God’s ‘Hand’ is His Might
There are other verses the superficial meaning of which gives the impression that God has limbs just as humans do which He uses to achieve His purpose, such as His statement addressing Iblis when the latter refused to prostrate to Adam as commanded by God: “What prohibited you from prostrating to what I have created in My own hands?” and also like the verse saying, “When a leg will be uncovered and they are invited to prostrate…”
Imam Reza (A.S) explains the meaning of God’s hand to be His might. The meaning of the previous verse would be, “What prohibited you from prostrating to what I have created by My might and potence?” God does not have eyes, legs, hands, or any such things as we may imagine which would put limits to God like those to man, and the revealed texts containing a reference to such things are given meanings which agree with conceiving God to be Exalted above having physical dimensions a great deal of Exaltation.
The “leg” is interpreted by the Imam as a barrier of light which, when removed, will cause the believers to fall prostrating, while the legs of the hypocrites become too stiffened to prostrate.
Thus does Imam al-Reza (A.S) portray for us an accurate portrait which is honest in interpreting the meanings embedded in the Glorious Book if we wish to honestly and wisely interpret its verses.
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