Kabbani and others quote this great scholar as a proof against the Hanbalees that their stance regarding the Names and Attributes of Allaah is in fact disbelief and open anthropomorphism (tajseem) by using his book ‘Daf Shubah at-Tashbeeh’, but what they conveniently overlook is that the Hanbalee scholars in general, and other scholars, rejected the stances of ibn al-Jawzee on this issue and took a severe stance against him.

Shaykh Mashur al-Salmaan said, "....I saw that it was necessary upon me to inform about the confusion of ibn al-Jawzee generally, and his errors concerning the Names and Attributes of Allaah specifically. For he has attributed in his book, ‘Daf' Shubah at-Tashbeeh’, things to Imaam Ahmad which he is free of.

Adh-Dhahabee states, ‘woe to him, if only he had not delved into ta’weel and thereby opposed his Imaam’ [‘Siyar’ (2/368)]

And he said also, adding to the saying of Abdul Lateef about him, ‘and there were many mistakes in what he wrote, for indeed he used to finish a book and not give it any consideration’, ‘I say: due to this he had many misinterpretations and different shades of neglecting examination. And he gained knowledge from writings...’

Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali said about him, ‘a group of the scholars of our companions took a stand against him for his inclination towards ta’weel in his speech. And their rejection (of him) was severe in that. And their is no doubt that his speech in that (i.e. ta’weel) was confused and contradicting. So if he was cognisant of the ahaadeeth or narrations he would not consider lawful the doubts of the Mutakallimeen (People of Theological Rhetoric) and expose their corruptions. And he used to exalt Abu Wafaa ibn Aqueel and follow him in most of what he found in his words - although he refuted him in some points - and ibn Aqueel was skilled in philosophy but he was not well acquainted with Hadeeth and narration. And this is why ibn Aqueel was shaky/confused in this topic...and Abul Farj followed him in this hue (talawwun)’

Ibn Qudaama al-Maqdisi said, ‘ibn al-Jawzee was the Imaam of his time except that we are not pleased with his writings on the Sunnah (in this context to mean belief/tawheed) nor his methodology in them’ [‘Dhail Tabaqaat al-Hanaabila’ (1/415)]

Ibn Taymiyyah states, ‘verily Abul Farj (ibn al-Jawzee) contradicted himself in this subject (i.e. the Names and Attributes of Allaah). And it is not established that he gave precedence to affirmation or negation. Rather he has speech in affirmation of (Allaah's Names and Attributes) and much speech scattered about in this work (i.e. ‘Daf' Shubah at-Tashbeeh’) that establishes that he negated (Allaah's Names and Attributes). And in this subject he is like many others, sometimes affirming and sometimes negating as is the state of Abu Wafaa' ibn Aqueel...’ [‘Fataawaa’ (4/169)]

And it is not my purpose here to set forth examples, and to follow the occurrences of ta’weel, or tafweed or affirmation in the speech of ibn al-Jawzee. But the important point here to clarify is that it is not permissible for the researcher, who desires to attain the truth and what is correct, to depend on the likes of this work of ibn al-Jawzee....

And we shall mention here sections from a letter which the Shaykh, the Ascetic and Example, Ishaaq bin Ahmad al-Ulthee sent to his contemporary Ibn al-Jawzee, ‘....and know that much rejection has occurred against you from the scholars and noble personalities, and outstanding people from distant lands, due to your corrupt stands....and they have ruled that you are in need of advice, for you have statements which do not befit the Sunnah which time does not allow to mention…then you objected to the Attributes of the Creator as if they (objections?) arose not from a heart which has the respect of the Exalted, the Great or a heart filled with fear and exaltation, rather from the occurrences of the glittering false souls. And you have claimed that a group of Ahlus Sunnah and noble personalities received your letters but did not understand them - and how far removed are they from this - rather they have controlled their mouths and tongues. Not due to disability - and all praise is due to Allaah - in debating and opposing, and neither..’ [‘Dhail Tabaqaat al-Hanaabilaa’ (2/209-211) for the full letter which goes on to refute ibn al-Jawzee in some detail.]" [‘Rudood wat Ta’qubaat alaa maa Waqa’a lil Imaam Nawawee fee Sharhi Saheeh Muslim min at-Ta’weel fee Sifaat’ (pp.97+) of Shaykh Mashur Salmaan, his superb analysis of the position of Imaam Nawawee on ta’weel.]