Allah states:

“And never let your Hatred, against any People, prevent you from behaving justly.”

(Noble-Qur’ān: Chpt.5, V.8)

al-Muqaddimah/Prelude

Gareth Bryant (Atharī Corleone)

Tālib Nathaniel (Al B Ash`arī)

Yup…We’re at it again:

Our Religio-Academic Rivalry has reach another Turning-Point. It’s been a Fruitful-Back&Forth Discussion/Debate between the Siblings of the Pen, as per the Theological-Mas’alah/Issue concerning the Sifāt/Features-Of-Allah. This Particular-Clash between us exclusively stems from a Hadīth/Narration which was collected/recorded via the Muhaddith/Narration-Expert an-Nasā’ī.

The Hadīth-In-Question

The Hadīth itself is classified as “Sahīh/Authentic”, ironically. However, there’s been Immense-Contention/Resistance against This-Hadīth. It’s been because of one amongst the Muhaddithūn/Narrators of This-Hadīth who’s Apparent-Identity has seemingly been “Lost-In-Time”: they’re only known as “Muhammad” via the Hadīth and they mentioned something which has had Long-Lasting Controversial-Effects.

The Hadīth itself covers what Muhammad ibn-`Abdillah (Peace be upon them) described as per the Subject of the Qist/Justice of Allah, and that those amongst the Muslims whom manifest Human-Qist will be favored immensely by Allah. More specifically, the Hadīth elaborates that a Muslim-Muqsit/Just-Muslim will be granted Special-Manābir/Thrones of an-Nūr/Light from Allah & that the Nūr-Of-Allah is always upon the Just. And, the Hadīth specifically details that Yamīn-ur-Rahmān (the Right-Hand of The Source-Of-Mercy: one of the Asmā’/Names-Of-Allah) is upon those whom’re just.

Seems alright…right?!!!

Well…Tālib Nathaniel and Others beg to differ. lol

The Athar/Statement of the Obscure-Muhaddith “Muhammad”

“Muhammad” had given an Apparent-Sharh/Commentary regarding the Hadīth, stating that both of the Hands-Of-Allah are Right-Hands.

Here comes the Hadīth Shit-Show

Gareth Bryant & Tālib Nathaniel (#RespectfullyOfCourse) quite literally argued da Hell outta This-Subject along with Others via our WhatsApp Chat-Group. We’ve all spent Significant-Time/Energy discussung the Hadīth. It was literally Religio-Academic Chess in our Chat-Group: we were literally challenging each Other’s Religio-Academia, Religio-Intelligence, etc. We was really throwin Direct-Shots at each other…0-Strays. lol

The Clear Authentic Case against Allah having “Two Right Hands”

As we were discussing the Hadīth, Gareth Bryant being the Religio-Outlaw which I am: I made a Bold Chess-Move. I stated via the Chat-Group that I’m willing to give the Whole “2 Right-Hands” Concept an `Udhr/Pass, in spite of the Fact that the Concept is highly problematic (especially amongst the Atharī Frat-House as well as the Ash`arī Social-Club). For the Record, I’ve always publicly admitted how problematic “2 Right-Hands” is and I’ve never co-signed “2 Right-Hands”.

https://gbwrites.com/2024/03/19/tafwidhvstawil/

How/why is “2 Right-Hands” such a Theological-Issue?!!!

The “2 Right-Hands” Concept is just one amongst Many-Things which:

Salafīs use to weaponize their Renegade/Prodigal `Ibārāt/Interpretations of Atharism.

Atharīs use to pontificate/claim that Salafīs aren’t Atharī-Based.

Ash`arīs use to unjustly accuse Salafīs of committing ash-Shirk/Association.

Atharīs&Salafīs jointly pontificate/claim that Salafism is an `Aqīdah/Theology”.

https://gbwrites.com/2024/06/04/salafiaqidahmyth/

The Asbāb/Reasons how/why Gareth Bryant gives “2 Right-Hands” an `Udhr

Number-1

Inspite of the Contention/Controversy behind the Hadīth in which “2 Right-Hands” is mentioned as a Sharh: the Hadīth (as I’ve already aforementioned) has already been classified as “Sahīh”. And there’s a Sabab/Reason as per how/why an-Nasā’ī is so Religio-Academically Respected, as well as how/why an-Nasā’ī’s Musnad (Narration-Collection) is included in the Classic “Kutub-us-Sittah/6-Works”: the 6 Most-Respected/Lauded Masānid (Narration-Collections).

