Sermon 1 Continued:The Infinite Essence: Allah Beyond Attributes

A serene and mystical scene of a vast, endless sky blending from deep indigo to a luminous golden light, symbolizing transcendence and the divine. In the foreground, a single figure in contemplative prayer kneels on a hilltop, silhouetted against the cosmic expanse. The figure is illuminated by a radiant glow, representing the purity of faith and enlightenment. Surrounding them are subtle, abstract representations of infinity, such as swirling patterns that dissolve into the horizon, evoking the boundless nature of Allah. The atmosphere is tranquil, inviting the viewer to reflect on the majesty of the Creator.
A Journey Through Imam Ali’s Sermon on Divine Purity and Tawhid

 

Arabic Text with Translation and Analysis

Arabic Text:
أَوَّلُ الدِّينِ مَعْرِفَتُهُ، وَكَمَالُ مَعْرِفَتِهِ التَّصْديقُ بِهِ، وَكَمَالُ التَّصْدِيقِ بِهِ تَوْحِيدُهُ، وَكَمَالُ تَوْحِيدِهِ الاخْلاصُ لَهُ، وَكَمَالُ الاخْلاصِ لَهُ نَفْيُ الصِّفَاتِ عَنْهُ...

Translation:
"The foremost in religion is the acknowledgment of Him; the perfection of acknowledging Him is to testify to Him; the perfection of testifying to Him is to believe in His Oneness; the perfection of believing in His Oneness is to regard Him as Pure, and the perfection of His purity is to deny Him attributes."

1. Action

"The foremost in religion is the acknowledgment of Him."
The action begins with acknowledgment (ma‘rifah), which is the cornerstone of faith. This acknowledgment isn’t passive but a deliberate realization of Allah’s existence and essence.

2. Purpose

The purpose unfolds as a stepwise journey:

  • Acknowledging Him leads to testifying to Him.
  • Testifying to Him leads to belief in His Oneness.
  • Belief in His Oneness leads to regarding Him as Pure (Ikhlas).
  • Regarding Him as Pure culminates in denying Him attributes.

Each step removes anthropomorphic limitations and human constructs that can confine Allah’s essence. Denying attributes isn’t a rejection of Allah’s qualities but a refusal to liken His attributes to anything created. This purity (Ikhlas) affirms His absolute uniqueness.

3. Impact

The impact is to dismantle human misconceptions about Allah and guide the believer toward a deeper understanding of Tawhid. Imam Ali reveals that:

  • Any attempt to attribute human-like qualities to Allah results in limiting Him.
  • Limiting Him leads to dividing Him (shirk), undermining His Oneness.
    This inspires humility and a realization that Allah’s essence is beyond human comprehension.

Extension: Logical and Spiritual Refutation of Attributes

Arabic Text:
...لِشَهَادَةِ كُلِّ صِفَة أَنَّها غَيْرُ المَوْصُوفِ، وَشَهَادَةِ كُلِّ مَوْصُوف أَنَّهُ غَيْرُ الصِّفَةِ...

Translation:
"...because every attribute is a proof that it is different from that to which it is attributed, and everything to which something is attributed is different from the attribute."

1. Action

The logical dismantling of attributes begins:

  • Every attribute (Sifah) implies duality—distinction between the attribute and the one described.
  • This duality contradicts Tawhid, as Allah is indivisible.

2. Purpose

The purpose is to show that attaching attributes to Allah imposes limitations:

  • "Whoever attaches attributes to Allah recognizes His like."
  • Recognizing a like implies division (Thana’), which ultimately leads to ignorance (Jahl).

Imam Ali exposes how attributing qualities leads to conceptualizing Allah as a part of creation, which is erroneous.

3. Impact

The impact is transformative for the listener:

  • It removes anthropomorphic and polytheistic tendencies from the concept of Allah.
  • It elevates the believer’s understanding, fostering purity in worship and connection to Allah.
  • It emphasizes Allah’s absolute uniqueness, inspiring awe and reverence.

Metaphysical and Spiritual Implications

Arabic Text:
وَمَنْ قَالَ: «فِيمَ» فَقَدْ ضَمَّنَهُ، وَمَنْ قَالَ: «عَلاَمَ؟» فَقَدْ أَخْلَى مِنُهُ.

Translation:
"Whoever said: ‘In what is He?’, held that He is contained; and whoever said: ‘On what is He?’, held that He is not on something else."

1. Action

Imam Ali addresses the flawed questions often asked about Allah’s essence, like "Where is He?" or "What contains Him?" These actions of inquiry inherently confine Allah within human dimensions of space and time.

2. Purpose

The purpose is to clarify that Allah is beyond all physicality and containment:

  • To ask "In what?" assumes Allah exists within a created realm.
  • To ask "On what?" assumes He depends on something external.

Both are fallacious, as Allah is independent, eternal, and beyond all creation.

3. Impact

This negation of spatial and temporal attributes forces a paradigm shift:

  • Believers are reminded to abandon finite and materialistic conceptions of Allah.
  • This fosters a purely spiritual understanding, aligning with the essence of Tawhid.

Overall Observations

  1. Stepwise Guidance: Imam Ali provides a logical, spiritual progression toward understanding Allah, dismantling misconceptions at every stage.
  2. Unity of Essence: By denying attributes, the sermon reinforces that Allah is incomparable and indivisible.
  3. Humility: The listener is humbled by recognizing their intellectual and linguistic limitations in comprehending Allah.

This segment of the sermon is not just theological—it is a spiritual exercise in refining one’s understanding and approach to the Divine. 


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