Introduction:
Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaimeen (Rahimahullaah) said: “One of the principles regarding the Attributes of Allaah is that we must limit ourselves to only those Attributes that are mentioned in revealed texts. Therefore, we must not affirm a given attribute for Allaah, unless the Qur’an and Sunnah point to it as being one of His Attributes. Imaam Ahmad (Rahimahullaah) said that Allaah must not be described with anything except that which He described Himself with, or which His Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) described Him with. We must not go beyond the Qur’an and the Hadeeth [of the Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)].
The Qur’an and Sunnah affirm an Attribute for Allaah in one of three ways:
1- By explicitly mentioning that Attribute, as is the case in the following examples: strength, mercy, might, Allaah’s Face, Allaah’s two Hands, and other such Attributes which have been mentioned unequivocally (clearly)
2- By mentioning a Name that implies an Attribute
For instance, the Oft-Forgiving implies the quality of being forgiving, and the All-Hearer implies the Attribute of hearing, and so on.
3- By explicitly mentioning an action or description which points to an Attribute, as is the case with Allaah’s Rising over His Throne, His Descending to the lowest heaven, His Coming to render judgment among His slaves on the Day of Resurrection, or His Exacting revenge from evil-doers. Each of the preceding Attributes is explicitly referred to in the following revealed texts. Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat Ta-Ha (20:5):
“الرحمن على العرش استوى”
“The Most Beneficent (Allaah) Istawa (rose over) the Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty).”
The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Our Lord descends every night to the lowest heaven.” [Muslim]
Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat al-Fajr (89:22):
“وجاء ربك و الملك صفا صفا”
“And Your Lord comes with Angels in rows.”
And finally, Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat as-Sajdah (32:22):
“إنا من المجرمين منتقمون”
“Verily, We shall exact retribution from the Mujrimoon (criminals, disbelievers, polytheists, sinners, etc.).”
The Attribute of Allaah Al-Farah (Joy)
Allaah (Ta’ala) rejoices in a manner which suits His majesty and perfection.
Anas ibn Maalik (Radia-Allaah ‘anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Allaah rejoices more over the repentance of His slave when he repents to Him than one of you who is on his mount in the wilderness and then loses it, and his food and drink are on it, and he despairs of finding it. He goes to a tree and lies down in its shade, having lost hope of finding his mount. And while he is like that, there it is standing in front of him, so he takes hold of its reins and says – because of his intense joy – ‘O Allaah, You are my slave and I am your Lord,’ making this mistake because of his intense joy.” [Muslim, no. 2747]
Could you find a joy greater and more perfect than this? No, because there is no joy greater than life after being close to death. Ibn Al-Qayyim (Rahimahullaah) said: “If there existed a joy greater than this, the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) would have set an example of it. In spite of that, Allaah rejoices with the repentance of His slave when he repents, which is greater than the joy this person feels when he finds his mount.” [Tareeq Al-Hijratain]
Shaikh As-Sa’dee (Rahimahullaah) said in his interpretation of Surat al-Burooj [85:14], “Indeed, Allaah is happier with the repentance of a slave than this man is for finding his lost animal. Certainly, this is the best type of joy that can occur. All thanks and praises are due to Allaah, in addition to the most sincere love. How great is His Compassion, how plentiful is His Generosity, how abundant is His Kindness, how deep is His Beneficence, and how appreciative is He (of His believing slaves, and He is the Owner of the Throne, the Glorious).” [Tayseer Al-Kareem]
Ibn Al-Qayyim (Rahimahullaah) said: “This joy of Allaah with the repentance of His slave – along with the fact that it is not mentioned with any other act of obedience – indicates the greatness and high status of repentance and its virtue with Allaah, and that worshipping Allaah with this act is one of the most noble acts of worship.” [Tareeq Al-Hijratain]
And he (Rahimahullaah) said: “This joy is the joy of the One Who is Muhsin (The Benefactor), Barr (Kind), Lateef (Most Subtle and Kind), Jawaad (Most Generous), Ghaniyy (Most Rich), and Hameed (The Praiseworthy), and not the joy of one who is in need of the repentance of the slave who benefits from it.” [Tahdheeb Madaarij As-Salikeen]
This joy indicates utmost perfection, richness, and glory. [Tareeq Al-Hijratain]
The Impacts of Belief in the Attribute of Al-Farah (Joy)
1 – The Divine Attribute of the Joy of Allaah is like all other Attributes; it is a real Attribute which suits Allaah’s Majesty. It is one of the Attributes related to His Actions, and Attributes related to His Actions are linked to His Will, i.e. if He wills, He performs these Actions; and if He wills, He does not perform these Actions, such as His Rising above His Throne and His Descending to the lowest Heaven.
This meaning of happiness is displayed at the time the slave repents and returns to Allaah. Allaah’s Pleasure and His acceptance of the penitence is implied.
2 – Allaah’s Joy does not resemble the joy of the creatures. There are several types of joys related to the creatures – sometimes it is a joy of physical comfort, pleasure, and happiness and sometimes of pride and conceit. Allaah is free from all this. His Joy does not resemble the joy of the creatures either in itself, or in its causes, or in its aims. The cause behind His Joy is His perfect Mercy and Ihsaan (Beneficence) which He loves for His slaves to achieve. The aim is that Allaah wishes to accomplish His favors on the repentant and those who return to Him from among His slaves.
Interpreting the Joy with what it implies of pleasure, and interpreting pleasure with seeking reward is negation and Ta’teel of the meaning of the Joy and Pleasure of Allaah. This is the illusion of the Mu’tazilah about their Lord; they have developed a notion that these meanings would be the same in respect to Allaah as the case of the creation.
3 – The perfect Mercy and Compassion of Allaah with His servants, such that He loves that the disobedient slave returns to Him. This is great love – the disobedient person was fleeing from Allaah then stopped and returned to Allaah, and Allaah rejoices with a great joy.
Ibn Taymiyyah (Rahimahullaah) said: “This is a great matter; if repentance has this utmost status, then wouldn’t his companion (the penitent) have a great position with Allaah?” [Explanation of the Hadeeth of Abu Bakr (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu)]
4 – Belief in this Attribute makes a person keen to repent. Whenever one commits a sin, he returns to Allaah in repentance. If you know that Allaah rejoices at your repentance with this great joy, of which there is nothing comparable, you will undoubtedly persist in repenting to Him. [Sharh Al-Aqeedah Al-Wasitiyah]
Sources:
📚 Al-Asmaa’ Al-Husna was-Sifaat al-‘Ulaa by ‘Abdul-Haadi Wahbi
📚 Sharh Al-Aqeedah Al-Wasitiyyah by Muhammad Khalil Harras
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