Number-2

Those whom preceded us via al-`Ilmiyyah (Islāmic-Knowledge), like an-Nasā’ī for example: they deemed the Hadīth worthy enough to grant it the “Sahīh” Stamp. And, I know for a Fact that we’re not “More-Knowledgeable” than they are.

Number-3

There absolutely has to be a Sense of at-Tawādhi`/Humility: we don’t know everything. Now, are those whom preceded us via al-`Ilmiyyah “All-Knowing”? Hell-No Are we Islāmically-Knowledgeable via our own Rights? Hell-Yeah Yet, at the Same-Time…we must Keep-In-Mind that these weren’t Some Regular-Niggas: these were True-`Ulāmā’/Academics whom contributed mightily to the Human-Kitābah/Documention of al-`Ilmiyyah and they deserve our Religio-Respect.

The Person-In-Question regarding the Hadīth via an-Nasā’ī: “Muhammad”

I’ve come accross something interesting…
…I’ve noticed there’s an Individual
by the Name of “Muhammad” who’s literally in the Sanad/Chain of the Hadīth-In-Question via the Musnad of an-Nasā’ī:

Muhammad ibn-Ādam ibn-Sulaymān

So…let’s investigate whom Muhammad ibn-Ādam ibn-Sulaymān was and whether or not they’re the same “Muhammad” whom submitted the Sharh stating that Allah possesses “2 Right-Hands”.

The Musayyir (Bioghapher/Historian) `Abd-ur-Rahmān ibn-Muhammad ibn-Idrīs ar-Rāzī said about them:

“Muhammad ibn-Ādam ibn-Sulaymān was a Muhaddith (Narration-Tranmitter) whom was Sadūq/Trustworthy.”

(al-Jarh wat-Ta`dīl, ibn Abī-Hātim ar-Rāzī)

So…since it’s confirmed that this “Muhammad”, mentioned directly via the Sanad of the Hadīth-In-Question, is Sadūq:

Are they in fact the same “Muhammad” whose Sharh via the Hadīth-In-Question states that both of Allah’s-Hands are “2 Right-Hands”?!!! And if this “Muhammad”, whom is confirmed to be Sadūq, actually said this: why did they say this?!!!

Unfortunately, my Iftā/Research about Muhammad ibn-Ādam ibn-Sulaymān has been limited to what ibn Abī-Hātim ar-Rāzī stated of them. But, all isn’t lost. We’ve still got some Interesting-Shurūh/Commentaries about the “2 Right-Hands” Concept. Plus, objectively, it’s really not that “Far-Fetched” that the “Muhammad” whom made the “2 Right-Hands” Sharh is indeed “Muhammad ibn-Ādam ibn-Sulaymān”.

Various-Madhāhib/Opinions amongst `Ulamā’/Religio-Scholars as per “2 Right-Hands”

Some-Iftā concerning
the “2 Right-Hands” Mas’alah/Subject

The phrase “two right hands” refers to the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ describing Allah as having “كلتا يديه يمين” (“both His hands are right”). This expression is found in authentic narrations and has been discussed extensively by scholars.

The meaning of “both His hands are right” is not literal in the sense of human anatomy, but rather signifies perfection, honor, and complete absence of deficiency. In human terms, the left hand is generally considered less capable or honorable than the right, so the hadith negates any possibility of deficiency in Allah’s attributes by stating that both hands are “right”—meaning both are perfect, honorable, and full of blessing and generosity.

As Ibn Qutaybah explains:

“إن هذا الحديث صحيح وليس هو مستحيلا، وإنما أراد بذلك معنى التمام والكمال، لأن كل شيء فمياسره تنقص عن ميامنه في القوة والبطش والتمام. وكانت العرب تحب التيامن، وتكره التياسر، لما في اليمين من التمام، وفي اليسار من النقص”

(“This hadith is authentic and not impossible; it means perfection and completeness, because the left side of things is less than the right in strength and completeness.

