named Himself in His Speech are also created.
The leading scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah rejected this belief and affirmed that the Qur’an is the uncreated Speech of Allah.
How Does Ahl al-Sunnah Affirm Allah’s Attributes?
The methodology of Ahl al-Sunnah regarding Allah’s names and attributes is to affirm whatever Allah affirmed for Himself and whatever His Messenger ﷺ affirmed for Him in a manner befitting Allah, while declaring Him free from any resemblance to created beings.
Allah says:
“There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.”
[Al-Shura 42:11]
This verse combines two important principles:
Declaring Allah free from resemblance to His creation in the words: “There is nothing like unto Him.”
And affirming His attributes in the words: “And He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.”
Affirming Allah’s attributes does not mean likening them to human attributes, just as declaring Allah free from resemblance to creation does not mean denying the attributes with which He described Himself.
Therefore, Ahl al-Sunnah affirm Allah’s attributes without distortion or denial, and without asking how or likening them to those of creation.
What About Allah’s Highness Above His Creation?
Among the attributes established by the revealed texts are Allah’s highness above His creation and His rising over His Throne in a manner befitting His Majesty.
Allah says:
“The Most Merciful rose over the Throne.”
[Ta-Ha 20:5]
Ahl al-Sunnah affirm this without attempting to determine how the rising over the Throne occurs or likening it to the actions of created beings, because Allah says:
“There is nothing like unto Him.”
What is required is to affirm what is stated in revelation while entrusting the manner of the attribute to Allah.
Does a Scholar’s Fame or Large Following Prove That His View Is Correct?
A person’s fame and acceptance among people do not mean that all of his opinions are correct.
What matters is not the number of followers, nor social or scholarly status alone, but whether the view agrees with the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Allah says:
“If you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you truly believe in Allah and the Last Day.”
[Al-Nisa’ 4:59]
Therefore, the fame of a person should not cause a Muslim to hesitate in accepting clear evidence. At the same time, concern about errors in matters of belief should not turn into preoccupation with individuals or attacking them without knowledge.
The correct standard is to examine the statement itself and compare it with the evidence of Islamic revelation.
A well-known saying transmitted by scholars states:
“Do not feel lonely on the paths of guidance because few people follow them, and do not be deceived by the large number of those who perish.”
How Should a Muslim Deal with the Many Differing Views?
When disagreements become numerous, a Muslim should not think that reaching the truth has become impossible.
Rather, he should return to the Qur’an and Sunnah, ask trustworthy scholars, strive to understand the way of the Companions and the early generations, and not treat the number of supporters or the fame of individuals as independent proof of the correctness of a belief.
Most importantly, his goal should be to know and follow the truth, not merely to defend a particular person or group.
Conclusion
The belief of Ahl al-Sunnah is that the names and attributes of Allah are not created, that Allah has always possessed the attributes of perfection that befit Him, and that the Qur’an is the uncreated Speech of Allah.
Ahl al-Sunnah affirm whatever names and attributes Allah affirmed for Himself and whatever His Messenger ﷺ affirmed for Him, including His highness and His rising over the Throne, in a manner befitting His Majesty, without distortion, denial, asking how, or likening Him to creation.
As for the spread of a contrary view, or the fame and popularity of the person who holds it, this is not evidence that the view is correct, because truth is known through evidence from the Qur’an and Sunnah, not through the number of followers or the fame of individuals.
And Allah knows best.