in this respect between one sphere and another. Even if some of them do in fact have angels carrying them, the same applies to their counterparts. Allah Most High says:

“And you will see the angels surrounding the Throne”—to the end of the verse [al-Zumar: 75].

Here He mentions that the angels surround the Throne; elsewhere He mentions that it has bearers; and in a third passage He mentions both its bearers and those around it, saying:

“Those who carry the Throne and those around it glorify their Lord with praise.”

Furthermore, He has told us that His Throne was upon the water before He created the heavens and the earth, as Allah Most High says:

“And it is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and His Throne was upon the water” [Hūd: 7].

It is established in Sahīh al-Bukhārī and elsewhere, on the authority of ‘Imrān ibn Husayn, that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Allah was, and there was nothing other than Him. His Throne was upon the water. He wrote everything in the Record and created the heavens and the earth.”

In another version recorded by al-Bukhārī:

“Allah was, and there was nothing before Him. His Throne was upon the water. Then He created the heavens and the earth and wrote everything in the Record.”

In an authentic version recorded by another:

“Allah was, and there was nothing with Him. His Throne was upon the water. Then He wrote everything in the Record.”

It is also established in Sahīh Muslim, on the authority of ‘Abd Allāh ibn ‘Amr, that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Allah decreed the destinies of all created beings fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth, and His Throne was upon the water.”

This decree thus came after the Throne existed and fifty thousand years before the creation of the heavens and the earth.

He, glorified and exalted be He, praises Himself as the Lord of the Throne, as in His words:

“Say: If there were other gods with Him, as they claim, they would surely have sought a way to the Lord of the Throne” [al-Isrā’: 24].

And His words, Most High: