Is it wrong to say ‘Allah took his time creating something’?
Question:
Assalamualaikum, one of my friends made a statement about a girl he found pretty and said “God really took his time making her.” Obviously him looking at the girl is a completely different issue but I felt that that statement of Allah’s “taking his time” was theologically problematic. How would/should I explain the issue with that statement and why one shouldn’t or can’t say something like that?
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-Salāmu ‘Alaykum Wa-Rahmatullāhi Wa-Barakātuh.
It is imperative that one is careful with regards to the words one uses especially when referring to Allah ﷻ, His Messenger ﷺ, or anything pertaining to the Deen in order to avoid saying anything that may be contrary to that which is befitting their stature. The above statement gives the notion that it takes longer for Allah ﷻ to create beautiful things; but the reality of the matter is that creating anything from the tiniest ant to the greatest sky is equally easy for Him as He ﷻ states in the verse:
إِنَّمَا أَمْرُهُ إِذَا أَرَادَ شَيْئًا أَنْ يَقُولَ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ (يس: ٨٢)
His practice, when He intends to do something, is no more than He says, “Be”, and it comes to be.
Therefore, one should refrain from uttering statements that may be against the Majesty of Allah ﷻ, thereby making the individual sinful.
However, it must be kept in mind here that the phrase ‘take one’s time’ isn’t always used in its general meaning which is ‘to do something slowly’; rather, at times, it could be used to refer to something done well or with perfection. From the context in the enquired situation, it is possible that the speaker intended the second meaning.
It should also be noted that if a person does utter such a statement, others should not jump to any conclusions regarding their faith as that is the sole right of Allah ﷻ who is most aware of the faith of each individual.[1]
And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best.
Sibghatallah Ahmed
Student – Darul Iftaa
Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Muhammad Zakariyya Desai.
[1] جامع الفصولين (٢/٢١٤)
روى الطحاوي عن أصحابنا لا يخرج الرجل من الإيمان إلا جحود ما أدخله فيه ثم ما يتيقن بأنه ردة يحكم بها له وما يشك بأنه ردة لا يحكم بها إذ الإسلام الثابت لا يزول بشك مع أن الإسلام يعلو وينبغي للعالم إذا رفع إليه هذا أن لا يبادر بتكفير أهل الإسلام مع أنه يقضي بصحة إسلام المكره. أقول: قدمت هذاه لتصير ميزانا فيما نقلته في هذا الفصل من المسائل، فإنه قد ذكر في بعضها إنه كفر مع أنه لا يكفر على قياس هذه المقدمة فليتأمل.
خلاصة الفتاوى (٤/٣٨٣)
إذا كان في المسألة وجوه توجب التكفير ووجه واحد يمنع فعلى المفتي أن يميل إلى هذا الوجه.
البحر الرائق شرح كنز الدقائق ومنحة الخالق وتكملة الطوري (٥/١٣٥)
ومن تكلم بها [أي ألفاظ التكفير] اختيارا جاهلا بأنها كفر ففيه اختلاف والذي تحرر أنه لا يفتى بتكفير مسلم أمكن حمل كلامه على محمل حسن أو كان في كفره اختلاف ولو رواية ضعيفة فعلى هذا فأكثر ألفاظ التكفير المذكورة لا يفتى بالتكفير بها ولقد ألزمت نفسي أن لا أفتي بشيء منها.