Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.
Authentic texts establish that some of Allah’s creations were specifically distinguished as having been created or made by His Hand, unlike the rest of creation. Among the most important texts concerning this are the following:
This is established explicitly in the Qur’an. Allah تعالى says:
﴿Allah said: “O Iblis, what prevented you from prostrating to that which I created with My two Hands? Were you arrogant, or were you among the exalted?”﴾ [Sad: 75]
This verse clearly specifies Adam, peace be upon him, as having been created by Allah with His two Hands.
It was narrated from al-Mughirah ibn Shu‘bah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Those are the ones whom I intended: I planted their honor with My Hand and sealed it; no eye has seen it, no ear has heard of it, and it has never occurred to the heart of a human being.”
Narrated by Muslim.
This hadith explains the honor and bliss that Allah has prepared for His servants.
It is established in the hadith of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, concerning the debate between Adam and Musa, peace be upon them, that Adam said to Musa:
“You are Musa, whom Allah chose by His Speech, and He wrote for you with His Hand...”
In another narration:
“He wrote the Torah for you with His Hand.”
Narrated by Muslim.
This hadith indicates that Musa, peace be upon him, was specially honored by what Allah wrote for him with His Hand.
As for the Pen, it is mentioned in the report narrated from Abdullah ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, which is the report referred to in the question:
“Allah created four things with His Hand: the Throne, the Pen, Adam, and Jannat ‘Adn. Then He said to the rest of creation: ‘Be,’ and it was.”
This report was narrated through Ubayd al-Maktab, from Mujahid, from Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him. It was also narrated by a number of scholars, including at-Tabari, ad-Darimi, Abu ash-Shaykh, al-Ajurri, al-Hakim, and al-Bayhaqi.
Al-Hakim declared its chain authentic, and adh-Dhahabi agreed with him.
Reports with a similar meaning were also narrated from Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, and from a number of the Tabi‘un.
Ahl as-Sunnah accepted this report and cited it in their works in the context of affirming the attribute of the Hand for Allah and refuting those who denied it.
Imam Uthman ibn Sa‘id ad-Darimi, may Allah have mercy on him, said after mentioning the report:
“Do you not see, O Marisi, how Ibn Umar distinguished Adam and separated him from the rest of creation by stating that he was created by the Hand?”
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
“The establishment of what the evidence establishes concerning these attributes does not entail that the Lord needs them. Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, is capable of creating what He creates with His two Hands, and He is capable of creating what He creates without His two Hands.”
He then mentioned the reports concerning the creation of some things by His two Hands and others without His two Hands.
There are reports attributed directly to the Prophet ﷺ that mention together the things Allah تعالى created with His Hand. However, these reports are weak, so there is no need to rely upon them.
As for the report attributed to Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, it was narrated by a number of scholars, and al-Hakim declared its chain authentic, with adh-Dhahabi agreeing with him.
The understood meaning of specifying these things as having been created by Allah’s Hand is additional honor, distinction, and exaltation, for a wisdom known to Him سبحانه وتعالى.
Allah has given some of His creations particular qualities and virtues that He has not given to others. Among these is the special distinction of Adam, peace be upon him, in being created with the two Hands.
A Muslim should not burden himself by trying to investigate how this occurred, nor delve into matters for which there is no textual evidence. Rather, it is obligatory to affirm what has been authentically established from Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, while declaring Allah free from every deficiency, defect, and resemblance to His creation.
Imam Uthman ibn Sa‘id ad-Darimi, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
“Adam has no virtue greater than that Allah created him with His Hand, distinguishing him by this from all His creation, and thereby giving him superiority over all the prophets, messengers, and angels.”
He also mentioned that Musa, peace be upon him, used this distinction as an argument against Adam, peace be upon him, saying:
“You are the one whom Allah created with His Hand.”
The Qur’an, Sunnah, and reports from the early generations establish that some creations were specifically distinguished as having been created or made by Allah’s Hand. Among the most prominent are:
Adam, peace be upon him — explicitly established in the Qur’an.
Jannat ‘Adn (the Garden of Eden) — a hadith indicates that it was planted by His Hand.
The Tablets for Musa, peace be upon him — it is established in the hadith that He wrote for him, or wrote the Torah for him, with His Hand.
The Pen — this is mentioned in the report of Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him.
It is obligatory to affirm what has been established, without asking how and without likening Allah to His creation. One should not delve into the manner of the attribute of the Hand or how it relates to these creations. Allah سبحانه وتعالى says:
﴿There is nothing whatsoever like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.﴾
And Allah knows best.