Imam al-Haafiz adh-Dhahabi said: As Allah exists in a real sense, not metaphorically, His attributes cannot be taken as metaphorical, because in that case they could not be divine attributes, because the attributes are connected to the one who possesses those attributes. As He exists in a real sense, not in a metaphorical sense, His attributes cannot be metaphorical. As there is nothing equal or similar to Him, there can be nothing like His attributes. [End quote from al-‘Uluw, p. 239, 250] The Attributes of Allah are real and not metaphorical. It’s not appropriate that the fundamentals of faith such as Attributes of Allah be revealed in vague language. But rather it is essential that these fundamentals of faith be revealed in clear and explicit manner since the Quran is the book of guidance and in clear Arabic. The Attributes of Allah cannot be metaphorical because there can be no analogical relationship between the Attributes of Allah and His creation.
And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them. And leave [the company of] those who practice deviation [ilhad] concerning His names. They will be recompensed for what they have been doing. [Quran 7:180] Examples of ilhad include denying or distorting their meanings, or claiming that they have no meaning (tafwid). Considering His Attributes to be similar to the creation is also en example of deviation in theology. Ibn Taymiyyah refutes the stance of the Mushabbihah (those who liken the creation with God: anthropomorphism) and those who deny, negate, and resort to allegorical/metaphorical interpretations of the Divine Names and Attributes. He contends that the methodology of the Salaf is to take the middle path between the extremes of anthropomorphism and negation/distortion. He further states that the Salaf affirmed (ithbaat)all the Names and Attributes of God without tashbih (establishing likeness), takyeef (speculating as to "how" they are manifested in the divine), taʿteel (negating/denying their apparent meaning) and without taʾweel (giving it secondary/symbolic meaning which is different from the apparent meaning). [Al-Aqidah Al-Waasitiyyah]
