Praise be to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.
According to Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jamāʿah, it is established that Allah تعالى has two eyes befitting His majesty, without likening them to the eyes of creation and without asking how they are. Among the strongest proofs is what is established in both Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim from the Prophet ﷺ: “Indeed, your Lord is not one-eyed,” in contrast to the description of the Dajjal as one-eyed. As for someone who does not understand the evidence establishing the dual form and therefore only affirms the attribute of an eye for Allah, he is not to be declared a disbeliever, although he has made an error in understanding the position of Ahl al-Sunnah.
It is established in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī from ʿAbdullah ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه that the Prophet ﷺ said concerning the Dajjal:
“Indeed, Allah is not hidden from you; indeed, Allah is not one-eyed,” and he pointed to his eye, then mentioned that the false messiah, the Dajjal, was one-eyed in his right eye.
It is also established in Bukhārī and Muslim from Anas رضي الله عنه that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“There was no prophet except that he warned his people about the one-eyed liar. Indeed, he is one-eyed, while your Lord is not one-eyed.”
This hadith is among the clearest proofs in this matter. The Prophet ﷺ affirmed the negation of one-eyedness from Allah تعالى. One-eyedness means the loss of the function of one of the eyes or the loss of its sight.
Thus, one-eyedness does not simply mean complete blindness. Rather, it is a defect affecting one of the eyes. This is why describing the Dajjal as one-eyed appropriately demonstrates his deficiency, whereas Allah تعالى is far above every form of deficiency.
There are other texts that support affirming two eyes.
Al-Bayhaqī transmitted the hadith of ʿUqbah ibn ʿĀmir رضي الله عنه, in which the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Indeed, our Lord is All-Hearing, All-Seeing,”
and he pointed toward his eyes. Al-Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar mentioned that its chain of transmission is ḥasan (good).
It has also been transmitted from al-Dārimī with wording in the dual form.
Imam Ibn Khuzaymah, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
“We say: Our Creator and Lord has two eyes with which He sees...”
This indicates that a group of the Imams of Ahl al-Sunnah understood the texts as establishing two eyes for Allah تعالى.
Abū al-Ḥasan al-Ashʿarī also reported that the people of hadith and Sunnah affirmed this, stating among their beliefs:
“And that He has two eyes without asking how, as He said: ‘That you may be brought up under My Eye’ [Ṭā Hā: 39].”
Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymīn, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
“Ahl al-Sunnah unanimously agree that the eyes are two.”
Thus, the relied-upon position among Ahl al-Sunnah is to affirm two eyes for Allah تعالى, in a manner befitting Him.
Some may ask: If Allah has two eyes, why does the Qur’an sometimes use the singular and sometimes the plural?
Allah تعالى said to Moses عليه السلام:
“And that you may be brought up under My Eye.” [Ṭā Hā: 39]
And concerning the Ark of Noah عليه السلام, He said:
“And construct the Ark under Our Eyes and according to Our revelation.” [Hūd: 37]
The variation between the singular and plural does not necessitate denying the dual form. The Sunnah contains explanations that clarify the intended meaning, and Ahl al-Sunnah interpret these texts in a manner befitting Allah تعالى, while affirming what has been established of His attributes without likening them to creation.
No.
If a Muslim affirms that Allah تعالى has an eye, as indicated in the texts, but the evidence for the dual form has not become clear to him, he should not be declared a disbeliever.
Making an error in understanding some details of the subject of Divine attributes does not by itself make a Muslim a disbeliever, especially if his intention is to follow the truth and he has not deliberately rejected or mocked the texts.
However, once the authentic evidence becomes clear to him, he is required to accept what has been established from Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, and to believe that the attributes of Allah تعالى befit His majesty and do not resemble the attributes of created beings.
According to Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jamāʿah, it is established that Allah تعالى has two eyes befitting His majesty. Among the evidence is the Prophet’s ﷺ statement: “Indeed, your Lord is not one-eyed,” along with the reports and statements transmitted from the Imams of Ahl al-Sunnah affirming two eyes.
One-eyedness does not mean complete blindness; rather, it means the loss of the function or sight of one eye. Thus, describing the Dajjal as one-eyed indicates his deficiency, whereas Allah تعالى is free from all deficiency.
Whoever does not understand the evidence for the dual form and therefore only affirms an eye for Allah is not thereby a disbeliever, although he has made an error in this matter. The evidence should be explained to him gently.
The obligation regarding the attributes of Allah تعالى is to affirm what has been established without resemblance and without asking how.
And Allah knows best.