The Arabs loved the right and disliked the left because of the completeness in the right and deficiency in the left”)

(Taʾwīl mukhtalif al-ḥadīth)

Some narrations mention Allah’s “right” and “left” (or “other”) hand, but scholars clarify that if the term “left” is used, it does not imply any deficiency as it does with created beings.

Ibn Uthaymeen states:

“كلتا اليدين يمين، أي: يمن وخير وبركة، فلا يتوهم واهم أنه إذا كانت له يد شمال أن يده الشمال قاصرة كما هي في المخلوقين”

(“Both hands are right, meaning blessing, goodness, and perfection, so no one should think that if He has a left hand, it is deficient as it is with created beings”)

(Liqāʾ al-bāb al-maftūḥ)

The phrase is thus a way to affirm Allah’s attributes as described in revelation, while negating any anthropomorphic or deficient understanding.

As Abu Bakr al-Bayhaqi and other scholars note:

“ليس معنى اليد عندنا الجارحة، إنما هو صفة جاء بها التوقيف، فنحن نطلقها على ما جاءت ولا نكيفها”

(“The meaning of ‘hand’ is not a limb for us, but a quality described by revelation; we affirm it as it came without describing its modality”)

(al-asmāʾ waʾl-ṣifāt)

In summary, “two right hands” in Islamic theology means both of Allah’s hands are perfect, honorable, and full of blessing, with no deficiency or imperfection, unlike the hands of created beings. This is a unique attribute of Allah, and its exact nature is unknown and not likened to creation, in accordance with the verse:

“ليس كمثله شيء وهو السميع البصير”

(Mawsūʿat al-Albānī fī al-ʿaqīda)

https://gbwrites.com/2024/11/05/translationofsifatofallah/

Full-Disclosure:

Had the Hadīth itself already been classified as “Dha`īf/Weak”, “Matrūk/Rejected”, etc. then this would be a lot easier for me to just throw the Hadīth itself away. However, since the “Sahīh/Authentic” Stamp is still on This-Hadīth…
…via al-Asl/Principle I can’t just say “Fuck dat Hadīth”.

Rejecting Ahādīth/Narrations which’re classified as “Sahīh/Authentic” isn’t a “Flex”. And this is especially problematic, if Muhaddithūn (Narration-Experts) haven’t altered the Mustalah/Grading of Ahādīth which were granted the “Sahīh” Stamp. To reject any Narration which has never lost its “Sahīh” Mustalah/Grading is treading Dangerous-Ground, because as-Sunnah (Prophetic-Tradition) is also at-Tanzīl just as much as al-Qur’ān (Recitable-Scripture) is.

(Additionally) it’s crucially important that no Lane is ever granted to Qur’ānīs/Qur’ānist (Persons whom auadiously/arrogantly claim to be “Qur’ān-Only”), that they use al-Ikhtilāf (Religio-Differering) such as this about This-Hadīth as Pseudo-Justification to reject as-Sunnah. Becsuse, #TrustMe: if they can then they’ll most definitely attempt to use Varying-Madhāhib/Opinions about the Hadīth-In-Question to be “Hadīth-Rejectors”.

https://gbwrites.com/2022/07/30/fakewokequranists/

https://gbwrites.com/2013/08/17/quranandsunnahjointly/

Gareth Bryant & Tālib Nathaniel came to an Agreement

Number-1:

The “2 Right-Hands” Sharh/Commentary (in spite of its Obvious-Controversy) is 💯%-Irrelevant from the Fact that the Hadīth/Narration-In-Question is confirmed to be “Sahīh/Authentic”, via Persons whom preceded us in Knowledge.

Number-2:

It’s Principally-Unjust, to judge any Hadīth/Narration exclusively because of any Sharh/Commentary of such Hadīth.

Number-3:

At All-Times, the Shurūh/Commentaries of Ahādīth/Narrations must never be assumed to be Parts of the Ahādīth themselves.

Number-4:

The Mustalah/Grading of Shurūh and the Shurūh of Ahādīth aren’t the same and must/should never be compared to one another.

Gareth Bryant