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Encyclopedia of Religion entry for

Hand

Arabic yad , pl. ayadi. Heb.

(1)It is a rule with the Muslims to honor the right hand above the left; to use the right hand for all honorable purposes, and the left for actions which, though necessary, are unclean. The hands must be washed before prayers [ABLUTIONS] and before meals.

(2) the expression yadu ‘llah, the "hand of God," occurs in the Qur’an:-

Surah v. 69. "He Jews say, ‘God ‘s hand is fettered ‘; their hands are fettered, for they are cursed."

Surah xlviii. 10: "God ‘s hand is above their hands."

There is a controversy between the orthodox Sunnis and the Wahhabis regarding the expression, "God ‘s hand." The former maintaining that it is a figurative expression for the power of God, the latter holding that it is literal; but that it is impossible to say in what sense or manner God has a hand; for as the essence of God is not known, how can the manner of His existence be understood?

citations: Dictionary of Islam, Hughes

article created 2006-04-12 , last updated 2006-04-12

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