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ArticlesOfTheIslamicFaithByGhazali, page : 107
created thing. I have even heard one of his followers say that
(Ahmad ibn-Hanbal) forbade the allegorical interpretation
of all but three prophetic quotations, namely the words of
the Prophet when he said, "The Stone is the right Hand of Allah
in the earth," (the Stone in Ka'bah) and, "The heart of
the believer lies between two of the fingers of the Merciful
(Allah);" and "Verily I shall find the soul of the Merciful
(coming) from the direction of al- Yaman." Even here the literalists
have been inclined to forbid any allegorical interpretation.
It is assumed, however, that Ahmad ibn Hanbal knew that ascending
is not fixity of location, and descending is not change
of location; nevertheless he forbade allegorical interpretation
(Ahmad ibn-Hanbal) forbade the allegorical interpretation
of all but three prophetic quotations, namely the words of
the Prophet when he said, "The Stone is the right Hand of Allah
in the earth," (the Stone in Ka'bah) and, "The heart of
the believer lies between two of the fingers of the Merciful
(Allah);" and "Verily I shall find the soul of the Merciful
(coming) from the direction of al- Yaman." Even here the literalists
have been inclined to forbid any allegorical interpretation.
It is assumed, however, that Ahmad ibn Hanbal knew that ascending
is not fixity of location, and descending is not change
of location; nevertheless he forbade allegorical interpretation