Subtleties and Allusions

1) Attributing Fear to God

Attribution is of two types: correct and incorrect. Correct attribution is also of two types:

a. “To that which belongs to it” which is literal truth; like attributing flowing to water: “the water flows.”

b. “To that which does not belong to it” or attribution with relevance which is metaphorical; like attributing flowing to a river which is the place of water.

However, irrelevant attribution, like attributing flowing to a wall, is incorrect. Attributing fear (khashya) in the sense of specific emotional impact to God’s Sacred Essence or His essential attributes, which are identical to His essence, is incorrect attribution. However, attributing it to God’s action with an appropriate meaning is not problematic. In the realm of action, which is the domain of possibility, terms like “if only” (layta), “perhaps” (laʿalla), “fear” (khawf), “hope” (rajāʾ), “dread” (khashya) and similar expressions are permissible.

2) The Story of Zubayr and His Ill-Fated Son

The story of parents’ deviation through their child has examples in history. The path of many righteous people was altered through their children’s growth. The story of Zubayr is well-known in this regard. The Commander of the Faithful said that Zubayr was always one of us, the People of the House, until his ill-fated son grew up: “Zubayr remained a man from us, the People of the House, until his ill-fated son ʿAbdallāh grew up.”(414)