abu hafs
9th February 2007, 05:47 PM
Holy Cow! Nuh Keller on the Anthropomorphism of Ibn Qayyim (http://philomantis.wordpress.com/2007/02/09/holy-cow-nuh-keller-on-the-alleged-anthropomorphism-of-ibn-qayyim/)
Nuh Keller states in his article entitled Literalism and the Attributes of Allâh (http://www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/nuh/littlk.htm):
“Another work with its share of anthropomorphisms and forgeries is Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyya’s Ijtima‘ al-juyush al-Islamiyya [The meeting of the Islamic armies], published by ‘Awwad al-Mu‘tiq in Riyad, Saudi Arabia, in 1988, which on page 330 mentions as a hadith of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), the words “Honor the cow, for it has not lifted its head to the sky since the [golden] calf was worshipped, out of shame (haya’) before Allah Mighty and Majestic,” a mawdu‘ hadith forgery apparently intended to encourage Muslims to believe that Allah is physically above the cow in the sky.”
I looked up this citation by Shaykh Nuh Keller (May Allâh preserve him and give him success) and found his citation to be incorrect. The book cited is entitled Ijtimâ` al-Juyûsh al-Islâmîyyah `alâ Ghazzû al-Mu`atilah wa-l Jahmîyyah and this is what it says:
قول النبي أكرموا البقر
وذكر شيخ الإسلام الهروي بإسناده عن عبد الله بن وهب قال أكرموا البقر فإنها لم ترفع رأسها إلى السماء منذ عبد العجل حياء من الله عز وجل
وقد روي مرفوعا عن ابن وهب عن يحيى بن أيوب عن أبي هند عن أنس قال قال رسول الله أكرموا البقر فإنها سيدة البهائم ما رفعت طرفها إلى السماء حياء من الله عز وجل منذ عبد العجل قلت ولا يثبت رفعه فإن أبا هند مجهول
“The Prophetic Saying: Honor the Cow
Shaykh al-Islâm al-Harrawî stated with an isnâd from `Abdullâh bin Wahb, ‘Honor the cow for she has not raised her head to the sky since the Bovine Idol was worshipped (by the Children of Israel) out of shame before Allâh (Glorified and Exalted), and it has been narrated marfû` from Ibn Wahb from Yahya bin Ayyûb from Abû Hind from Anas who said: The Messenger of Allâh (sallallâhû `alayhî wa sallam) said: Honor the cow for she is the master of all beasts, for she has not raised her sight to the sky out of shame before Allâh (Glorified and Exalted) since the Bovine Idol was worshipped.’ However, I say its being marfû` is not established for Abû Hind is an unknown narrator (majhûl).”
I, myself, bemoan some of the theological errancies found in many modern day sects and movements within the Islamic paradigm, but it is important that we remain fair and balanced in our approach and meticulously accurate in our research. This is even moreso incumbent upon the scholar from whom multitudes seek tutelage.
Nuh Keller states in his article entitled Literalism and the Attributes of Allâh (http://www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/nuh/littlk.htm):
“Another work with its share of anthropomorphisms and forgeries is Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyya’s Ijtima‘ al-juyush al-Islamiyya [The meeting of the Islamic armies], published by ‘Awwad al-Mu‘tiq in Riyad, Saudi Arabia, in 1988, which on page 330 mentions as a hadith of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), the words “Honor the cow, for it has not lifted its head to the sky since the [golden] calf was worshipped, out of shame (haya’) before Allah Mighty and Majestic,” a mawdu‘ hadith forgery apparently intended to encourage Muslims to believe that Allah is physically above the cow in the sky.”
I looked up this citation by Shaykh Nuh Keller (May Allâh preserve him and give him success) and found his citation to be incorrect. The book cited is entitled Ijtimâ` al-Juyûsh al-Islâmîyyah `alâ Ghazzû al-Mu`atilah wa-l Jahmîyyah and this is what it says:
قول النبي أكرموا البقر
وذكر شيخ الإسلام الهروي بإسناده عن عبد الله بن وهب قال أكرموا البقر فإنها لم ترفع رأسها إلى السماء منذ عبد العجل حياء من الله عز وجل
وقد روي مرفوعا عن ابن وهب عن يحيى بن أيوب عن أبي هند عن أنس قال قال رسول الله أكرموا البقر فإنها سيدة البهائم ما رفعت طرفها إلى السماء حياء من الله عز وجل منذ عبد العجل قلت ولا يثبت رفعه فإن أبا هند مجهول
“The Prophetic Saying: Honor the Cow
Shaykh al-Islâm al-Harrawî stated with an isnâd from `Abdullâh bin Wahb, ‘Honor the cow for she has not raised her head to the sky since the Bovine Idol was worshipped (by the Children of Israel) out of shame before Allâh (Glorified and Exalted), and it has been narrated marfû` from Ibn Wahb from Yahya bin Ayyûb from Abû Hind from Anas who said: The Messenger of Allâh (sallallâhû `alayhî wa sallam) said: Honor the cow for she is the master of all beasts, for she has not raised her sight to the sky out of shame before Allâh (Glorified and Exalted) since the Bovine Idol was worshipped.’ However, I say its being marfû` is not established for Abû Hind is an unknown narrator (majhûl).”
I, myself, bemoan some of the theological errancies found in many modern day sects and movements within the Islamic paradigm, but it is important that we remain fair and balanced in our approach and meticulously accurate in our research. This is even moreso incumbent upon the scholar from whom multitudes seek tutelage.