The Attributes of God cannot be encompassed and must be believed in
Although God can be known through His Attributes, His Attributes cannot be comprehended completely.
He [Allah] knows what happens to them [His creatures] in this world and what will happen to them, but they will never compass anything of His Knowledge.[16]
It is not possible therefore to know how the Attributes of God are, because God is unlike His creation.
Or say you that Ibrahim [Prophet Abraham I(as)], Ishma’il [Prophet Ishmael (as)], Ishaq [Prophet Isaac (as)], Ya’qub [Prophet Jacob (as)] and the offspring of the twelve sons of Ya’qub [as] were Jews or Christians? Say, “Do you know better or does Allah?” And who is more unjust than he who conceals the testimony he has from Allah? And Allah is not unaware of what you do.[17]
God therefore knows Himself better than any of His creation.
So put not forward similarities for Allah [swt]. Truly Allah [swt] knows and you know not.[18]
God’s Attributes must be affirmed without likening them to His creation, because God knows Himself and we do not and cannot. Therefore, the rational course of action, according to the Qur’an, is to believe in God as He has described Himself without interpreting away His Attributes from the apparent meaning which first springs to mind.