Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullah. Please can you clarify this for me? Do the scholars of Deoband and their followers believe that Allah Ta’aala is (Astaghfirullah), I don’t even want to say it but for the purpose of gaining knowledge, do they believe that Allah Ta’aala is capable of lying? This, to me doesn’t make sense when lying is haram and considered a very ugly thing in Islam.
Answer:
In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.
When discussing complexities which are related to Allah most high, one has to be very cautious, lest (Allah forbid) he utters something which is blasphemous and against the honour and dignity of Allah most high. Allah Ta’aala is free from all faults, he cannot be questioned for anything he does or doesn’t do. Allah Ta’aala says: “He cannot be questioned concerning what he does and they shall be questioned” (21:23)
Falling into the topic which you have mentioned in your question, is extremely dangerous for the Iman of a believer. It can cause confusion, misunderstanding, misinterpretation, false judgements and disputes amongst one another. Therefore it is better and advised that we refrain from discussing such topics. This is neither something we are obliged to learn, nor will we be asked about it on the day of judgement.
Having said that, what is the response of the ulama of deoband with regards to this query? People have approached the ulama of deoband with this question before. The ulama of deoband have explained this issue to the best of their knowledge according to the Quran and Sunnah. Therefore we need to look at this from an academic perspective rather than an emotional one.
One of my respected teachers Hadhrat Molana Abdurrahim Ibn Dawud (May Allah preserve him) was asked this question and this was his reply:
“Don’t fall into such arguments! You know Ulema-e-Deoband fully well. So keep your connection with the ulema, learn from them and derive maximum benefit from them. They are the ulema of haq and they are the ones who have been upholding the truth in times of fitnas.
The reality is that some ulema of Deoband were asked, “Can Allah lie?” They explained that Allah never lies. Allah Himself has said in the Quran: “Who is more truthful in words than Allah?”
(Surah Nisaa 04:87 and 122)
Allah doesn’t need to lie. He is not scared of anyone nor does he need to please anyone so that he would tell a lie. He has instructed us to speak the truth at all times, so why would he do the opposite?
Thereafter they explained that Allah has the power to do whatever he wants. So if he wanted to lie, nobody can stop him. No one can take that power away from him. There is a difference between “Allah does lie” and “Allah can lie.”
So people who don’t like Ulemae-Deoband mix both things and say that they believe that Allah does lie. Be careful of the deceit of such misleading people.”
(Tafseer-raheemi.com Q630)
Only Allah Knows Best
Written by Mufti Abdullah al-Ma’mun
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham.