The Question:
Is it allowable for one to ask where Allah is? Is Allah (May He be exalted) above His servants?
And is that understanding representative of anthropomorphism?
Also, what is our position towards those who say that such a question is not permissible and that Allah (swt) is above any place or location?
The Answer:
Imam Suhaib Webb has posted a pledge entitled “Pledge of Mutual Respect and Cooperation Between Sunni Muslim Scholars, Organizations, and Students of Sacred Knowledge” in which scholars like Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, Imam Zaid Shakir, Shaykh Yasir Qadhi, Shaykh Muhammad Alshareef, Shaykh Faraz Rabbani, Shaykh Mokhtar Maghrouri, Imam Muhammad ibn Adam, Shaykh Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf, Imam Tahir Anwar, Dr. Abdal-Hakim Jackson, Shaykh Abdullah Adhami and others have signed.
Basically the pledge can be summarized into no condemning and “takfir’ing” of the different creeds, no attacks on scholars of different views from creed to fiqh to anything in Islam. In other words just love your Sunni brother and khalas! Imam Suhaib has added the list of scholars and activists who have signed it, so I’d like to make a list of all the Muslim bloggers around the world who endorse this pledge. Comment if your blog supports this pledge!
There was a conference with a number of scholars in Wales in which Sh. Abdullah bin Bayyah was giving some lectures and presentations. After it was over the scholars including the above mentioned decided on what to do. The pledge idea came up and all the individual scholars thought of some points and it was compiled by Imam Zaid Shakir. It was then expanded with a mailing list and more scholars gave feedback and then it went public.
Shaykh Hamza Yusuf at ISNA 2007, entitled “Upholding Faith, Serving Humanity”:
MashaAllah! Allah hu Akbar! First Imam Suhaib Webb and now Shaykh Hamza Yusuf calls for unity. May Allah (swt) give us (the students fo the various institues such as Al-Maghrib, SunniPath, Zaytuna, etc.) the ability to attain this unity and to be more accepting of our differences. Ameen!
More ISNA 2007 Video:
Alhamdulillah! Imam Suhaib Webb’s new article is much better. Check it out here.
Love this part:
For that reason it was a mistake to resign from Sunnipath. I will be contacting Sh. Faraz and hoping that, as I reach out my hand to his, as I’m sure, I will already find his waiting. Sunnipath is trying to move forward in developing a higher discourse, beyond the horrible nasty things that are going on amongst many so called religious people in our community. I support them 100% and encourage others to take advantage of their resources and benefit from them. Although, I must make this clear I differ with them on a number of major issues, I will forgo such differences to move forward and continue to foster a sense of unity. The same can be said of al-Maghrib, I don’t agree with everything they do or say, but will continue to work with both. Thus, inshallah, all is not lost.
May Allah preserve Imam Suhaib Webb.
