Hadiths
The Messenger of God - may God’s prayers and peace be upon him - said: (Whoever treads a path in search of knowledge, God will make easy for him a path to Paradise).
The Messenger of God - may God’s prayers and peace be upon him - said: (Whoever God wants good for, He makes him understand the religion)
The Messenger of God - may God’s prayers and peace be upon him - said: (Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim).
The Messenger of God - may God’s prayers and peace be upon him - said: (If a person dies, his work is cut off except for three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who
Islamic Creed The Names and Attributes of Allah in Islam 209 2026-08-06

Do we affirm for Allah the attributes of hastening (harwalah) and shade?

Question
Do we affirm for Allah the attributes of hastening (harwalah) and shade as mentioned in some Islamic texts? How do Ahl al-Sunnah reconcile affirming what is established in the Qur'an and the Sunnah with understanding these texts correctly?
Answer

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:

The fundamental principle of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jamā'ah is to affirm whatever Allah has affirmed for Himself, or whatever His Messenger ﷺ has affirmed for Him, without distortion (taḥrīf), denial (taʿṭīl), asking how (takyīf), or likening Him to His creation (tamthīl).

However, scholars may differ regarding the understanding of certain texts: whether they establish an attribute in its literal sense, or whether the context indicates another intended meaning.

Is the attribute of harwalah (hastening) affirmed?

Harwalah is mentioned in the divine hadith in which Allah says:

"If he comes to Me walking, I come to him hastening."

The scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah have differed in understanding this text:

  • Some affirm it as an attribute of Allah in a manner befitting His Majesty, without asking how or likening it to the actions of creation.
  • Others hold that the context indicates the intended meaning is Allah's swift acceptance of His servant and His quick reward, since the entire hadith concerns drawing near to Allah through acts of obedience and the reward that follows, not literal physical movement.

For this reason, this issue is regarded as one of the legitimate scholarly differences within Ahl al-Sunnah.

Is "shade" affirmed for Allah?

Some hadiths mention the shade of Allah, such as the famous narration:

"Seven will be shaded by Allah in His shade..."

The scholars have differed regarding its meaning. Some said it refers to a shade that Allah will create on the Day of Resurrection, while others affirmed it in a manner befitting Allah, without asking how, while agreeing that it does not resemble the shade of created beings.

Therefore, it is not correct to treat the issue of the shade exactly like the issue of harwalah, because each text has its own context and should be understood according to the evidence related to it.

Conclusion

Ahl al-Sunnah affirm the texts concerning Allah's attributes as they have come, while declaring Allah far above any resemblance to His creation. They may differ in understanding certain expressions that can bear more than one meaning, such as harwalah and the shade. This is a valid scholarly disagreement.

As for the attributes that the evidence explicitly establishes—such as Allah's Highness, His rising above the Throne, His descending, and His coming—they are affirmed in a manner befitting His Majesty, without distortion or likening Him to His creation.

And Allah knows best.