Tafwid

Leaving the meaning of a difficult divine attribute to Allah, as opposed to interpreting it figuratively.

Also written · Tafweed · Tafwidh · Tafwiz · Consigning the meaning · Leaving the meaning to Allah · Bila kayf · Ta'wil · Tawil · Taweel · Ta'weel · Figurative interpretation

The meaning

What Tafwid means in Islam

When the texts describe Allah with a hand, a face, or a rising, scholars took two broad roads. Tafwid affirms the word and consigns its reality to Allah without explaining it. Ta'wil interprets it within what the Arabic allows, such as hand meaning power. Atharis lean to the first and Ash'aris and Maturidis often to the second, and each counts the other as Sunni.

Evidence · Scholars differ · The scholars read this one differently

Read beside it

Words that sit beside it

Asma wa SifatAllah's names and attributes, affirmed as He described them, without denial and without resemblance to creation.الأَسْمَاءُ وَالصِّفَات
IstiwaThe Qur'anic statement that Allah rose over the Throne, and the classic test case for reading divine attributes.الاِسْتِوَاء
Ash'ariA Sunni school of creed founded by Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari, defending orthodox belief with reasoned argument.الأَشْعَرِيَّة
MaturidiA Sunni school of creed founded by Abu Mansur al-Maturidi, closely tied to the Hanafi tradition.المَاتُرِيدِيَّة
AthariThe Sunni creed school that keeps to the wording of the texts and avoids theological speculation.الأَثَرِيَّة