Sharh Tahawiyyah Page 288 -
On , Ibn Abi al-'Izz launches into a detailed critique of the interpretation that Allah is free from direction entirely. He argues that "direction" in the sense of a physical container is impossible for Allah, but a "directional relationship" of aboveness ( fawqiyyah ) that befits His majesty is affirmed by the Qur'an (e.g., Surah al-Mulk: "And He is the One above His servants...").
If you are a student of Islamic creed ( Aqidah ), you know that Sharh al-Aqidah at-Tahawiyyah
"Whoever claims that Allah is not above the heavens is not following al-Tahawi, but rather the Jahmites. The Salaf all agreed that Allah is above the Throne, and that the Throne is not a container for Him."
traditionally argued that the core essence of conviction ( Tasdiq ) does not inherently fragment into parts, though its strength, light, and fruits vary immensely.
Ibn Abi al-‘Izz fiercely condemns using qadr as an excuse for disobedience, citing the Qur’an: “Those who associate partners will say, ‘If Allah had willed, we would not have associated…’” (6:148) — a preemptive excuse rejected by revelation. sharh tahawiyyah page 288
The separation of actions from the core definition of faith.
| Commentary | Author (and era) | Content on Page 288 (or equivalent) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Naser al-Aql (Contemporary) | Contains a Q&A segment answering two questions: 1. On the concept of a recurring "week" dedicated to Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab (the author clarifies it was a one-time event). 2. Explaining the meaning of the divine name al-Qayyum (the Self-Subsisting) and how it proves God's eternality and self-sufficiency. Also includes criticism of Ibn Hazm's approach to God's names, accusing him of a form of denial ( ta'til ). | | شرح العقيدة الطحاوية (Ibn Abi al-'Izz) | Ibn Abi al-'Izz (d. 792 AH) | Discusses the theological debate on whether righteous humans can surpass angels in station . It presents arguments from both sides, including linguistic evidence from the Qur'an regarding the precedence of mentioning angels over Prophet Jesus, used to argue for their superiority. | | شرح العقيدة الطحاوية (al-Babarti) | Akmal al-Din al-Babarti (d. 786 AH) | The page (from the Kuwaiti Ministry of Awqaf edition) likely continues a discussion, but the publicly available PDF scan is currently unreadable. | | شرح العقيدة الطحاوية (al-Barrak) | 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Nasir al-Barrak (Contemporary) | The text on this page includes an argument for God's power of creation , citing the creation of the heavens and earth as proof that their Creator is capable of doing all things, including resurrection. | | شرح العقيدة الطحاوية (Safar al-Hawali) | Safar al-Hawali (Contemporary) | This page is part of the section discussing God's Names and Attributes , likely addressing the theological pitfalls of analogizing God's attributes to His creation [16†L25-L28]. | | Mukhtasar al-'Aqidah al-Tahawiyyah (al-Jassas) | Ahmad ibn 'Ali al-Jassas (d. 370 AH) | This page is in the section on Fiqh rulings , specifically a detailed jurisprudential ( fiqhi ) discussion on the linguistic definitions of "day" ( yawm ), "month," and "menstrual period" ( qur' ), using them to derive legal rulings for women in a state of post-natal bleeding ( nifas ). |
Could you provide more context or information about what you are looking for on that specific page? such as which chapter or topic it relates to?
(the exact page number varies slightly by edition—Cairo 1955, Mu'assasat al-Risalah, or modern printings like Dar al-Salam) typically falls within the section discussing Allah’s Attributes (Sifat), specifically the debate around al-Jihah (direction) and al-Hayyiz (space or place). On , Ibn Abi al-'Izz launches into a
This section also addresses the adherence to the community (Jama’ah) and non-rebellion against leadership, even if they are unjust.
On and around page 288, Ibn Abi al-Izz details the textual evidence regarding Iman and Islam . The text underscores a balanced principle: .
The theological exposition of Imam Abū Ja‘far al-Ṭaḥāwī (d. 321 AH) remains one of the most authoritative summaries of Sunni creed. Its commentary by Ibn Abi al-‘Izz (d. 792 AH), Sharḥ al-‘Aqīdah al-Ṭaḥāwiyyah , provides a rigorous Hanafī (and broadly Salafi-oriented) elaboration. On page 288 of standard Arabic editions, the commentary typically addresses a pivotal question:
Imam al-Tahawi wrote his original text to outline the creed of the mainstream Muslim community ( Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah ) according to the views of early jurists, particularly Imam Abu Hanifa and his companions. Centuries later, Ibn Abi al-Izz al-Hanafi wrote his comprehensive commentary ( Sharh ). His goal was to harmonize the traditional Hanafi theological lineage with the textual methodologies championed by scholars like Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn al-Qayyim. The Salaf all agreed that Allah is above
: The write-up delves into the linguistic roots of the words
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Page 288 of Sharḥ al-Ṭaḥāwiyyah is not a dry philosophical exercise — it is a pastoral and theological defense of divine justice. Ibn Abi al-‘Izz shows that affirming Allah’s complete power does not erase human responsibility; rather, it deepens humility and obedience. The page stands as a timeless corrective to both excessive rationalism and careless predestinarianism, embodying the Sunni creed that “all is from Allah” yet “to us is our deeds.”