YADAN
A DEEPER LOOK INTO A DEEP MISUNDERSTANDING
BY ABDULLAH ALI AL AMIN
Asalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatahu,
THE MISUNDERSTANDING
During my discourses in the subject of Aqeedah (creed) I have noticed there are commonly used defense mechanisms among different sects and groups. By this I mean each group has specific arguments, statements, proofs, etc. that they turn to ether right away in the beginning to the discourse or once you have them intellectually cornered. I would like to focus on one of these in particular that is often used by the Wahabiyyah (i.e. so called Salafiyyah).
I have found one of their most favorite verses to turn to in the justification for their creed is verse 75 in Surah (chapter) 38. Within this verse Allah subhana wa ta'alaa says,
قَالَ يَـٰٓإِبۡلِيسُ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَن تَسۡجُدَ لِمَا خَلَقۡتُ بِيَدَىَّۖ أَسۡتَكۡبَرۡتَ أَمۡ كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلۡعَالِينَ
"O Iblis, what prevents you from prostrating yourself to him whom I created with my two hands."
The Wahabis turn to this verse as a justification due to one part of the verse in particular, "with my two hands" or yadan. From this verse they develope the idea that He subhana wa ta'alaa only made Adam alayhi salaam and object of prostration for the Angels because He subhana wa ta'alaa created Adam alayhi salaam with "His two hands". For them this would be to reject the notion that the word in the verse, yadan, could mean one of its other definitions such as qudra (power) because of the reality that Allah's power is one not two. So the definition or modality if you will most be something other than this. As result they embrace the methodology of the mujassima (anthropomorphists) without any hesitation by declaring the word yadan to mean literally "two hands" but soften the blow of these anthropomorphic statement by often following it with "by not like our hands" or "in a way that meets his essence". This belief is in fact an evil innovation and a vile deviancy from the path of Ahluls Sunnah wal Jamaat!
I would like to take the time now to take a deeper look into this deep misunderstanding. I have borrowed much of what will be contained in this article from the works of Shaykh ibn al Jawzi al Hanbali raheema'Allah ta'alaa and Shaykh Ibn Razi raheema'Allah ta'alaa in order to make sure the explanation stays within the boundaries of factual proofs and logic and not simply rhetoric or ramblings.
THE RESPONSE TO THE NOTION OF THE WAHABIYYAH
I would like to start first by making a response to the belief of the Wahabiyyah as was explained above. If a person were to spend long hours with careful procession on a project, something of great value to them, they may say something have completion that goes like, "I created this thing with my own two hands". A potter who had made a priceless vase, a carpenter who built an exquisite table, a architect who designed a new look, etc. are all examples of situations where one would have such a love, compassion, kindness, admiration, etc. for what they had "created with their own two hand".
Imam Hassan al Basri raheema'Allah ta'alaa once said when commenting on the word of Allah subhana wa ta'alaa, "“The term ‘hand’ means the blessing (minna) or kindness (ihsan) of God". The ignorance of the Wahabiyyah in the fields of the Arabic language is the greatest weakness when having to do with matters of Aqeedah. In order to grasp the reality of verses such as the one we are dealing with would mean to first grasp even the most minor knowledge of what we are actually dealing with, this is the first obstacle. The only reason that the Wahabiyyah would mention in their justification for their beliefs surrounding this verse the notion that this verse could mean qudra (power) is because this is the only word they are taught to believe the true Sunni Muslims see as a definition for the word "yad" or "yadan" in plural form or at least this is what they force themselves to believe. Rather we see right away that it is not as simple as this and when one breaks past the barriers of ignorance and rises into the realms of higher learning they will find facts such as the one stated above of Imam Hassan al Basri raheema'Allah ta'alaa, this allows us to move forward in our deeper look into this matter.
The Wahabiyyah attempt to justify the later part of their argument and their main point by first setting up a context for the verse itself. This context being that the verse is having to do with the "choosing" (istifa) of Adam alayhi salaam over all other creation. However this verse could not have anything to do with choosing as the statement is no one which is uniquely made about Adam alayhi salaam. According to this logic of the Wahabiyyah the cattle and beasts would have to be on the same level or status of Adam alayhi salaam! Allah subhana wa ta'alaa says in verse 71 of Surah 36,
أَوَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ أَنَّا خَلَقۡنَا لَهُم مِّمَّا عَمِلَتۡ أَيۡدِينَآ أَنۡعَـٰمً۬ا فَهُمۡ لَهَا مَـٰلِكُونَ
"Have they not seen how We have created for them of Our Hands the cattle, so that they are their owners"
The verse containing yet again the plural of the word "yad", but yet not applied in the unique way that the Wahabis initially claim in their justification. This is perhaps because the word itself is not unique, but rather the definition along with its proper context by its true understanding.
Shaykh ibn Razi raheema'Allah ta'alaa explains in his commentary on the verse, "Furthermore we say: why isn't it possible to say that His words "...created with My Two Hands" explain Allah's immense concern with creating him and bringing him into being? When someone wishes to emphasize the completion of important matters, he might say: "This is something I did with my own two hands." It is known that the creation with other than this type of divine concern is what occurred with other than Adam alayhi salaam (i.e. that the other creation were not created with the same level of Divine concern).”
There you have it. As you see we brought up this point briefly earlier in the article. While the notion of “yadan” in this verse may be wrong, so is the notion that it could mean two literal hands based on the context of choosing (istifa). Rather two forms of divine concern.
Insha’Allah ta’alaa this matter is clear and Allah will allow this short piece to be of benefit for the seeker of knowledge on this matter. All that which was correct, good, authentic, and truth is from Allah subhana wa ta’alaa and whatever is evil, wrong, incorrect, or misguidance is indeed from myself and the Shaytaan (i.e. Satan).
- Abdullah Ali Al-Amin
The Nur uz Zamaan Institute
