Attributing ownership and disposal of affairs to created beings

We must believe
that Allaah alone has ownership and that no one owns created beings except
their Creator, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And to Allaah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the
earth”

[Aal ‘Imraan 3:189] 

“Say: “In Whose Hand is the sovereignty of everything”

[al-Mu’minoon 23:88]

With regard to
verses which speak of ownership belonging to someone other than Allaah, such
as the verses (interpretation of the meaning):

“Except from their wives or (the slaves) that their right
hands possess,
for then, they are free from blame”

[al-Mu’minoon 23:6] 

“or (from that) whereof you hold keys”

[al-Noor 24:61]

this differs from the ownership that is attributed to Allaah
in several ways, such as: 

1-The ownership of a created
being is limited and only includes a few of these created things. A man may
own that which is under his control, but he does not own that which is under
the control of others.

2-It is limited, not absolute. A
man does not own that which he has in the fullest sense of the word. Hence
he can only dispose of it in ways that are permitted in sharee’ah. For
example, if he wants to burn his wealth or torture his animal, we say that
this is not permitted. But Allaah owns things in a complete and
comprehensive sense.

With regard to saying that Allaah is the only disposer of
affairs, this means that a person believes that Allaah is the Only One Who
is in control, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Say (O Muhammad): ‘Who provides for you from the sky and
the earth? Or who owns hearing and sight? And who brings out the living from
the dead and brings out the dead from the living? And who disposes the
affairs?’ They will say: ‘Allaah.’ Say: ‘Will you not then be afraid of
Allaah’s punishment (for setting up rivals in worship with Allaah)?’

Such is Allaah, your Lord in truth. So after the truth,
what else can there be, save error? How then are you turned away?”

[Yoonus 10:31]

With regard to a
man’s disposal of affairs, it is limited to that which is under his control
and that which is permitted to him by sharee’ah.

Based on this,
there is nothing wrong with attributing ownership and disposal of affairs to
a person, but this sovereignty and disposal of affairs is limited. There is
no one who owns and controls all things in a comprehensive sense except
Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted. And Allaah knows best.

See al-Qawl al-Mufeed, 1/13.