Tuesday, April 19, 2011

10) Final Negating Attributes

The last two "Negating Attributes" of the 5 are:

God's existence being upheld by no one other than Himself (القيام بالنفس al-Qiyam bil-Nafs). 

Unlike everything we see around us, God is not upheld by anything. He does not need something to make Him exist. He does not need a place to hold Him nor a form to exist in. He does not need matter in order to be known the way descriptions need objects to be described by. (i.e. Colors aren't described by themselves, they are descriptions of something. Taking a blue bottle as an example, the blue cannot exist without the bottle and the bottle cannot exist without the blue (or a description of whatever the bottle's matter is made up of.) God is not need of any of that.

and

God being completely different from creation. (المخالفة للحوادث al-Mukhalafa lil-Hawadith)

There is nothing in creation that resembles God. God is completely different from anything that exists and from anything we'd ever imagine. He is what we cannot every fully imagine.
This means that God is not like humans. God is not composed of limbs, blood, flesh. Nor is God in need of movement or stasis. God is not in need of a place to exist in nor is He in need of time.


Whoever understands the 5 Negating Attributes has gotten to a deeper and more accurate understanding of the Divine. These attributes are known only after we understand and believe in the 8 Essential Attributes.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Comments are moderated.