[The Cause of the Deviation of Many Latecomers]:
I have preceded this discussion with that introduction so that whoever takes it firmly to heart will know exactly where the path of guidance lies—both in this matter and in all others.

He will also realize that misguidance and reckless conjecture only took hold of many who came later because they flung the Book of Allah behind their backs, turned away from the clear proofs and guidance with which Allah sent Muhammad ﷺ, abandoned the quest for the way of the early generations—the Companions and the Followers—and went seeking knowledge of Allah from people who, by their own admission and by the testimony of the ummah as well as many other proofs, do not know Him. My purpose is not to single out one specific group; I am merely describing this category and that.

[Proofs of Allah’s Exaltation above His Creation]:
[The Qur’anic Evidence for Allah’s Transcendence]:
In light of all this, the Book of Allah—from beginning to end—and the Sunnah of His Messenger ﷺ from start to finish, together with the general statements of the Companions and Followers and the words of all the scholars after them, are replete with texts—explicit or implicit—affirming that Allah, glorified be He, is above everything, exalted over all, above the Throne and above the heavens. Among His words are:
“To Him ascends good speech, and righteous work He raises up” (Fatir:10),
“I will take you and raise you up to Me” (Al ‘Imran:55),
“Do you feel secure that He who is in heaven will not cause the earth to swallow you when it quakes? Or do you feel secure that He who is in heaven will not unleash a storm of stones upon you?” (Al-Mulk:16–17),
“Rather, Allah raised him up to Himself” (Al-Nisa’:158),
“The angels and the Spirit ascend to Him”