بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Salafis often claim Imam Al Tabari has the same creed as them but its extremely clear that they haven’t actually read his books as we will highlight in this post.

Lets start with Imam Al Tabari:

Imam Al Tabari: كتاب تفسير الطبري Vol 11, Pg: 245

“The heavens and the earth are a creation from amongst His creations and what they contain – Isa (Jesus) and his mother are part of it. By dwelling in it and displacement (Al hulul wal intiqal) And it is proven that they are in a place (Makan) and, therefore they are two slaves belonging to the One who has sovereignty over the heavens and the earth and all it contains.“

فإن السموات والأرض خلق من خلقه وما فيهن، وعيسى وأمه من بعض ذلك بالحلول والانتقال، يدلان بكونهما في المكان الذي هما فيه بالحلول فيه والانتقال، أنهما عبدان مملوكان لمن له ملك السموات والأرض وما فيهن. ينبههم وجميع خلقه على موضع حجته عليهم، ليدبروه ويعتبروه فيعقلوا عنه

So according to Imam Al Tabari, Jesus cannot be God because he is in a place (Makan)

This is a clear statement that anything that is in a place (Makan) cannot be divine so therefore Allah who is the only divine being cannot be in a place (Makan)

Imam Al Tabari: كتاب تاريخ الطبري Vol 1, Pg: 3

”The mind can not comprehend him and locations do not contain him.”

لا تحيط به الأوهام، ولا تحويه الأقطار

Now Let’s show Imam Al Tabari negating Movement for Allah

Imam Al Tabari: كتاب تفسير الطبري Vol 1 Pg: 430

“Then say: His ascension, is an ascension of power and sovereignty not of movement and displacement”

 “فكذلك فقل: علا عليها علو ملك وسلطان، لا علو انتقال وزوال”

Now lets show the beliefs of the salafi scholars in contrast to Imam Al Tabari’s statements

Ibn Uthaymeen: كتاب تفسير العثيمين: النمل Pg: 389

“In conclusion: Allah The Almighty has a place (Makan), and that his place (Makan) is in the Heavens, and the Prophet – may God’s prayers and peace be upon him – asked the slave girl, and he said to her: “Where is God?” She said: In the Heavens”

والخلاصة: أن الاستثناء هنا متصل، وأن الله تعالى له مكان، وأن مكانه في السماء، وقد سأل النبي – صلى الله عليه وسلم – الجارية فقال

So according to Imam Al Tabari anything that has a place (Makan) cannot have divinity, However Ibn Uthaymeen says Allah has a Makan

Abdullah al-Ghudayyan: شرح كتاب التوحيد من صحيح البخاري – الغنيمان Vol 1 Pg 360

His saying (Imam Al Tabari): “Then say: His ascension, is an ascension of power and sovereignty not of movement and displacement” Is of the same type as the words of the people of innovation, so it should not be said, and it contradicts the apparent from the texts, and rather it is from the false interpretation.

قوله: ” فقل: علا عليها علو ملك وسلطان، لا علو انتقال وزوال” هو من جنس كلام أهل البدع، فلا ينبغي، وهو خلاف الظاهر من النصوص، بل هو من التأويل الباطل.

So we have the salafi scholar Al-Ghudayyan completely contradicting and censoring what Imam Al Tabari said and accuses him of a false interpretation

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