with the difference of laws. Thus, whatever is established in the Torah and the Gospel regarding the attributes of God Almighty is undoubtedly established for us; for this belongs to the category of informing about God Almighty, which does not alter or change from one law to another. The consideration lies in its establishment and the Umma's reception of it with acceptance and submission. No consideration is given to the statements of the Jahmiyya and their offspring among the Ash'arites and other deniers of the attributes in the chapters of beliefs and attributes, for they have impugned authentic, mutawatir hadiths, let alone the reports of the Companions, may God be pleased with them, and the Successors, may Allah have mercy on them.
Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyya, may Allah have mercy on him, says in Bayān Talbīs al-Jahmiyya (6/451), invalidating this fabrication regarding Ibn ʿAbbās, may God be pleased with them both, which also applies to others among the Companions, may God be pleased with them:
"Furthermore, the knowledge of that is not taken by opinion; rather, it is stated based on divine instruction. It is impermissible for the reliance of Ibn ʿAbbās, may God be pleased with them both, to be the reports of the People of the Book, as he is one of those who forbade us from asking them. Along with the prohibition of the Prophet, peace and blessings of God be upon him, against believing or disbelieving them, it is known that Ibn ʿAbbās only said it based on divine instruction from the Prophet, peace and blessings of God be upon him. In Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, from Ibn Shihāb, from ʿUbayd Allāh, from ʿAbd Allāh, that Ibn ʿAbbās, may God be pleased with them both, said: 'How can you ask the People of the Book about anything when your Book, which was revealed to your Messenger, is the most recent of books in its covenant with the Most Merciful? You read it pure and unmixed. It has informed you that the People of the Book have altered and changed the books of God, writing the books with their own hands and saying: {This is from God, to exchange it for a small price}. Does not the knowledge that has come to you forbid you from asking them? No, by God, we have never seen a man among them asking you about what was revealed to you.'
And in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, from Abū Hurayra, may God be pleased with him, who said: The People of the Book used to read the Torah in Hebrew and interpret it in Arabic for the people of Islam. So the Messenger of God, peace and blessings of God be upon him, said: 'Do not believe the People of the Book, nor disbelieve them,' and say: {We have believed in God and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to you}.
Thus, it is known with this that Ibn ʿAbbās, may God be pleased with them both, would not rely, in what he mentions of the attributes of the Lord, on taking that from the People of the Book. So nothing remains except that he took it from the Companions, may God be pleased with them, who took it from the Prophet, peace and blessings of God be upon him."
